NUDE026: Weska

Part of what makes techno music — and the people that follow it, dance to it, and create it — so universal is what inspires it.

For some, they’re born into global hotbeds like Berlin, surrounded by the music that speaks to them. For others, like Weska, they find it through a more circuitous path. Growing up in midtown Toronto, Weska was first attracted to what he and his friends called electronic music after hearing it used in the bike, skate, and ski/snowboard movies they watched. Artists like Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, and M83 buzzed through his speakers as Weska, then a talented mountain biker, snowboarder, and skater watched the professionals stomp tricks to those enticing sounds.

From there, his musical journey quickly brought him past extreme sports (though he still shreds from time to time) and into the more rarefied — and refined world — of what he later discovered as progressive house. By the time he was 16, Weska was focused on the music. His desire to create underlined his discovery, producing sounds through university and onward.

He drew inspiration from the melodies from the likes of John Digweed, Steve Angello, and Eric Prydz. Although his sound hasn’t always remained the same, his mission has: to make people dance. First, for his friends at house parties, then in small clubs in the university town of Kingston, Ontario, and on to big rooms in Toronto, and then around the world.

Today, he joins the NUDE Techno podcast, with an hour of Techno. Listen to it below on SoundCloud & Mixcloud. If you are feeling this series, then please consider supporting it on Mixcloud Select.

Q1. Sum up this podcast in 10 words…
A journey through dance full of sound’s that I love.

Q2. What’s your personal favourite track on it?
‘Sirtos Madness’ probably. I think it’s a super functional techno track and a standout tune that’s almost 10 years old… timeless and pure energy for me. 

Q3. What’s the special ingredient in this mix?
I think the burrito I just ate before recording it, so that would be lots of vegetables and salsa.

Q4. What’s the best gig you’ve played recently? 
Other than a live stream I played on a rooftop during these COVID times, probably the last time I went to South America. I played in Chile and Uruguay and both parties were slammed and really fun. The Uruguay gig felt like a music festival – huge stage, pyro, thousands of people. I played a bit earlier, so I kept it a bit groovier techno and just had the best time. The vibe was really up there.

Q5. What have you got coming up? 
I think I’m going to do another Wave release in the next couple months so be sure to listen out for that!

Q6. And finally, do you have a special message for our readers?
Thanks for reading and listening to my mix, I appreciate you all. Stay healthy, stay strong, keep loving, and don’t forget to breathe!

Tracklist

1. Weska – Bermudiana
2. Skream – DUNNN [Rukus]
3. Wehbba – Coup Of Doubt [Drumcode]
4. Weska – Fatal Fields [Weska]
5. Weska – Basic Instinct
6. Weska – Catalyst [Weska]
7. Pig&Dan – Acronym [Elevate]
8. Cirez D, Acki Kokotos – Sirtos Madness [Mouseville]
9. Alden Tyrell – Fundamental [Clone]
10. Weska – Levine
11. Humano – Death (Len Faki Hardspace Mix) [LF RMX]
12. Weska – Stargazer
13. Charlotte De Witte – Return To Nowhere [KNTXT]
14. Weska – Meru
15. Weska – Shamans Dream