Q&A: Wells*

Auckland based super-producer/singer/songwriter Wells* has worked with the likes of NZ superstars Paige, Navvy and Thomston as well as releasing stunning solo projects including his latest EP “Tape 2”.

We chat to him about his biggest inspirations in music, writing and producing for other artists, the highlights of his career so far, where to get the best noodles in NZ and more!

Can you tell us a bit about your musical journey and how you started in singing, songwriting and production?

I started writing songs when I was around 11 or 12 years old. They were all somewhat-emo folk songs because that’s what I was listening to at the time. It wasn’t until I studied music at the University of Auckland that I discovered production and unashamedly loved making pop music more than anything else.

Is the majority of your songwriting & production knowledge self-taught?

That’s hard to say. While I did a degree, which definitely helped me to hone my skills, I often wouldn’t listen in production classes and just do my own thing with my headphones on. I think production is all about taste and it took me 2 years after finishing my degree to produce 1 song that I thought was good (my first single, “Born Leader”). As for songwriting I think there’s only so much that can be taught because there aren’t any rules and it’s so subjective. University for me was more an opportunity to try and fail and form a work ethic as a musician, which I am forever grateful for. 

Who are your biggest inspirations in music?

I have so many and they are so varied. My friends are huge inspirations to me, but if we’re talking about giants, my favourite songwriters are Frank Ocean and Phoebe Bridgers. My list of favourite producers is far too long but a few I’m really into at the moment would be A.G. Cook, Dan Nigro, Clarence Clarity and Dylan Brady. I guess you could consider these more “alternative” producers, but for me the idea of bringing their production ideas into the pop realm really excites me. 

What would you say are the main influences on your production style?

I have this goal in my head of wanting to make everything sound ‘craaazy’ and I'll tweak it until I think it does. There’s no definition for what that is, which means sometimes I get it and sometimes I don’t, but that’s always the goal.

Your latest EP “Tape 2” gives us such a range of styles from the energetic “Night & Day” with catchy melodies & bass lines, The 1975-esque “You’re Never Coming Back” with distorted vocals and harmonies pulling on the heartstrings, and the stunning acoustic “Baby That’s You” which brilliantly never fully resolves. What would you say is the overall story and theme of this EP?

“Tape 2” was written about the time after a break up where feelings lingered and I was consistently pacing through emotions trying to figure out how I truly felt. I wrote them all months apart from each other throughout 2019 and my feelings would change with the seasons, so it spans a wide range of emotions around that experience, but all in pursuit of closure. 

We are in love with Paige’s incredible track “Make Room” which you co-wrote and produced, about the moment you realise you need to make room for someone in your life that you’re falling for. What was the creative process like for this song?

We met that day! We talked for hours and hours then got lunch and talked some more and suddenly we were running out of time so we wrote the first half of the song that day and the rest closer to its release. I think Paige came up with the guitar first and then I fleshed out the production as we wrote it. Paige is a star.

Such a great story! Another track you co-wrote that we’ve got on repeat is “Safety In Numbers” by Navvy! Can you tell us a little bit about how this track was born?

Phoebe and I wrote “My Love” together, which closes her first EP with the line “hit me like a wave but it felt like a flood” and we had talked numerous times about the idea of opening her next EP with a line about being left in the water, which led to “woke up in the water” being the opening lyric. The excitement around that one really simple easter egg formed the entire song. We wrote it super late on a Sunday night and then my good friend Struan Finlay finished the production back home in Christchurch.

Absolutely love that! What have been some of your highlights and most memorable moments in your music making career so far?

I play keys for a few artists, and getting to go to the UK for the first time, to play for Robinson and Navvy feels like a dream I can hardly remember. But finally having my own studio after years of going crazy in my bedroom is a feeling like no other.

Sounds incredible! Who are some of your favourite NZ artists right now and are there any songs in particular that you love or connect with?

I hate that I’m going to have to leave out so many friends, but recently I’ve been really inspired by Maxwell Young, Thorington and Struan Finlay is my favourite producer. I would highly recommend anything by Lontalius for a lesson in great songwriting or a cry.

What do you love most about living in New Zealand? Do you have any favourite places to travel to or local spots to visit?

It’s home!!! Favourite place is my studio forever and always. Go to OCKHEE in Ponsonby and order the japchae noodles. Thank me later.

We’ll definitely have to try them out! How was the lockdown for you and what’s one of the biggest lessons you learnt during that time?

It was really chill. I was living with my grandparents at the time and I was sleeping on a fold out couch which barely fit in the room. Every morning I would fold it back into the sofa so I had room for a chair and I would start making music and/or playing Animal Crossing and then every night I would pack up my gear and put it in a corner so I had space to unfurl my bed. As awful as that might sound, I loved it. It was kind of therapeutic. I’ve always been lazy at making my bed so I could fold it away and not think about it.

What advice do you have for new artists and producers out there?

Find out what motivates you and take advantage of that so you can work hard. There’s room for everyone in the music industry :) 

Some amazing advice. And lastly to wrap things up, what’s next for you?

A new EP! Tape 3! Really soon! As well as lots of songs for other exciting New Zealand artists, which I always post about on my instagram :)

We can’t wait to hear more new music from you! Make sure to keep up with Wells* on Instagram (@whoiswells), Facebook, Spotify & Apple Music.