We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wahr Season a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Wahr, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Probably like a lot of people from my era. Life experiences, humble beginnings, tragedy, and being out on the street at a young age.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Originally a native to Los Angeles California for 25 years, but have been a Nomad throughout the Midwest, Eastcoast, the South, and the Northwest for the last 15 years.
I’ve been into some form of Hip-Hop since I was 8yrs old. My very first intro to the culture was what was going on in my neighborhood. The first piece of music I owned was a cassette that my Grand Moms bought me at a fair in L.A it was “The Fat Boys Are Back.” But then I heard a local artist by the name of Eazy E, and my whole world changed. It wasn’t until I discovered Genius/GZA “Liquid Swords” a tape that I literally played so much that it popped in my cassette deck. That was the moment I knew what, how, and who I would become.
Years passed, I moved around a lot, continued to perfect the craft. I collected a lot of vinyl, met my wife. I met a lot of talented Producers, MC’s and also one of my mentors Geno Sapio who helped me level up in the studio in many ways.
On April 21 2023 I released my first vinyl offering “The Shooter’s Galleria” with the very talented Maze Overlay on Copenhagen Crates.
This was about 10 years in the making but you know life, extended stays at vacation resorts, kids…etc. That album was during a time when there were a lot of stressful situations going on for both myself and Maze. So, I think the album speaks for itself as you’ll hear it’s not in line with the current microwave methods as far as how albums are promoted, dropped, and digested. This was intended to be more of a movie…consumed slowly and actually it’s kind of a series.
Nowadays my time is divided up into Sound Design, beats, and other genres of music. Every day I dedicate my time to exploring genres of the past for inspiration when I’m making original samples. I practice on the keys some, I still flip beats weekly, but those that know me know I probably don’t have to make another for at least 2 years
This year in 2024 there are a few projects that are completed, and on the table. I also have plans to launch another platform that pertains more to a Sound Design venture, and some things that are just for the love of the culture. Most of the albums that you will hear from me, including the one we released last year, are for the most part curated by me, my concepts – Such as…the album titles, the song titles, and the cohesion of the music etc.. I’ve mastered creating these concepts because it’s something I really love which has led me to creating musical compositions that sound like the stuff that my peer’s sample. So, for me there is no limit, plus with the lifetime that I have dedicated to this culture is what sets me all the way apart respectfully.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Study the sounds and or albums you love ’til you start to develop your own.
Do what you can with what you got ’til you get better.
Be consistent, be patient, see it in your mind and don’t look away ever!
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I won’t listen to my music for a week or so then I will revisit all the projects I’m working on, and sometimes I will gain new perspective or hear something different. Then I’ll go on a tear of inspiration for weeks, sometimes months.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @wahrseason
- Other: Bandcamp https://wahrseason.bandcamp.com/album/the-shooters-galleria
