On his song selection for Last King of Scotland, he said, “I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do. And the journey I wanted the album to take. There were a few demos that I had been sitting on for five years which needed to be pumped up and polished.”
“There were also tracks I took off when realizing I wasn’t going to be able to play these in a club. So the landscape was constantly changing and I probably didn’t get a final tracklist as such until June this year, five months before the release date. It definitely wasn’t the album I set out to make. But now, I wouldn’t change a note,” he said.
When asked about his favorite track on this album, he responded, “I think I connect most strongly with ‘Kismet Energy.’ It has that retrospective nod to my early inspiration and journey. But it’s a very accurate depiction of who I am no as an artist. The track actually came to me in a dream when I was jet-lagged between gigs in Palm Springs. The track has a very special place in my heart.”
Regarding his music-making and productions, he said, “If we’re talking inspiration on a broader scale, people, problems, solutions, places, experiences – just about everything that isn’t actually audible. Musically, people like Brian Eno, Alva Noto, Feeder, Biffy Clyro, Darren Tate, and Eric Prydz. The thousands of tunes I have saved to playlists which I can’t even remember.”
On being an artist in the digital age, he said, “It’s great how quickly you connect people with your vision, sound, emotion but I don’t like the baggage and expectations that come with it. Social media, marketing campaigns – you’re basically a movie maker, graphic designer, entertainer, PR, promoter and that’s before you’ve even made a single bar loop. This is expected of you now and this is something that gets less and less appealing to me by the day. But how much do you want it? You have to do what you have to do.”
For young and aspiring artists, Atkinson said, “Don’t compare yourself to anyone. You’re as good as you’re last track. And expect nothing.”
He listed the following artists as his dream collaboration choices in music: Paul van Dyk, Gary Go, JES, and Cari Golden. “A range of artists, friends, and inspirations to me. But most importantly, artists that enrich my sound – otherwise there is no point,” he said.
“Last King of Scotland” is available on Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify.
To learn more about DJ and producer Will Atkinson, follow him on Facebook and on Instagram.
