Renowned film director Ben Wheatley has been secretly leading a double life as musician Dave Welder, releasing 26 records in under a year across various genres. The prolific composer, known for his dark and experimental style, recently revealed that making music is an essential part of his creative process.
Wheatley's love affair with music began when he started experimenting with GarageBand, which quickly became an all-consuming obsession. He describes the experience as "this weird flow state where a tune pops out and it's like, 'Oh, fuck,'" and admits to often using music as a distraction from his film work or as a reward for completing tasks.
The director's approach to composing music is in line with the aesthetic of his latest project, Bulk – an experimental sci-fi film that features music created by Wheatley himself. He describes it as "very cottage industry, very handmade," reflecting the DIY ethos that drives much of his creative work.
Wheatley's passion for music has led him to collaborate on various projects, including a punk-style fanzine for fans to recreate the film and soundtrack using primitive equipment. The credits also pay tribute to influential musicians such as Aphex Twin, Neu!, and the Fall, highlighting Wheatley's eclectic musical influences.
While working on his latest film, Normal, with Bob Odenkirk, Wheatley continued to produce music in secret, often listening back to his own tracks late at night. He admits that hearing his own music can be indulgent but notes it as a "secret pleasure" of the creative process.
As Wheatley's passion for music grows, he has begun exploring new immersive experiences that combine film and sound in cinemas. This could include stacked sound systems and bespoke narrative light shows, creating an immersive experience akin to a gig combined with a film. While the economic viability of such events remains uncertain, Wheatley is undeterred, driven by his desire to share music with audiences.
In recent live performances as Dave Welder, he has been experimenting with playing music for crowds, citing the need to be heard on massive speakers rather than solely being consumed online. Despite the unexpected nature of this new creative path, Wheatley remains thrilled to be exploring it, noting that "music needs to be listened to by people."
Wheatley's love affair with music began when he started experimenting with GarageBand, which quickly became an all-consuming obsession. He describes the experience as "this weird flow state where a tune pops out and it's like, 'Oh, fuck,'" and admits to often using music as a distraction from his film work or as a reward for completing tasks.
The director's approach to composing music is in line with the aesthetic of his latest project, Bulk – an experimental sci-fi film that features music created by Wheatley himself. He describes it as "very cottage industry, very handmade," reflecting the DIY ethos that drives much of his creative work.
Wheatley's passion for music has led him to collaborate on various projects, including a punk-style fanzine for fans to recreate the film and soundtrack using primitive equipment. The credits also pay tribute to influential musicians such as Aphex Twin, Neu!, and the Fall, highlighting Wheatley's eclectic musical influences.
While working on his latest film, Normal, with Bob Odenkirk, Wheatley continued to produce music in secret, often listening back to his own tracks late at night. He admits that hearing his own music can be indulgent but notes it as a "secret pleasure" of the creative process.
As Wheatley's passion for music grows, he has begun exploring new immersive experiences that combine film and sound in cinemas. This could include stacked sound systems and bespoke narrative light shows, creating an immersive experience akin to a gig combined with a film. While the economic viability of such events remains uncertain, Wheatley is undeterred, driven by his desire to share music with audiences.
In recent live performances as Dave Welder, he has been experimenting with playing music for crowds, citing the need to be heard on massive speakers rather than solely being consumed online. Despite the unexpected nature of this new creative path, Wheatley remains thrilled to be exploring it, noting that "music needs to be listened to by people."
he's been making music as dave welder for like a year and just revealed it 
26 records already?!?! i'm lowkey obsessed with his experimental style 
the fact that he makes music on garageband is everything 
and now he's collaborating on a punk-style fanzine 
i need to check out his latest film bulk ASAP 
this dude is like a creative superhero 
Dave's secret life as a musician is giving me LIFE 
I need to get my hands on those 26 records ASAP 
he's like a true artist, you know? his approach to making music is super organic and intuitive, just letting the tunes flow from him without much filter. i love how he's collaborating with fans on this fanzine project too 
its all about community and sharing creativity.
whether its through his film work or music, ben wheatley is always pushing the boundaries and taking risks. and honestly, i think that's what makes his art so compelling - there's a sense of vulnerability and honesty behind everything he creates.
it just feels so true. we all need those little indulgences in our lives where we can just get lost in the sound and let go. ben wheatley gets that and i think thats why his music is so special.
I'm not buying this whole 'double life' thing... 26 records in under a year? That's some serious work. I want to see the sources for this alleged GarageBand obsession too. It sounds like he just found a new outlet for his creativity, but is it really this all-consuming? And what's with the DIY ethos being applied to music composition? Isn't that just another way of saying 'I'm not getting paid enough'? 
, like who knew our fave film director was a music prodigy too? 
his dark and experimental style is straight fire 
. It's amazing how he's been able to balance his film career with making music, and I love how he describes the creative process as a "weird flow state" 
. Keep following your dreams, Ben! 
! Who knew our favorite film director had such a hidden talent? It makes total sense though - music is all about vibes and atmosphere, just like filmmaking 
Does it change the way we experience a movie? Those are some questions I'm dying to know the answer to...
meanwhile, his approach to composing for bulk is so on point - that DIY ethos is everything 
anyway i'm kinda surprised he didn't do this sooner considering how much work goes into making films, but i guess that's the beauty of having two passions 
check out his new album 'bulk' on soundcloud 
.
. As long as he's making music that resonates with people, who cares about the economics? The guy's clearly got vision, and we should be excited to see where this takes him 
️. I've seen him play live as Dave Welder and it was such a unique experience 
. I'm all for exploring new ways to consume art, whether it's in cinemas or online 
. I mean, can't he just own up to being a multi-talented artist instead of compartmentalizing it into 'film director' and 'musician'? 
It also kinda makes me wonder if the Bulk film is just an excuse for him to showcase his music skills rather than actually creating something innovative for itself 
. And what's up with the collaboration on that punk-style fanzine? Sounds like a mess waiting to happen