Will Wiesenfeld was on the OUT 100 list in 2017, and for good reason. The 29 year-old has two musical projects -- Baths and Geotic -- both with a distinct and ineffable sound.
While the Los Angeles-native usually reserves vocals for Baths, he did decide to sing for Geotic's newest album, Traversa, which comes out Friday, October 19.
Out caught up with the musician prior to the release of Goetic's second album to discuss what we can expect to hear on the new LP.
OUT: Tell us a little bit about your background with music, and how you broke into the music industry.
Will: I'd been making experimental pop music on my own since age 15. I eventually made an album called The Fabric that got Daedelus interested in my music. Through him and my manager at the time, I ended up working with the label Anticon. I made the record Cerulean and have been making records and touring ever since.
What inspired the sound behind the new LP?
I wanted to make a record inspired by travel. I tried to imbue each song with that theme, and with a lot of movement, but I wanted to maintain more of an introspective atmosphere versus an extremely energetic one. I listened to a lot of dance music while working on it, as well as a lot of ambient, and I think it lands somewhere between the two.
Why did you decide to sing with Geotic and not just Baths?
Each song on Traversa has its own little universe and on some tracks it became easier to paint those pictures using lyrics and singing. It was sort of a natural move for me -- it helped the atmosphere of the songs, so I never thought twice about it.
How does your queer identity intersect with your artistry?
I think it's inseparable. I don't have to have every song I make have explicitly queer subject matter, but I think the fact that I am an out, gay musician making exactly the art I want to is the most honest expression of my queer identity.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I'm building a new Geotic live show for this record, and debuting that show in Tokyo next week -- I'm so excited to have the album out and play it around and share it with everyone!
