In the world of music, lush environments, and soundscapes create the feelings listeners get when they play certain songs, the sound design taking them on a journey into a whole new dimension. The best producers can create whole new worlds using their intriguing melodies, lush soundscapes, and defining beats, helping aid this journey into sound. One particular artist who has been rising above others in formulating these immersive voyages through production has been none other than Wakaan artist, Sully, who has continued to paint pictures with his music with each and every one of his releases. Whether it is a heavy-hitting deep drop or a floating tune, each one of Sully’s releases paints an audio-visual picture for each and every listners, and the same can be said with his latest EP, Submersed.
Following his most recent and highly-anticipated track “Scuba”, Sully brings on his latest EP, featuring 5 tracks in totality. This EP definitely encompasses a vast amount of different genres all while retaining its deep oceanic themes throughout each individual track. Starting Submersed off with a bang, is a collaboration between Sully and his close friend and producer Iora entitled “Shades of Black”. Followed closely behind is Sully’s newest heavy-hitting dancefloor hit, “Seasons” which is sure to be rinsed out far and wide this festival season. Following next with an iconic presentation of Sully’s signature bass lines is “Static”, and finally “Shot Callin'” the latest collaboration with this surging producer and lively duo Smoaklands that is not to be missed. This EP will have listeners encapsulated in the journey that has been cast through each of these tracks, brining listeners to the dancefloor left and right.
“Submersed represents a sonic journey of frequencies. As you listen through the tracks, we start with the deepest and lush frequencies in tracks like ‘Shades of Black’ & ‘Seasons’ and gradually we get to explore more explosive frequencies in heavier songs like ‘Static’ & ‘Shot Callin.’ Both of these styles are met with ‘Scuba’ right in the middle of the tracklist to keep the balance.”
Continuing to make waves throughout the bass scene and gearing up for the rest of 2023, Sully continuously brings infectiously high energy to each of his live festival sets around the country. With upcoming sets at Lost Lands, Champagne & Friends, and more there is no limit to the heat that this artist is going to be bringing to each stop he makes throughout the US this festival season.
We got the chance to talk with Sully about his latest release and what everyone has to look forward to below in our exclude Q&A below. Make sure to check out that and his exclusive Patreon below for more insight, exclusives, and a breakdown of his latest track ‘Scuba’ in honor of today’s release!
Diving Deep w/ Sully
1. What were your inspirations when you sat down to write the Submersed EP? Did you know the exact direction you wanted the EP to go at the very beginning or did you find it as you were putting the tracks together?
The Submersed EP definitely came together naturally without me realizing there was a theme to it. My team and I were putting together a tracklist for demos that could be contenders for my album and there were originally around 18-20 tracks which we felt was too many. We then sat down and tried to piece together 5 songs that felt like they fit together yet eluded a diverse body of work – the 5 tracks that you hear on the Submersed EP.
2. This EP and the previous EP release, ‘Scuba’, have had tons of subterranean soundscapes and water themes. Is the Submerse & Scuba EPs a new expiration into a different sound after your Hardwire and Encrypted EPs?
I would say it’s an extension of my sound pallet for sure – some things will sound completely new but others will feel familiar in this body of work. The tracklist order represents the listener gradually rising to the surface as the energy increases throughout the EP. I start the EP off with “Shades of Black” featuring my friends IORA and vocalist Jessy Covets. This song is rich in melody and texture and we wanted to leave listeners feeling drowning in emotion – as if you are at the ocean floor. We then move onto “Seasons” ft. Misdom which is still very emotional and deep but we feel a slight boost in energy as if we begin swimming to the surface. “Scuba” is the third track and the beginning to the explosive frequencies that we will hear in the last two tracks “Static” and “Shot Callin” w/ Smoakland.
3. With your project, you have definitely taken a lot of time to help young producers whether it be through producer workshops at festivals, your Patreon or just talking with those who are looking to follow in your footsteps as a producer. Why is this an important aspect of your project? How can those looking to learn to produce use these workshops or your Patreon to further their knowledge of production?
It’s important to me to help others because I look back when I was first starting and I really wish I had that mentor guiding me along the way in the beginning stages of my production journey. It’s so important. In fact, IORA is one of my mentees from the last year and a half. It was awesome to see a track come together between the two of us. So proud of all he’s accomplished both in the DAW and mentally over the last 18 months.
I think the idea of using workshops and Patreon to your advantage is to be a sponge, absorb the information, and then put your own twist/experimentation on the skill you are learning. If you are digesting a technique from Skrillex, how can you take that technique and run with it to make it your own?
4. The Sully project has been seen on lineups far and wide at festivals and live shows such as Lost Lands and Champagne and Friends. What are you doing to prepare for sets such as these? What can fans look forward to from your upcoming live sets?
I set prep based on where I am in the lineup, what day, who’s playing before and after me, etc. I think my job is to be original and curate a vibe for the audience. That’s what they are paying to hear in my opinion. The most important factor is being original. Fans can always expect my sets to be extremely diverse in tempo, genre, and pacing. I go all over the place and prepare well to make sure it feels cohesive.
5. What is next for the Sully project? What do you and your team have planned for your project in the near future?
I don’t want to give away too much – but it’s album time and I’ll see you this fall 🙂
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SULLY’S OFFICIAL PATREON
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