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We have had the pleasure of interviewing the great producer Wesley Holmes.
Wesley collaborated with Jon Lee and provided a single for the Summer Soulstice 2022 compilation. The track is titled "Jon Lee & Wesley Holmes - Warehouse Chronicles", a track as deep as it is visceral, taking us to infinity.
Q. How would you present your work to someone who doesn't know you?
A.Though there was a hiatus in production for a few years, the music i produce or remix has always been inspired by my love affair with tribal rhythms and analogue basslines. I love establishing a hypnotic foundation with percussive layers that progress in subtle yet effective manner and driving basslines to warm out the bottom end and groove the track.
Q. And your last job? Where do you want to lead?
A.Last job was in 2004!! now that i’ve had the time, support, and friendly nudges from the likes of Jon Lee and Ramiro to get back in the studio, i’m looking forward to releasing an array of music that embraces and expresses my musical journey over the years.
Q. What message would you like to convey to the public?
A. Being half Japanese with long time support and efforts in the underground and gay communities over the years, i want to convey the importance of supporting, protecting, and educating our precious underground dance communities around the world; standing up and preserving the rights of all who come out regardless of race, identity, or sexual preference. Love being aligned with Uniting Souls who continue to support and maintain safe spaces to for artists and the dance community to thrive.
Q. How was your last project born?
A. The last project was born through a long time friendship and collaboration with Seattle veteran DJ/ Producer Jon Lee. I used to produce for Jon’s Tilted label back in the 90’s and came over one evening with a beat structure, bassline, and a little melodic progression. After some time Jon took what i left him with and finished off the track!
Q. What do you want to convey in this particular track? What is the concept behind?
A. Warehouse Chronicles is a nod to the old school warehouse days back in the early 90’s and the driving beats and analog sounds that we used to play. We felt the track conveys a driving rhythm & groove section with some raw analog sounds that bring you back to some of those early warehouse days.
Q. As for your studio, what is it currently composed of?
A. Just converted from Logic to Ableton a few years back and have recently moved. Nothing exciting yet, just mostly standard in the box tools.. stay tuned tho, rebuilding from what i sold off about 10 years ago :).
Q. What is the one instrument you would never get rid of, no matter what?
A. well,,, i would say my favorites are the Roland Juno 106 (old Tilted days with Brent & Jon) and the Moog Sub37 but i never completely owned them myself, only borrowed :), will definitely have to get them back in the studio full time!.
Q. What was the last record store you visited? And what did you salvage from there?
A. Ahh… SELECTOR RECORDS SEATTLE!!! too many good deep gems to name!
Q. Do you have hope for the future of music? How would you like the future of the music industry to be?
A. Though things can get heavy, i do have hope and will continue to do my best to help preserve our music community for our immediate circle and of course for the future involving the my son Winter and Jon’s daughter Elle!
Q. Can you reveal some future projects to us?
A. Ahh.. well, i will say i’m am anxiously finalizing some other projects for Ramiro’s Uniting Souls music, Tilted Recordings, and Tremulant,, a mix of solo projects and more collaborations with Jon Lee, Lar Gibbons, and monotropa for starters.
Q. What makes you happy?
A. Though there’s LOTS to stress about today, what makes me happy is having a loving and supportive family and music community to look out for each other, and to do our part to keep things positive. My 4 year old son is a HANDFUL but a happy handful keeping me busy as well, along with my love Jillian.
Q. What bothers you?///
I will just say, all the hatred we still have in the world bothers me! but it’s motivation enough to fight the good fight and keeping doing the best i can to move things in a positive direction.
