Did you have anyone mentor you at the start?
Alison Wonderland: In a way, yes. I’d always written songs, but I was never given stems. That’s why I gave my stems for “Run” away on the internet for free. When I started producing I really wanted someone to give me a chance and listen to what I could do, but it wasn’t easy to get stems.
And the label was ok with you giving away the stems?
Alison Wonderland: Well, I had to fight for it but yeah, once they realized why I was doing it they were cool about it.
Do you find being with a label restrictive in any way?
Alison Wonderland: Not at all. My label is amazing. I’ve got the right people and they really understand me. I also don’t shut up until I get my own way. I’m very thankful though for the people I work with. I’ve heard so many horror stories about labels, but we really get each other.
I also had an advantage because when I started I wasn’t a priority at the label, so I was kind of just doing my own thing. When I finally caught on though they saw that me doing my own thing was working and they just let me continue.
My manager and I planned to do this without any support just in case, but when the label came on board it was great. They never told me what to do with my album either, I had complete freedom. And everyone I work with there is my friend. I’ve been super lucky.
A lot of your music is very complex and has depth to it. Do you think the scene is headed more towards that direction right now? Towards more forward-thinking sounds and music?
Alison Wonderland: I’ve always kind of made music like that so I don’t know. I think it’s just becoming more popular right now. But the stuff I made even 6 or 7 years ago is all like that.
If you try to plan the sounds that you’re going to make you won’t have longevity in this industry. That’s not what making music is about. It’s about gravitating to sounds and beats that genuinely speak to you.
The next track I’ve made is a pop song, but at the same time, I never planned to write it. The beautiful thing about being a musician is that you’re always growing and different sounds start speaking to you. Without thinking about it too much you’re always evolving, as long as you stay in touch with who you are.
I’m a big believer in not over-thinking what you’re trying to create. Just let it come organically. The things that speak to me come from a really real place.
You sing on most of your tracks – do you have a singing background?
Alison Wonderland: Nope. What happened was, when I started, I wrote a lot of instrumentals and sent them out to singers but no one wanted to work with me, because I wasn’t well known at the time. I had been singing before on some of my old stuff though, which I produced under the name White Fang, so it wasn’t totally new to me.
A big influence of mine is LCD Soundsystem. James Murphy, the band’s singer, isn’t over produced or over thought, but his music speaks to me because it’s in his range. If you know how to write around your own voice then you can write around it. When I’m writing I’m so in my own head that thinking about someone else signing what I’m writing is weird. If I’m going to collab with someone, I’d want them to write their own part.
How do you deal with criticism?
Alison Wonderland: People always want to think you’re not doing anything up on stage, and that’s the part that hurts me the most because I’ve worked so hard for years and years on this. And I’m a technical DJ, too, which is why I have GoPros over my hands when I play, so people can see that there is life behind the deck. It also adds another element of connection between a crowd and the performer.
You have a very unique sense of fashion. Tell us about your love of oversized T-shirts.
Alison Wonderland: I’ve just always worn them. Ever since I started in the industry I was wearing them, and I think it was because I didn’t want anyone to look at me as a female DJ. That’s not what I wanted them to focus on. I do like wearing them though. Ever since high school I’ve been in overalls or oversized T-shirts. I’ve just always been like that. I collect T-shirts, too. I love rare, vintage ones. In fact, when I have time off I find it relaxing to go vintage T-shirt shopping.
You once said that when you were in your band you played a show to 30 people in the basement of a club and you got such a rush from it that you couldn’t even sleep at night. So how do you feel after playing a show at a festival like Coachella?
Alison Wonderland: I get the same rush. I could be playing to 2 people or 20,000 people and I wouldn’t feel any different honestly. I just don’t care. I’ll be happy playing wherever. I can play for hours. I love performing live. I can be super tired, or going through some rough stuff and then I’ll just walk on stage and it will all be fine.
What do you have coming up in terms of new music?
Alison Wonderland: I have that pop-y track coming out soon, it’s called “Messiah.” I don’t know when it’s being released though.
That concludes our interview, but we’d like to thank Alison Wonderland very much for taking the time to talk with us!