What So Not

What So Not is an Australian electronic music project that begins as a duo made up of record producers Emoh Instead and Flume. The act continues from 2010 and is associated with trap, wonky, halftime and mix-driven electronic music.

Formation and members

What So Not starts as a collaboration between Emoh Instead and Flume. Emoh Instead is the stage name of Christopher John Emerson. Flume later leaves the project in 2015, and What So Not continues as an act led by Emoh Instead.

Releases and collaborations

The project releases its debut EP, 7 Dollar Bill, in 2011. Around this period it also issues remixes of artists including Peking Duk, Tom Piper and Major Lazer. In 2013 it releases The Quack EP on OWSLA, with a collaboration featuring Action Bronson. The track “Jaguar” follows later in 2013.

In 2014, What So Not and RL Grime release “Tell Me”. In 2015, “Gemini” features George Maple and appears as the lead track from the Gemini EP; that EP also includes collaborations with Dillon Francis, Tunji Ige and KLP. The release is made available as a free download and gains strong online circulation, with more than 800,000 downloads, as well as charting on the iTunes Electronic EP chart. It also appears on year-end best-of lists. In the same period, What So Not, Baauer and George Maple co-produce “Ghost” for Tkay Maidza.

In 2016, What So Not releases the six-track Divide & Conquer EP, which includes the previously issued track “Lone”. That year the project also co-produces “Afterglow” with George Maple and Djemba Djemba for Tkay Maidza’s debut album. Another collaboration, “Waiting”, arrives in 2016 with RL Grime and Skrillex, though it has been in production since 2013.

In 2017, What So Not releases “Better” with LPX and “Be Ok Again” with Daniel Johns. In 2018, the debut album Not All the Beautiful Things is released. The album includes collaborations with Skrillex, Slumberjack, San Holo and Toto. Its lead single, “Stuck In Orbit”, is co-produced with Jono Ma of Jagwar Ma. Another single, “Beautiful”, follows, and the project tours Australia on the “Beautiful Things” World Tour.

In 2019, What So Not releases “We Can Be Friends” featuring Herizen. The track is linked to a songwriting workshop in Nicaragua, and J Dilla is cited as a key inspiration for it.

Touring and live profile

What So Not tours internationally and appears at festivals including Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Pukkelpop, Ultra Music Festival and Lollapalooza. It also undertakes the Massive Universe Tour across venues in Australia in 2013.

Recognition and chart performance

The project appears on the Australian Singles Chart, Triple J Hottest 100 and the iTunes Electronic chart. “Gemini” reaches number 52 on the Australian Singles Chart and later places in Triple J Hottest 100.