Talking With Tad Wily
Tad Wily has had some excellent releases on Smash Hit Music and Jay Shepeard's Retro Fit label. The Polish producer currently residing in London is definitely an act to watch out for in the future.
You mentioned you like post punk in a previous interview which resonates with me as that was my gateway into electronic music. How did you get into electronic music?
It all happened when I fell off the horse, saw the light and heard voices... after that I was all electronic!!! Honestly, I don’t put music in electronic/non-electronic categories; I only care if it’s unique and has character. Electronic instruments and production sort of add another dimension to otherwise slightly predictable, traditional setup of drums, bass, guitar etc. On the other hand purely electronic music often sounds too rigid and kind of soulless to me. I’ve always been a fan of these two qualities mixed together.
What were you’re early music experiences growing up in Poland?
Jazz and Christian church songs.
Do you think being polish gives a unique perspective on your work?
I’ve never had a chance to be German or Cuban for a while, so I can’t tell really.
What’s your approach to making your records?
Each time with EP’s or remixes there is some serious planning before, but it never truly works. Having some ‘to do’ list and a pre-planned route helps when things get stuck, or out of control for some reason.
What sort of gear do you use in the studio?
Hand made shakers, ashtrays made out of beer cans, duct tape... I also tend to sample a lot of instruments for future use and keep all my samples along with projects on external hard drives, so I’m mobile with it. Some instruments like my guitar, various Percs, Alesis Ion, Microkorg, Casio CZ1 are in the studio on permanent basis, others, like Arp Odyssey for instance (that I use quite often in my tracks), I borrow sometimes to sample extensively. The best piece of gear I have though, is a 1968 reel-to-reel tape recorder. It’s not being used too often, but it looks dope.
How is working with Jay Shepeard for your Retrofit release different to working on your own?
I have to walk a few miles, take the Tube, change twice, take a bus and then walk again in order to move the Hi-Hat by 0.5 Db on the fader. We live on opposite sides of town, so the majority of work is being done over the internet, but we meet sometimes in Jay’s little studio to try some things out, or to polish the mixes up.
If there was any time in music you could visit what would it be?
Some recent studies on Neanderthal culture indicate they were quite a musically gifted species.
I would totally love to hear them beat boxing over a dead Sabre tooth Tiger.
How did your remix of James Curd come about?
Layne from Smash Hit Music Co. picked me for this job while they were putting together the James Curd “Through All This Stuff” EP. I really like the original with JDub and was super happy I could have a whack at it.
Do you also DJ as well as producing, do you play your own music out?
Yeah, I’ve been DJing under various monikers for about 5-6 years now. It’s been somewhat quiet in this department for ‘Tad Wily’ but I guess it’s gonna change soon. As for my own music, I don’t usually play tunes I only finished recently. Hours spent on writing tracks leave sort of mental scars, you know..
What’s on the horizon for Tad Wily?
Fame, wealth, that kind of stuff.












