Photos by Danny Lane
LA-based musician Chloe Saavedra and Seattle based producer Zhone’s new project WTRGRL came into fruition during quarantine and burst onto the scene with “Party Alone”. The track features an addictive, upbeat, hyperpop sound that celebrates having fun in solitude. The European techno influence combined with whispered vocals gradually build and layer throughout the song as more elements of noise and distorted vocals enter the mix. The turnaround of the song becomes even more melodic and danceable, making the song a must-listen start to finish — especially while our only option right now is to party on our own.
Chloe and Zhone shared some of her favorite things with us — get to know them a bit better below.
Chloe
Larry Sultan
I’m very inspired by Larry Sultan, he works brilliantly with color film and has an insider’s look at Los Angeles in the 70s without giving in to Hollywood tropes and stereotypes. One of my favorite projects of his was The Valley, where he photographed porn sets in the 70s, yet manages to never make the images about porn. His compositions let you see this interesting almost impossible view of porn where there is no object, only subject, and the subject is typically shapes, color and an uncanny sense of humor.
Sandii
Sandii is a Japanese artist from the 80s who developed her style and sound in Hawaii and in part collaboration with Yellow Magic Orchestra members. I’m obsessed with her sound, style, and vision. I feel like she is wildly underrated and just such an incredible magical person. Here’s Zoot Kook off of her Eating Pleasure album:
The Tempest drum machine by Dave Smith and Roger Linn
The Tempest is my go-to drum machine to be creative with and make beats and sounds that feel out of the box from what I would create on the computer. The Tempest has an insane amount of possibilities, you can
connect and control it via Logic, you can filter and modulate each pad and create tons of personalized kits etc. Here’s a video of me playing it
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Zhone
Acme Smoked Whitefish Salad
If there is anything that I could eat everyday of my life it would be Whitefish Salad. I finally found a place in Baltimore that carries it and it gives me a little bit of hope everyday during quarantine. Actually, one of the first times Chloe and I played music together we went to Frankel’s in Greenpoint, BK after and got Whitefish sandwiches. I remember it fondly.
CYCLES by Slate + Ash
This is one of my favorite software buys in the past few months. It’s so much more sophisticated than other granular engines and uses up so much f*cking cpu. I love it. Whenever I bring out
some of my patches during sessions people are like “What is THAT”. I want every song to twinkle.
Fernet Branca
Everyone hates me for liking it. I hate me for liking it. But it’s my favorite drink and it calms me down.
