From being a college athlete to producing his own music, GorillaT made a lot of noise, literally, in the dubstep scene in 2023. The 22-year-old artist, whose real name is Tate Warner, started making electronic music just three years ago. and now he finds himself headlining tours, festivals and popular venues like Excision's “The Thunderdome.”
For many in the electronic dance music community, or any community, there is often a show, moment or song that sparks a deeper passion for it. Warner discovered this to be true when he went to a Subtronics show about three years ago. GorillaT account EDM.com that his origin story is this: “I went to that Subtronics concert, my friends dragged me there, I remember I actually didn't want to be there that much, and then the next day I went home and sold my PS4 and , half of my belongings so I can buy Ableton.”
After downloading the music production software, the next step was to discover your sound and means of promotion. When discussing his early sound, Warner notes that because Subtronics was his first show, he spent a lot of time trying to emulate their music.
“When an artist finds an artist who just changes their life like that, you spend a year or two trying to make songs exactly like him,” he explains. “A lot of my early songs at that time were more about trying to figure out how to make full songs in the style I wanted.”
But this imitation game did not last long. “Now I understand production on a level where I teach online, one-on-one, I mix people's songs, I have a Patreon,” says Warner, who now describes his sound first and foremost as “wonky,” the word appearing in the titles of several songs. “Once I figured out what style I liked, I was able to do it on my own in terms of my own sound design and the way I like the melodies to come together.”
Despite his success, Warner didn't always want to be a musician. In fact, he has been a student-athlete at Loyola University New Orleans for the past four years and recently dropped out of school to pursue his music career. Now, the only thing that survives from his past swimming dreams are “some state records,” he says.
Growing up in the sublime city of Golden, Colorado, a city near Denver and the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater, the swimmer-turned-musician had access to a lively EDM scene that would eventually cultivate the foundation for the dubstep music he wanted to create. . “He's been in the culture where I'm from,” says Warner, whose experiences playing shows by SVDDEN DEATH, Wooli, Virtual Riot and Infekt would eventually influence his own future sound.
About halfway through this three-year journey is when Warner found their music gaining more listeners, recognition, and fans. Their first single, “Stoned Ape Theory,” was released just two years ago in 2022, and after releasing 17 other singles on streaming platforms, their first full album came out in late 2023, uniting many of those tracks under one name. : Tales of a stoned ape. GorillaT had his first headlining show in July in Minneapolis and in 2023 alone he performed in Forbidden Kingdom, Apocalypse, and Lost Lands.
c/o Jam Management
So how does someone make so much noise in the span of a few years? We all have an idea of the answer to this question: social media. Warner attributes much of its success to the various platforms that fall under the umbrella term.
“I just don't see a better way to promote myself as an artist,” he says. “To do what a record label would have done for $10,000, I can just use my phone and spend a few days posting videos.”
With this strategy, Warner is quickly gaining speed in the industry. “The people who really understand this are the ones who will have the easiest time getting into this,” he says.
Warner values social media not only as a marketing tool, but also as a way to show transparency and gratitude toward fans, collaborators, and the venues they reserve for them.
“These people make my living!” Warner says. “I couldn't do this without all the fans.”
As a result, he finds that he is easily accessible at shows when he ventures into the crowd. He also discovers that a perfect combination of social connection with fans and being an insightful DJ results in an explosion of positive comments.
“I feel like half the reason they come to these shows is because they want to see you on stage; of course, they love your music. The basis of all this is honing your craft, and from there you can use social media to do it whatever you really want.”
To complement people seer With him on stage, Warner tries to read each room thoroughly so that the audience likes what they hear. “It seems like every place I go is vibing with slightly different things I'm releasing and so it's nice to be a good DJ and be able to change things up.”
c/o Jam Management
With the new attention his music and his work as a DJ are receiving comes new collaborations and insights. Warner says these collaborations helped in the creation and evolution of GorillaT's sound and brand. “It's wonderful to collaborate with people because I always learn a lot about their workflow and what works for them,” he says.
Upcoming collaborations Warner hints at include work with ProbCause, Hostage Situation, Ahee and Steller. New images and products that feel happy, trippy and welcoming are also in the works, she says.
However, a growing platform comes with greater scrutiny and greater chances of burnout. Warner points out that a career that relies on a computer and the Internet can easily blur the line between work and play.
“It always feels like playing until there are deadlines,” Warner says with a laugh as he emphasizes the importance of self-care. “I am capable of making the best music when everything around the music is going in the right direction.”
It seems to Warner that this momentum is not going to slow down any time soon, nor has it fully assimilated. “I don't think I believe it yet,” he says in disbelief. “I don't think that will ever change, that aspect of how grateful I am for all of this.”
GorillaT fans can catch him at upcoming performances at Ottawa's Escapade Music Festival and Excision's Paradise Blue in Cancun, among others. tour stops in 2024.
Follow GorillaT:
X: x.com/GorillaT_
Instagram: instagram.com/gorillatofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GorillaTMusic
Spotify: tinyurl.com/bddemzha
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