Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Smitech Wesson

What is your earliest memory connected to music? It’s less of a song and more of a feeling—the hum of electronic devices and the glow of old screens. I remember being fascinated by the “high-tech” sounds of the late 80s and 90s, those synthesized textures that felt like they were coming from the future.

How did your passion for creating music begin? It started with a curiosity about how to bottle a specific mood. I wanted to create something that felt like a bridge between mechanical precision and human emotion. Once I got my hands on a DAW and started tweaking oscillators, there was no turning back.

What’s the story behind your current music project? Smitech Wesson is an exploration of contrast. It’s where my engineering background meets my creative side. Whether it’s heavy Acid or cinematic Synthwave, the goal is always the same: to create a high-octane, immersive atmosphere that feels both retro and modern.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before? It’s a “Cyberpunk drive through a digital city.” It’s cinematic, rhythmic, and heavy on the atmosphere. Specifically for a track like “Road Ankara,” it’s a blend of melodic Synthwave nostalgia and modern electronic grit.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music? That you don’t need a wall of hardware to make a massive sound. I used to think more gear meant better music, but I’ve realized that I can do much more with less. Focusing on the core “engine” of a track—the bass and the lead—is what really makes it move.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process? Ableton Live is my main playground. I’ve recently been using the Akai MPK Mini Mk3 to get more hands-on with my melodies. For that specific Synthwave texture, it’s all about finding the right balance of saturation and analog-style synthesis.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now? I’ve been listening to a lot of Cassetter—actually, collaborating on “Road Ankara” was a blast because our styles really locked into that dark, melodic space. I’m always looking for artists who push the boundaries of the Retrowave aesthetic.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision? My background in mechanical engineering definitely bleeds into the music. I see tracks as systems; every layer has to serve a function. That discipline helps me keep the energy focused, especially when I’m trying to capture the feeling of a long-distance journey.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work? I want them to feel a sense of momentum and escape. When you put on a track like “Road Ankara,” I want you to feel like you’re the protagonist in a sci-fi film, leaving everything behind and heading toward something new.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far? Honesty. I recently learned that you shouldn’t try to inflate your story—just let the music speak for itself. If the track is good, the listeners will find the truth in it.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at? Playing a sunset set at a festival like Awakenings or a specialized Synthwave event like Outland would be incredible. Anywhere where the visuals and the sound can fully take over the space.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why? The Weeknd or Gesaffelstein. They both have this incredible ability to take dark, electronic underground sounds and make them feel massive and cinematic.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? Check out all my sounds on SoundCloud and follow the journey on Instagram.

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey? I want to keep evolving the Smitech Wesson sound—more collaborations, more genre-blending, and eventually taking this cinematic experience into a live setting with custom visuals.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way? That I’m a creator who values precision and atmosphere above all else. I hope they see the “mechanical soul” I try to put into every beat.

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