Richmond native Wes Parker journeys from band, to on-line comic, to solo artist with the discharge of his second EP, ‘fantom.’
Stream: ‘fantom’ – Wes Parker
Richmond, Virginia, has to have essentially the most underrated music scene within the nation.
Each style has its area to shine, and a lot expertise thrives in such a small metropolis. A few of my favourite artists of all time have hailed from Virginia’s capital. Gwar, D’Angelo, and Lucy Dacus, to call just a few. There’s a kind of tradition there that breeds creativity and wonderful expertise. A serious instance is Wes Parker.
Beginning in his band Camp Howard, Parker is a veteran of the Richmond music scene. Demonstrating his abilities in additional methods than one. In 2021, after his band broke up, a brand new method was born. His sketch comedy was viral on TikTok, and he was on a gentle incline by the years with assist from his lovable crust punk character Skunk.
Although he was shaping as much as be a comedic legend in his personal proper on the vertical screens, he slipped again into his music seamlessly, exhibiting his multifaceted talents and releasing his first EP below his personal identify, Splinter.
And now he’s again along with his latest endeavor, fantom, a haunting assortment of tracks that journey by a damaged character’s psyche. fantom is a creepy rock file with undertones of obsession and nervousness that also manages to seek out glimmers of sunshine in a number of the darkest locations. Pulling inspiration from Muse, Radiohead, and Andy Shauf, the six-track EP is a haunting but energetic masterpiece. Showcasing Parker’s lyrical and musical prowess.
Atwood Journal sat down with Wes Parker to debate the creation of fantom, his songwriting course of, and the liberty that comes with making music forward of the discharge of his EP.
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:: stream/buy fantom right here ::
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A CONVERSATION WITH WES PARKER
Atwood Journal: So, in the beginning, congratulations, your debut because the solo artist Wes Parker occurred final yr. How does it really feel to be on the opposite aspect of that?
Wes Parker: It feels actually good as a result of it was such a tough first yr to be trustworthy. It was loads of trailblazing and it was loads of studying actually. I like studying and I nonetheless have a lot to be taught however that first yr was very tough and exhausting. However rewarding. And so it feels good to be in yr two the place I get to type of, I don’t know if I need to go as far to say like fruits of my labor, however a bit of little bit of that. Simply with the ability to be like, “Okay, I received some music out.” And the venture’s a bit of bit off the bottom feels actually good.
Was a few of that the touring and having to really exit and play these songs?
Wes: Sure, for positive. I imply, our first tour, final yr, we had some good reveals. However a number of the reveals we had been enjoying for perhaps one or two individuals and I liked these one or two those that had been there and it made it particular for me however by way of with the ability to afford being on the street that’s not a sustainable factor. So it was robust.
That first yr was robust mentally by way of touring. Sure. Nevertheless it was additionally like trudging by thick overgrowth. I hadn’t performed music in a pair years since my band [Camp Howard] had damaged up and It was robust.
Placing myself on the market on socials is a really uncomfortable factor. I feel most musicians detest doing that. I like doing comedy stuff, however it’s very completely different to say ‘haha that is humorous’ after which now I’m really severely attempting to say, “Hey take heed to my music.” That’s not comfy. I imply there have been loads of issues that made that first yr uncomfortable however these are simply a few them.
Do you are feeling like those that come to you out of your skits, they’ve expectations on your music?
Wes: That’s an excellent query. I do not know and it’s been a bizarre balancing act for me going into this venture. Like are individuals going to take the music severely? Not that it must be taken severely quote unquote, however it’s simply bizarre. As a result of, I feel there are lots of people coming from the skits to the music. I’m at all times shocked when individuals say ‘hey I liked your comedy after which I discovered your music.’ I’ve been instructed earlier than by individuals within the music trade type of unsolicited recommendation like, ‘hey, don’t model your self as a comic. You need to model your self as a musician who generally does comedy.’ Nevertheless it’s difficult to consider that and steadiness that.
I simply use comedy as a type of remedy. Similar to I exploit music, it’s an expressive factor. Typically I simply have to do some comedy, as a result of it feels good. So, it’s exhausting for me to know the way individuals view me first. It’s actually mind-boggling and type of exhausting for me to take a look at from the skin if that is sensible.
You’ve got just a few skits that present this connection between your comedy and your music. Characters like Skunk and the jaded sound man. Was that the intention with that otherwise you simply making comedy out of your experiences?
Wes: These specific skits and the way in which that I began posting on TikTok and Instagram it was type of like I felt a bit of like giving up. My band had simply damaged up. I had made bizarre artwork comedy movies all by my early 20s however no person had actually seen these. I imply you may dig and discover them on my socials however after I first began posting vertical movies was after I was like, all proper. I used to be simply obsessive about comedy writing at the moment. I had taken sketch writing courses and skim this ebook referred to as the “Comedian Toolbox,” I feel it was referred to as.
I used to be simply actually into the thought of writing comedy characters and I used to be nonetheless feeling bummed about my band breaking apart, so I simply was like, “Nicely, I do know this world.” It was type of a comedic diary for me of previous lived experiences, whether or not, you recognize, they had been partial variations of myself or individuals we met, just like the sound man. It was very a lot a therapeutic factor and I simply didn’t know that folks had been going to narrate as exhausting as they did.
Do you are feeling like your curiosity in comedy writing helps along with your writing music?
Wes: Yeah, I feel there’s a degree of, simply really feel, by way of comedy and timing. I undoubtedly suppose there’s construction to a joke or a sketch to some extent. Nevertheless it’s not at all times the identical and you need to really feel your method by the darkish. So, I feel that in a method that it’s actually much like music, the place you need to simply divulge heart’s contents to what feels finest even when there’s not likely however there may be form of a construction to a track. I imply, doesn’t must be however I undoubtedly am a bit of bit structured in looking for the pillars of what’s holding the factor collectively and I feel comedy and music each have that.
With you being a multi-instrumentalist, how did you begin stepping into making music as an entire?
Wes: I’d say, type of springboarding off of you saying that I play loads of completely different devices, I’m mediocre at one or two devices after which barely passing at another instrument. And I feel it’s the identical type of method that received me into music. It’s the identical method I’ve for these devices that I’m not good at. I need to play piano extra and I attempt to write on piano. I suck at it. I just like the sound of the banjo and there’s one in my household. So…I don’t follow although.
I identical to messing round and the liberty that comes with sitting down with an instrument and you can also make any sound on it. That was the preliminary factor that drew me into music was simply the liberty that got here with, on the time it was guitar, however it could possibly be any instrument. I used to suppose to myself as a center schooler or a excessive schooler that I didn’t know what I’d do with out that type of solace. Of with the ability to go residence and sit and simply fiddle on this factor and not likely know what I used to be doing, you recognize? To not say that studying, being classically educated or studying principle is a nasty factor or a hindrance. I feel it may be actually good.
I simply suppose both method, it’s simply the liberty of there’s technically no guidelines. And I used to be so sick of getting in bother at college and getting thrown out of sophistication and I simply love that there’s no guidelines. So, I really feel the identical method about random devices. I’m not a tuba participant, but when I had one, you higher imagine there’d be tuba on a file.
How do you establish whenever you’re writing a track, what instrument you need to use and what sort of style you are attempting to lean in the direction of?
Wes: I’d say more often than not, most of what I’ve launched anyway, there’s not any form of route in my head of style or sound. Often I exploit the identical devices as a result of I’ve at all times been in a rock band. The place it’s guitar, bass, drums, synth, or keys. As a result of that’s my consolation zone. I’ve these devices right here in my condo and I can demo it out after which that’s type of what it’s.
However I’ve been, for the upcoming EP fantom, I leaned into piano on just a few tracks which there was a pair songs on there that it simply sounds so wildly completely different from, not less than for my part, to the rest I’ve ever launched as a result of I need to lean into Muse, Radiohead sound for only a couple songs on there as a result of I used to be simply feeling impressed by that and you recognize it’s one thing that I used to be impressed by as a child and was revisiting.
So, I did type of lean into that inspiration I feel at the moment. Typically that occurs the place I’ll write extra of a rocking track as a result of I used to be listening to some outdated inspiration like Inexperienced Day or Minor Menace or one thing. But additionally, I’ve been placing banjo on stuff these days. As a result of, I’ve been impressed by that sound. I went to a Sierra Ferrell present. I assumed it was loopy. Alex G places banjo on stuff generally and I don’t know It simply feels good to layer stuff like that in. One thing I grew up round.
You’ve stated that Splinter was a stockpile of songs that you simply wished to launch. Is that related for fantom or are these songs more energizing?
Wes: They’re a lot more energizing. Splinter was very very like I have to get music out that I’ve in order that once we play reveals it’s not like each track is new. Then with this EP, it was like we launched Splinter on the finish of January after which we received into the studio, I need to say in April perhaps. I wrote actually quick as a result of I used to be so charged up off of Splinter and I simply actually wished to get again within the studio and launch extra music as a result of it was simply such an excellent feeling.
As a result of these songs are more energizing is there extra of a narrative occurring that you simply’re attempting to inform with this file?
Wes: Yeah, there’s a free throughline that type of guided a number of the songwriting, though I don’t suppose that I used to be attempting to perhaps get this throughout. I don’t suppose anyone would know the throughline by listening to it, with out perhaps listening to me say this. However um after I was writing the title observe “fantom,” I wished to write down in regards to the downfall of some form of character. I had simply watched The Sopranos or The Penguin, Breaking Unhealthy, there’s all these tales the place like any individual goes to hell of their thoughts. I simply wished to write down about that.
However so I grew up within the church, and this isn’t a spiritual album and it’s not meant to criticize faith or Christianity, both. So, it’s impartial, however I wished to write down in regards to the fall of the angel Lucifer and type of begin with observe one being like in heaven and by the point you resolve the EP, it’s such as you’re in like these songs are in hell. However like I stated, it’s type of an idea for me. I don’t essentially suppose I wished to power that on the listeners. I don’t suppose individuals will get that with out like I stated listening to me say it.
Did you’ve an identical form of course of with Splinter the place you had an idea you had been writing by, however it would not essentially switch onto the file itself?
Wes: , actually not likely. Splinter was, like I stated, nearly a mixtape of stuff that I had from a few years that we had been enjoying dwell. It was a few of our stuff on our first set that we put collectively [for] band follow and I used to be like ‘these are one of the best, let’s do these.’ The idea for fantom may be very not regular for me however it was enjoyable. It was undoubtedly enjoyable. It helped information me by as a result of like I stated, it was fairly fast writing. I imply it was written actually quick and having some form of guiding, even imaginary, mild was helpful to me to get it completed.
The quilt artwork for fantom feels private in a method. Are you able to inform me a bit of bit about that, the selection to make that the quilt artwork?
Wes: The unique cowl artwork that I used to be going to make use of was an image of my pal Davelynne or Dave. It was like a blurry picture taken. She had white face paint on simply ghoulish wanting and I used to be like, “That is excellent.” I didn’t even know this was going to come back out on Halloween. However, that was initially going to be the album artwork, however then my pal Henry Archer took the picture that’s the cowl artwork.
We had been sitting at Bamboo Cafe in Richmond and he simply pulled [it] out and he stated, “Or you may do that.” And he confirmed me this picture of me after I was in all probability 22 or 21 at Crayola Home in Harrisonburg, which is a legendary DIY spot. I used to be on this higher balcony getting my head shaved by a number of individuals. They had been utilizing rusty scissors and the clippers didn’t actually work. You possibly can see them within the picture however I keep in mind they only weren’t working in any respect.
And so I keep in mind in some unspecified time in the future somebody whipped out a Swiss Military knife and it was only a lengthy bizarre strategy of buzzing my head with a Swiss Military knife they usually had been throwing the hair off the balcony. I keep in mind individuals screaming as much as us “we’re getting coated in hair!”
Anyway, that’s the story of that picture. I assumed it type of went together with the theme of the EP on this shaving of the pinnacle, the downfall of any individual. Not that I’m imposing myself into this story line. The picture is fairly ambiguous. You don’t actually know who it’s within the picture. It simply appears type of sinister and it appears like somebody who’s shedding himself of one thing and that’s undoubtedly a giant a part of this fantom EP story type of in my head.
Do you’ve a track on the file that you simply really feel like speaks to the file and speaks to this downfall form of situation?
Wes: Actually, yeah, and “fantom” undoubtedly is the title observe for that cause, however simply to the touch on that – it’s a fictional retelling. It’s my very own model of the autumn of Lucifer as a result of “fantom” is meant to be Lucifer the angel in heaven falling in love with God himself and within the precise story I don’t actually comprehend it, however I feel he wished to be God or one thing.
On this story I wished it to be like he was obsessive about God, fell in love with and for that he was pushed out. And the farther away he received from heaven in my model of the story, fictional retelling, is the extra obsessed he received. After which, the vicious cycle of the extra obsessed, the extra upset he was, the farther away you bought.
As a result of it type of goes from heaven to the sky to earth to, ultimately, down into hell by the file. So, there’s this track on there referred to as “One thing About You,” which is observe 5. That’s one other good instance of this sort of unhealthy obsession. It’s fairly darkish. It’s a type of creepy little track, however I’d say that one, “One thing About You.”
On this situation is your single “Pull Me Below” a transition track from heaven to Hell?
Wes: “Pull Me Below” I feel is observe two which it very nicely may sit within the center. There was some stuff within the center that could possibly be probably interchanged. Like “Spider Legs,” for instance, that one’s type of themed about spiders which may be very earthly.
However I wished to have “Pull Me Below” a bit of later as a result of “Pull Me Below” is getting near hell. Nevertheless it began to randomly flip right into a track a couple of pilot and his escapades between the sky and the earth.
In my story, it’s type of a portrait of this one man. So, like I stated it’s free, we begin with Lucifer, then we’re with this pilot and it’s type of the identical soul going by. About this pilot going up and down from earth to sky and he’s not likely one of the best character, he’s a bit of shady.
I simply take into consideration these pilots, staying in accommodations and motels and residing this life the place they’re continually touring and going up and down and up and down. I imply, I do know they make good cash, however in my story this man’s not one of the best man. I feel I undoubtedly wished to place it later however because it began to type into this pilot track, it simply made sense to place it within the sky.
I really feel like Splinter was private to you. The songs had been about you or individuals you recognize. This file appears a bit of extra summary. Would you say that?
Wes: Yeah, I’d say that. I even have discovered extra about myself as a songwriter than I had beforehand recognized by doing a little writing with different individuals which I don’t usually do. Significantly, not too long ago I used to be writing with my pal Mary, who’s Sluggish Funeral. She was up right here in Richmond and we simply wrote a bit of stuff backwards and forwards. Throughout that course of I spotted, she would level out how summary I’d get and the way she preferred to have a bit of extra instantly private lyrics. Whereas, I wasn’t at all times following the theme.
It’s humorous doing that track writing with different individuals actually type of displays your self again to you, if that is sensible, in a method that you simply wouldn’t see simply writing alone, which you recognize is usually what I do. However doing these writing workout routines, I’ve realized that generally I’ve this guiding theme for a track. Like Spider Legs, for instance, may be very clearly about some form of spidery factor. For those who had been simply to take heed to it for the primary time, you’d be like “spidery factor. I don’t know, it’s spidery.” However for me it’s about being caught up in somebody or one thing’s internet, as you’ll be able to see, there’s like loads of obsession vibes by this.
I feel partially as a result of I listened to Andy Schauf’s album Norm, the place he writes a couple of stalker. It’s a very, actually, actually good album, however it was tremendous creepy. I can consider some poisonous conditions that I used to be in or feeling like Limerence? Simply feeling overwhelmed by attraction or obsession. Even when it’s not a romantic factor, generally it may simply be like after I was a child, I wished to play music so dangerous.
Anyway, I assume my level is there are events wherein I’m writing in a theme, however I’m pulling in lyrics that both I really feel like actually sang nicely and actually match the track or they pulled my very own coronary heart strings about one thing in my very own life. , even when it’s not on theme however it makes me really feel one thing due to one thing that I noticed on the grocery retailer yesterday. what I’m saying?
So, yeah quite a bit it’s a themed EP and there’s a story. However on the finish of the day, I’ve realized all my songs, all of the lyrics are like a quilt work of the place I’m at in life and what I’m interested by even when it’s a theme track or album.
Is there a cause the file is popping out on Halloween?
Wes: Nicely, it felt prefer it was solely becoming that fantom which is derived from the French phrase. It’s spelled with an F as a result of I used to be studying this little French ebook attempting to be taught French.
It was a kids’s ebook referred to as Le Petit Nicolas. Sooner or later there’s part of a chapter with a ghost which is fantome. And I used to be like, “that’s so cool. That’s the phrase for ghost.” So, I simply struck the E off and was like, we’ll simply name it fantom.
That, plus the Fallen Angel storyline and the creepy obsession stuff and the spider track and so on. Halloween this yr is on a Friday which individuals launch music on Fridays quite a bit I assume. So, it simply appeared so applicable. In reality we had been alleged to launch it in September and issues received type of pushed after which now it’s simply lined up in this sort of loopy method.
Is there something you need to add?
I simply really feel like I ought to reiterate as a result of I’m nervous about individuals getting upset, as I’ve had some individuals be upset with me for previous stuff I’ve accomplished that was like wherever near faith.
I’m not making commentary by any means with fantom and I do know individuals are nonetheless going to get mad however there’s a video popping out that’s in all probability going to perhaps make some individuals really feel uncomfortable however I feel it’s superior and I can’t wait to launch it. I labored with the identical staff that I labored with on “Tattoo” and “Splinter,” which is directed by Colin Earner.
And it’s going to be cool. It’s like our third video collectively. I don’t know if we’ll be capable to do any extra as a result of he’s so busy and he’s accomplished three movies for me now. So, there’s a video for “fantom” popping out in all probability per week or two after the EP drop. So the primary or second week of November. That’s just about it. I’m excited for the video and this isn’t a commentary on faith.
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