Wassu is an artist who is constantly on the move. And as corny as that opening line may come across, juggling a full-time career, an active touring schedule, a consistent release calendar, and more all in the same 24 hours a day that you – dear reader – and I both have is no easy task.
And while it might be easy to assume that his secret sauce is resting while he can and saving what he’s got for the moments that matter most, it’s the complete opposite. Wassu states that, on top of everything mentioned above, being a disciplined and consistent long-distance runner, running upwards of more than an hour every day, is the thing that gives him the focus and direction needed to supercharge his ambitions in the studio while on the road.
It might take a lot of work, but Wassu is reaping the rewards for his efforts. Not only did he drop a two-track EP on the iconic Tale + Tone label, but he’s also made his Portland-Oregon debut on February 18th, courtesy of Team Yellow Events.
Snag Tickets Here while you can and stream the EP below before diving into our in-depth conversation on how physical exercise can impact the creativity of an artist at the top of their game.
In what ways does long-distance running specifically affect your creativity and musical output when you return to the studio?
I am so glad that you asked this question. Running is the only time of day when I don’t have my phone on me (Garmin’s 945 Forerunner Watch has the capability where you can sync your Spotify playlists offline onto your device so you don’t need a phone – pretty neat)! I purposely leave it behind so I can have time to myself and unplug from the day-to-day stresses we all know and worry about (social media, work, finances, etc.). It is the one time when I can healthily process my thoughts with little to no distractions. Some people have asked if I listen to my own music when I’m out running and 99.9% of the time I don’t. I, more often than not, listen to music in other genres to build my “inspiration bin” (i.e. a stash of inspiring ideas that I can use for my own work).
Separate from that, however, running for 60+ minutes a day gives me time to think critically about things (whether it’s my social life, something that happened that day, or anything really). Sometimes, I take these thoughts and try to convey or express how I’m feeling through my music. These thoughts in parallel with my inspiration bin help me get back to the studio feeling refreshed and ready to go.
Last but not least, running a season’s bests (I think personal records are close to unattainable at this point as I’m 20 pounds heavier since my racing weight in college) is GREAT fuel for ideas for the studio. I recently surprised myself in a 3k last week and broke 10 minutes and that same night I finished a bootleg that I’m incredibly proud of (I played it for the first time in Miami a couple of weeks ago and it seemed to have gone down well)!
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How do you incorporate exercise into your daily routine, and how does it fit into your chaotic and packed schedule as a music producer?
This is a good one that I get asked a lot about.
It’s about compartmentalizing and trying to stick to a schedule. For example, Wednesdays are typically my “workout” days where I do intervals on the track or an Upper Aerobic run (i.e. 45+ minutes at Half Marathon race pace). Saturdays / Sundays are my long run days, usually north of 2 hours of continuous running with an Upper Aerobic workout mixed in.
Depending on the tour schedule for that weekend, I’ll interchange these. For the triple-header, I had with Marsh back in the last week of January (Phoenix Friday, Chicago Saturday, Indianapolis Sunday), I decided to do the Long Run on Friday, given the better weather and the allotted time I had all day in PHX. Big ups to my boy Yahra for joining me for the full 15 miles via Scooter.
I have goals (not just musical goals, but running goals too). If I don’t put the work in to achieve these goals, no matter how stressful or intense my schedule is, I won’t get the results, period. There are plenty of people out there with rigorous schedules (i.e. two jobs, kids, etc.) who are still finding the time to pursue their goals in life (be it family-oriented goals, athletic goals, performing arts goals, etc.). When you’re thinking twice about taking that day off, just know someone out there is putting the work in when you’re not.
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What was the most shocking quality running brought to your career in music that you never would have expected when you started running?
Balance. That’s it. It has provided so much balance and inspiration to my life, too! I feel like pre-Covid, when I wasn’t all that into fitness, I let music consume my life. I would always get so hung up about label rejections, missed gig opportunities, and whatnot.
Ever since I picked up this long-lost passion, rejections and failures have still happened musically, but I’m counteracting that with accomplishments I’ve made on the roads and track. It keeps the positive momentum and carries an intense light with me in the studio.
Whatever it may be, it’s important to have balance in your life and to take breaks from things now and then. That way, you can return relaxed and refreshed with a new perspective. I almost feel this way after every run I do! This is why “vacations” exist in the corporate world. Having the “on switch” always on when it relates to anything in life will inevitably lead to burnout (I experienced this with investment banking, music, and, heck, even running).
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In what ways does exercise influence your ability to collaborate with other artists, musicians, or producers?
I haven’t quite had this experience yet as I don’t know many other producer-runners (if that’s a thing). The only person that really comes to mind is Facundo Mohrr and we’ve had brief exchanges about his experience running the NYC Marathon back in 2021 (this is a bucket list race for me and I’ve always dreamed of running it).
My running club, RadgeRunners, is always taking applications for new talent. So, if you’re able to radge and, yet, still run – you may qualify! DM me for more info (#runtogetherradgetogether).
What’s something nobody tells you about consistent, regular exercise that you wish more people knew about?
There are not just physical benefits involved but also mental ones. Studies show that regular aerobic exercise helps stimulate dopamine production (i.e. the “reward” hormone). I feel also for myself that since I’m constantly on my phone, it gives me the chance to decompress and gather myself for that one hour a day. Regular exercise can also lead to improved sleep and healthier skin. These are all things that I’ve known for quite some time now, but only recently did I rediscover this long-lost passion of mine (I felt a bit burnt out after my college years running consistently north of 80 miles a week).
The last thing I’ll mention is that the running community is one that has no boundaries. I’ve made so many friends along the way pursuing this passion and this has, in turn, led me to be a happier and better person. I’ve made so many friendships over the past 20+ years since I started this wild journey that I wouldn’t trade for the world. All of these friendships started with one common interest: running.
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Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
