Dev (WTSN) didn’t start his journey as an artist in the traditional sense. In fact in the beginning, he might not have called himself an artist at all. There was no moment of stepping into the spotlight, no attachment of his name, face, or persona to the music he was creating. Instead, he found solace in the quiet craft of production—constructing instrumentals from the sanctuary of his bedroom, releasing them under an alias, and existing within the anonymity of the digital world. For a while, that was enough. The music spoke for itself, detached from the weight of identity or expectation, and that was where it stopped.
But for WTSN, creation was never meant to exist in isolation. His relentless drive to innovate, to push boundaries, to evolve, made it inevitable that he would step beyond the shadows of production and into the world of artistry. The veil of anonymity wasn’t going to contain his vision forever. Over time, piece by piece, this line between the music and the man behind it dissolved, and WTSN found himself not just a producer, but a fully-fledged artist—one whose voice, presence, and identity are now inseparable from the music he makes. We see this most literally in his debut mixtape “I Do This Because…”, which he released earlier this month. It’s a project which reveals the things that WTSN wants more than anything, success, and to be a driver of inspiration and innovation to those around him.
The first song on the mixtape, “New Leaf”, is this magnificent blend of orchestral heritage, stabbing electronic synths and global rhythms, a concoction of sounds which, through an unexpected juxtaposition, breathe new life into each element. The live orchestral introduction is a feature which sets a precedent for the mixtape, this willingness to explore, to experiment beyond the peripheries of conventional hip hop. The vocals are set back to begin with, quiet and unassuming. WTSN is goading us, he wants us to lean in, to grasp the words he is saying. There’s no need. Before you know it, the vocals are now sat at the front of the mix, gently riding on the serenity of the instrumental. WTSN’s voice is clear and it oozes confidence.
I don’t want to say anything else about the mixtape, for fear of giving away any surprises that lie within it. Instead, I implore you to go and listen. But before you do that, here’s a chat I had with WTSN, where we discuss the inspirations behind the project, his evolution as an artist, and the collaborations that shaped this body of work.
What influenced the themes and concepts of “I Do This Because…” (IDTB)? Were there any particular experiences or stories that shaped the songwriting and production process?
In terms of the inspiration behind the themes, it is basically a story of my hunger for success and growth as an artist. In relation to songwriting, most of the inspiration comes just from everyday experiences. It could be simply me walking through Central London, a conversation with someone, or about someone I’m interested in, you know? In terms of the production, most of the inspiration came from the music I was listening to at the time of creating the project… There was a lot of music from around the world, artists like Fela Kuti, and Marcos Valle. You can tell I’ve been heavily inspired by rhythm on this project, it serves as the foundation for most of the songs but in a way that I feel is not standard in your typical Hip-Hop/Rap. For the intro song “New Leaf”, originally, it never included strings. I always felt it needed something and I could just hear an orchestra playing in my head every time I listened to it. So I knew I had to call some friends and try to make something happen. In the end it worked out, I was able to record a string quartet and I think it turned out beautifully.
Can you walk us through your creative process for this EP? How did your approach to songwriting and production differ for this project, and what were the key musical influences behind IDTB?
For the most part, the songs on this project started with the beat. Usually, there’s me in my home studio, playing around with ideas and sounds searching until something clicks. But it was different for some songs on this album. For example, “Legacy” is heavily inspired by J.Cole, in particular his song “ i n t e r l u d e” off of The Fall Off, the lyrics and flow are inspired by his LA Leakers freestyle, it’s got that triplet flow, and I loved the rhyme pattern he used in that so I wanted to replicate it. The writing style for “Uptown” is inspired by Mike Skinner and his unorthodox and conversational style of rapping. I love that man. But like I mentioned previously the tape is influenced by rhythms from around the world, and in particular in some parts, by UK Jazz. You can hear it in “Uptown” and “G.O.M.P.”. I was listening to a lot of Ezra Collective at the time those two tracks were made.
Did you work with any other artists or producers on this EP? How did those collaborations influence the final sound, and how did you first connect with them?
I had the opportunity to collaborate with some amazing musicians on this project! An amazing flautist called YUIS and the ineffable Nick Walters. It was amazing how I was able to connect with Nick. I was put in touch with Nick through my piano teacher Kishon Khan, another giant in the UK Jazz scene. I remember seeing Nick play at Womad festival last year and being in awe, realising the calibre present on the song we have together! I am also collaborating with a very talented artist by the name of T.O.D. on the track “Rare Soul”. I’m very inspired by him, he’s super hungry. I also had the opportunity to record a string quartet for the intro to the project. A group of extremely talented young musicians! All in all, I think the live aspect and instrumentation to this project completely switches the dimension of the project, giving it a more raw feel.
In what ways do you think IDTB showcases your growth as an artist since your last release? What lessons have you carried forward into this project?
IDTB has been a complete evolution since my last EP. As a musician I’ve grown and developed into a better producer, songwriter, and performer learning throughout this project. Although I’ve still got a lot more to learn, there’s endless things I would like to take which I haven’t applied to IDTB and apply to my next endeavour. 
What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from IDTB, and how do you plan to bring that to life in your live performances? Are there any unique elements you’re looking to incorporate, or specific songs you’re especially excited to debut on stage?
It’s weird, I never usually think about how I want people to feel when I make music. I’m usually thinking about how it makes me feel. Maybe that’s a bit selfish, I don’t know haha. I guess my reasoning behind that is that if it makes me feel a certain way, I’m sure it would make someone else listening feel the same. Like “Uptown”, it makes me want to dance, hopefully someone else would feel the same about it. But if there was one thing I would want people to take away from this album, it would be to feel inspired and to listen to your intuition. If you’re a creative, business owner or in any field, just remember the initial reason as to why you chose to do what you’re doing… stay focused. That’s what IDTB represents, it’s a reminder.
I would love to perform this project with a live band, I think it just makes sense considering the direction I took in its creation. My ideal situation would be to have Nick and YUIS perform alongside me when performing “G.O.M.P.” and “Uptown”, and then there’s me with a tambourine. I think the crowd would go mental. I’m also looking to perform “Rare Soul” with TOD, as we are yet to share the stage together.
What’s next for you after the release of IDTB? Are you planning any collaborations or new projects? And on a more personal note, how does it feel to have this EP out in the world? What emotions are you experiencing now that this release is out in the world for people to hear?
I have a tonne of new music I’m working on, I would even say it’s elevated from IDTB. I have a collaboration EP set to release later on in the year with upcoming rapper cush, from North London. I’m also going to launch a new series on socials called #FreesetyleFriday, whereby I’ll be releasing a freestyle every Friday, just to keep the pen in check. I’m excited for 2025, a lot of music to be released! I would love to start working on my debut album, I have a lot of ideas I want to spill into that, and I want to win a mercury prize for it. I’m saying it now!
I’m super proud of this project, it’s been a journey for real. I’ve connected with some great musicians and artists and I’m excited that it’s now out. In saying that, at the same time I feel quite anxious, as I think my music is quite niche and unique so I’m just hoping people gravitate towards it and can see what I can offer.
Listen to “I Do This Because…” on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6lE4OioE18qIMy37EEjGK7?si=b3G5aWHLRc2ZDUtFzRRSug
