Electronic music producer and DJ Whethan was just a teenager when he first broke onto the scene, and after a decade, he still continues to delight and surprise us.
The multi-Platinum artist has billions of streams to his name, with megahits including “MONEY ON THE DASH,” “When I’m Down” and “High” with Dua Lipa, with a genre-blending approach that’s versatile and eclectic, keeping him in high demand. You may also recognize him from collabs with Oliver Tree, Rico Nasty and more, as well as producing for everyone from Joji and Megan Thee Stallion to The Chainsmokers. He’s also beloved for his stage presence, making showstopping appearances at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Ultra Music Festival, Red Rocks Amphitheatre and more.
He’s also been very busy this summer, embracing his dubstep roots with “I GO PUNK” with BKTHERULA in May, and his WAREHOUSE.WAVS project. At the moment, he’s on his WAREHOUSE.WAVS Tour across the U.S., with dates through December. In the midst of it all, we had the pleasure of getting to know Whethan as our Man Crush Monday. Read the full interview below.
(Photo credit: Takumu Kamihagi)
Name: Ethan Snoreck
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Birthday: May 25
Zodiac sign: Gemini
Fun Facts:
1. In May, he released his new single “I GO PUNK,” a collaboration with BKTHERULA.
Whethan: I’ve been a fan of BK for the longest time. She made the perfect collaborator—it was the perfect sound for this beat and perfect to play out at both of our own shows. It’s really cool when I’m working with an artist and we can make something that both of our fan bases get. Usually when I get with an artist, I know what they do so I try to curate something that works with their style. This was the perfect blend of our sounds.
2. His dream vacation spot is Thailand.
Whethan: I really love Thailand. I went there one time with Skrillex back in the day on this crazy spot that was so peaceful, so chill and I haven’t gotten a chance to go back there since. I always remember feeling ‘This is the perfect
vacation, this is what a vacation is.” Everything was perfect.
Also Costa Rica, I love Costa Rica. Been there a few times and thought, “Great vacation.”
I guess I’d go back to Italy too. Well, to a place I’ve never been there. I haven’t been to certain places in Italy yet that I’d like to see.
3. He’s not afraid to admit he as an obsessive personality and gets into lots of things all the time.
Whethan: I get obsessed with everything immediately and I put everyone around me onto it. It’s always something so random, too. It’s usually something musical, just like a sound or something. Probably yerba mate right now.
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4. At the moment, boots are his favorite thing to wear.
Whethan: I’m loving boots right now, I’ve become such a boots guy. I have all these old vintage military boots. I don’t know, I’m kind of obsessed with the boots—I was never a boots guy! I was literally just a sneaker-skaterhead until I die—Nikes, Vans. But lately I’ve just been rocking military boots all the time and it’s kind of the new swag.
5. There are a lot of things that never fail to make him smile.
Whethan: All my friends definitely. Sometimes just playing video games with them just makes me happy. My friends still live in Chicago so I don’t see them a lot—the ones I went to school with—so that’s just a fun way that we’ll get back. I’ve been really into movies lately again, like a good movie.
6. Tame Impala’s “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” may be his favorite song of all time.
Whethan: I’ve always thought there was something otherworldly about it and then I listened to it and I’m like, “This is just crazy.”
There’s a lot of songs that could go into that No. 1 for me, Skrillex would be in there, Daft Punk. But I don’t know, I think Tame Impala is taking it.
6. If he could travel anywhere in the world for a week, there are a few spots he’d consider first.
Whethan: I’ve been able to see a lot of really cool places. I do love London, I’ve spent a lot of time there. I also feel like I’m due to go back to Japan soon. I was actually just in Michigan. My family, we’re all from Chicago, and Michigan is like right there. We grew up all having lake houses on all these tiny little lakes, and that’s honestly a vibe, too. We got to go after Electric Forest this year. We stopped by and just chilled for a couple days and that was fun, like I feel like I could stay there longer. A week might be too much, but it’s a nice getaway. Not the one house though—if you know, you know.
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7. We asked him who makes him laugh more than anyone else, and his response was bittersweet.
Whethan: That’s a good one. It’s a sad one because immediately I think of Oliver Tree. I feel like Oliver was the funniest dude. He made me laugh the hardest. Maybe even still, from the grave, he still makes me laugh the hardest honestly. Either him or my other friend, Trevor. Either Trevor or Oliver, they take the cake, I’d say. They go down as the funniest people I’ll know in my life. They literally make me laugh uncontrollably every time.
8. His favorite desserts are ice cream and churros.
Whethan: Maybe both of them. I think ice cream and churros together, that’s my favorite dessert.
9. He’s probably seen The Dark Knight more times than any other movie.
Whethan: I don’t even care for superhero stuff, but I feel like there’s this symbolic connection for me with Batman. I loved those movies—they were shot in Chicago. Honestly I’ve probably watched it a thousand times. Either that or Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. I’ve watched that pretty religiously, too.
10. One thing that’s important to Whethan is the understanding that he’s given his all to do what he does.
Whethan: I feel like I’ve sacrificed my life for it, I’m like here for this. There’s nothing else I would do. To the core, I’m here, in music. This is it. I’m very inspired to make the greatest music ever right now. Honestly, I genuinely feel that way. I know what it’s going to take, I’m seeing it ahead—I know I’m gonna have to probably call The Avengers and put the dream team together to do it, but I think that’s what I need to do. We’re going to do what needs to be done for the people. I’m a man of the people. I want to keep making music for people if it’s making them happy, as well as myself. If we can both do that, I’m happy.
For more on our musical Man Crushes, click HERE to learn all about “Asleep Talking” artist Magnus Ferrell.
