THE CHAMPION OF CHIPTUNE./
WMD IS THE SOLO MUSIC PROJECT OF SEATTLE-BASED MUSICIAN, MICHAEL ERICKSON./ OFTEN DESCRIBED AS A UNIQUE BLEND OF CHILLWAVE + AMBIENT, WMD'S MUSIC INCORPORATES LUSH SYNTH + MINIMALISTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR, WITH THE RESULTING LAYERS OF SOUND STIRRING FEELINGS OF NOSTALGIA, CONTEMPLATION + MELANCHOLY (FROM EARLY MORNING SUNRISES, TO NEVER-ENDING LAZY SUMMER AFTERNOONS, TO THOSE DARKER MOMENTS WHERE WE TURN INWARDS)./
HAVING GROWN UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, ERICKSON BEGAN PRODUCING MUSIC AT A YOUNG AGE./ INSPIRED BY THE INTERNET CHIPTUNE MUSIC SCENE + ARTISTS LIKE BIT SHIFTER + ANAMANAGUCHI, HE RELEASED THE ALBUM 'SOPHROSYNE' AGED JUST 16, GOING ON TO RELEASE NUMEROUS ALBUMS + EPs SINCE./
NOW BASED IN SEATTLE, WMD HAS BEEN PLAYING SHOWS IN + AROUND THE CITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, + HIS LOVE FOR THE PLACE IS EVIDENT: "I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ME WANT TO LEAVE SEATTLE'S VIBRANT MUSIC + ARTS SCENE."/
WITH SUCH A LOVE FOR THE CITY, WE ASKED WMD TO SHARE ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE PLACES...
//
KEXP
"A good part of my last summer was spent hanging out in the live room here. There's a small record store + coffee shop, + you get to watch the radio broadcast room while they're on air too. There's also live shows from time to time, so it was always exciting meeting up with friends there not knowing if there would be a performance or not. KEXP is the perfect place to stop to hang out, listen to music + grab a coffee."
DISCOVER MORE AMAZING LOCALS
UNCOVER TOP PICKS + INSIDER TIPS FROM OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF INSP1RATIONAL LOCALS./ FROM CREATIVES + MUSICIANS, TO ENTREPRENEURS, WE MEET THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE VERY FABRIC OF THE CITY. //
All photos are copyright F1FTY except: WMD profile photo (Courtesy of Michael Erickson); KEXP (KEXP Website). This feature was not paid for in any way.
