Who is What So Not? What So Not Songs, Music, Discography & Artists Like What So Not
When you’re digging through electronic music today, What So Not keeps showing up in playlists, festival lineups, and on 4D4M listening sessions. What So Not isn’t just another producer dropping tracks. The project represents a specific moment in electronic music history where Australian artists started pushing the genre into new territories. Adam has long appreciated artists who take risks with their sound, and What So Not absolutely fits that category. This Australian electronic duo created a blueprint for blending experimental production with accessibility, crafting tracks that work equally well in headphones and at massive festivals.
Who Is What So Not?
What So Not began as a collaboration between Flume and Emoh Instead in 2010, emerging from the Australian electronic music scene at a time when dubstep and experimental bass were gaining serious momentum globally. The project was named after a casual phrase and became the vehicle for some of the most innovative electronic music of the 2010s. While Flume eventually pursued a solo career and parted ways with the project in 2015, Emoh Instead has continued developing What So Not into something even more personal and experimental.
Emoh Instead is a producer and DJ who approaches electronic music with genuine creative adventure. Rather than chase trends, he’s consistently used the What So Not platform to explore new production techniques, collaborate with unexpected artists, and push the boundaries of what electronic music can express. What So Not has become one of Australia’s most respected electronic music exports, touring globally and earning respect from underground enthusiasts and mainstream audiences alike.
The project achieved significant success with hits like “Innerbloom,” “Gemini,” “Jaguar,” and “High You Are.” These tracks proved that complex, production-heavy electronic music could resonate with millions of listeners when crafted with genuine artistry.
What So Not’s Sound Explained
What So Not occupies a fascinating space in electronic music. Their primary genres include bass music, electronic dance music, and experimental production. But that description undersells what actually happens when you listen. Their sound combines dubstep elements, trap influences, ambient textures, and atmospheric production into something more nuanced than typical bass-heavy music.
The signature What So Not aesthetic includes intricate production details, atmospheric buildups, and emotional resonance. Tracks often feature heavily processed vocals, layered synths, and bass elements ranging from subtle to overwhelming. What makes them stand out is the restraint they show. Not every What So Not track needs to be maximally aggressive. Sometimes they build tension through sparse, carefully placed elements. This approach influenced a generation of producers working in bass music.
What So Not doesn’t rely on traditional vocal hooks. Instead, they treat vocals as another instrument to be deconstructed and reimagined. Guest vocalists feature prominently on many tracks, adding human warmth to intricate production. This balance between mechanical precision and emotional warmth defines the What So Not sound.
Top 15 What So Not Tracks
- “High You Are (Branchez Remix)”: A high-energy rework capturing infectious festival energy while maintaining intricate production sensibilities.
- “Innerbloom: What So Not Remix”: Their transformative remix of RÜFÜS DÜ SOL deepened emotional resonance while adding kinetic energy.
- “Gemini (feat. George Maple)”: Features George Maple’s delicate vocals, showcasing their ability to craft sophisticated pop-oriented electronic music.
- “Mercy (2022 Edit)”: Collaboration with MØ showing continued evolution, bringing updated production into contemporary spaces.
- “Lone: Slow Hours Remix”: With GANZ, JOY., and Slow Hours, this balances multiple production sensibilities cohesively.
- “With a Smile (What So Not & Synergy’s ‘Dreamer’ Dub)”: Featuring Maiah Manser, existing in the space between ambient music and dance production.
- “Jaguar”: A masterclass in building tension and release, a recognizable production statement about bass-heavy music possibilities.
- “The One (feat. Buunshin, Aiko)”: A collaborative piece bringing multiple creative voices into What So Not’s sonic framework.
- “20:25”: With Flux Pavilion and The Chain Gang of 1974, this demonstrates creative autonomy while collaborating with established figures.
- “Feel It (feat. Tunji Ige)”: With Good Times Ahead, bringing organic groove-based approaches to their production vocabulary.
- “Tell Me”: One of their most celebrated originals, balancing electronic elements with emotional vulnerability.
- “Not All The Beautiful Things”: Title track from their debut album setting the tone with atmospheric production.
- “Ughh”: Leaning heavily into bass weight while maintaining detail-oriented production approach.
- “Buried”: Demonstrating capacity for darker, introspective production beyond party contexts.
- “Eternally”: Recent track proving What So Not remains actively engaged in pushing their sound forward.
Why 4D4M Vibes With What So Not
The connection between 4D4M’s approach and What So Not’s trajectory is genuine. Both represent artists who refuse to be boxed into single genres. What So Not could have made variations of “Innerbloom” forever, but instead chose to evolve, experiment, and take creative risks. That commitment to artistic growth is something 4D4M deeply respects.
Additionally, What So Not’s emphasis on staying current with production trends while maintaining distinctive artistry aligns with 4D4M’s approach. Neither artist chases nostalgia. Both understand that electronic music’s strength lies in constant evolution. What So Not proved you could be a serious artist in bass music without treating the genre as limiting or sonically restrictive.
What So Not Discography
| Year | Album/Project | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | What So Not (Project Formation) | Independent |
| 2012 | The Quip EP | Future Classic |
| 2014 | What So Not Remix Collection Vol. 1 | Future Classic |
| 2015 | Flume & What So Not Split | Future Classic |
| 2018 | Not All the Beautiful Things | OWSLA |
| 2019 | Divide & Conquer EP | OWSLA |
| 2021 | What So Not Compilation Tracks | OWSLA |
| 2023 | Recent Singles & Collabs | OWSLA |
What So Not Live and Touring
What So Not’s live presence is central to their identity. They’ve played nearly every major electronic music festival globally: Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, Lollapalooza, Pukkelpop, and countless others. Their DJ sets showcase a different side compared to studio productions, blending originals with edits and remixes revealing their broader taste in electronic music.
Emoh Instead’s live approach reflects the same thoughtfulness as studio work. Rather than sequencing hits, What So Not’s shows often tell a narrative arc, moving through different emotional and sonic territories. They’ve performed at scales from intimate club gigs to massive festival stages with tens of thousands in attendance. This versatility proves the fundamental strength of their music: it works everywhere.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About What So Not
Who Started What So Not?
What So Not began as a collaborative project between Flume and Emoh Instead in 2010. The two Australian producers combined their creative sensibilities to create electronic music blending experimental production with pop appeal. While Flume moved on to pursue a solo career in 2015, Emoh Instead has continued developing the What So Not project independently, maintaining creative control and pushing the sound forward through new collaborations.
What Genre Is What So Not?
What So Not is primarily categorized as electronic dance music, bass music, and dubstep, though their sound doesn’t fit neatly into any single genre. The project incorporates trap, ambient production, atmospheric sound design, and experimental electronic elements. Different What So Not tracks can feel quite different, yet they maintain cohesive artistic identity through production philosophy and aesthetic choices rather than strict genre adherence.
What Are What So Not’s Most Popular Songs?
What So Not’s biggest tracks include “Innerbloom” (their remix of RÜFÜS DÜ SOL), “Gemini” featuring George Maple, “High You Are,” “Jaguar,” and “Tell Me.” These songs showcased their ability to create emotionally engaging electronic music with broad appeal. “Innerbloom” particularly proved they could take existing tracks and make them feel entirely original through thoughtful remixing.
Is What So Not Still Making Music?
Yes, What So Not remains an active project. While output isn’t always at peak volume, Emoh Instead continues releasing new music and collaborating with other artists under the What So Not name. The project has evolved from primarily original production to embracing DJ-focused work and selective collaborations, reflecting an artist comfortable taking time between releases to maintain quality.
Why Did Flume Leave What So Not?
Flume and Emoh Instead parted ways in 2015 to pursue individual creative directions. Rather than conflict, the split reflected natural evolution as both artists desired autonomy over their creative output. Flume became one of the most innovative electronic producers of his generation. Both artists maintained mutual respect. The decision reflected the collaborative nature of the original project: it served its purpose as a creative meeting point.
What Should I Listen to First?
Start with “Innerbloom: What So Not Remix.” This track perfectly captures what makes the project special: thoughtful, sophisticated production applied to music that genuinely moves emotionally. From there, explore “Gemini” and “High You Are,” which showcase different facets of their approach. If you like those, dive into their debut album “Not All the Beautiful Things,” which demonstrates their full artistic vision.
How Has What So Not Influenced Electronic Music?
What So Not proved that bass music and electronic production didn’t have to choose between commercial accessibility and artistic credibility. The project showed a generation of producers you could make experimental music that resonated with mainstream audiences. Their collaborations with vocalists demonstrated electronic music could be fundamentally about human expression rather than pure technical achievement.
Listen to What So Not on Spotify
Listen to What So Not on SoundCloud
What So Not Online
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Spotify | Listen on Spotify |
| SoundCloud | Follow on SoundCloud |
| Twitter/X | @whatsonot |
| @whatsonot_certified | |
| YouTube | What So Not Channel |
| What So Not | |
| Bandcamp | What So Not Bandcamp |
