[INTERVIEW] Whales Shares His Inspiring Story And Breaks Down His Latest EP, 'Fuckin’'

Every so often an artist comes around with such an intense level of passion and creativity that nothing can stand in their way. Faced with personal hardships and challenges of the upmost extremity, Whales (previously known as Sex Whales) is one of these impossible-to-find individuals. 

Battling Tourette's Syndrome, OCD, PTSD, depression, and more throughout his life, Whales is proof that you can do anything you set your mind to, regardless of what people might say are limitations. Fueled by his affinity for creating music and an unbreakable will to inspire others, Whales has amassed more than 4 billion streams and is currently the 4th most listened-to Israeli artist worldwide.

With his latest EP, Fuckin’, Whales is finally ready to share his full story. This journey is filled with perseverance and self-discovery as he celebrates 10 years of Whales and sets the stage for a bright, exciting future, along with his highly-anticipated forthcoming album, Two Worlds Apart.

Check out iEDM’s exclusive interview with Whales below.

iEDM: Can you give some insight as to why you are finally sharing your whole story with the world?

Whales: Hitting my 10-year mark of Whales, I had a very big moment of realization. I have never elaborated too much on my story. Occasionally I spoke about the obstacles I had to face in interviews but this is the first PR campaign I have done to spread my story. 

For the longest time, I just wanted people to enjoy my music. I did not want to look back and have people saying I leveraged my story to get to where I am now. I continually told myself that I cannot let my hardships and story convince people to be a Whales fan, it has to come from the music, live experiences, and my overall brand.

Now, I have reached a place where it feels like the right time to share my journey with the world. It means so much to be able to inspire and motivate people through learning about the roots of my project.

iEDM: How have your Israeli roots influenced your musical taste and identity? 

Whales: Being from the Middle East, in general, is not easy. People on the outside never seem to understand the full picture of it, and there is not as much hate among Middle Easterners as we are made out to be. I never grew up with any hate, but there were a lot of struggles and heavy feelings present. 

I was surrounded by a survival-oriented situation. Not just within my country but my Jewish people as well, I had lost members of my family to the Holocaust. Even though there is happiness where I am from, there was a lot of stress and pressure across the Israeli population. 

People wonder why Tel Aviv and Israel as a whole is one of the most advanced countries in technology and have leading companies. The reason is that we are raised to believe that if you do not make it or do something for yourself, nobody will be there to save you. We are a small country, but we are extremely hungry for success.

This can be seen throughout Israeli music professionals too. Everyone wants to prove themselves. There is a balance between the music being very happy and fun to dance to, with having sad components that reflect the issues we have in our country.

Everybody comes from a different culture. My music is a big blend of everything. I make all genres that embody all sorts of sentiment; Dubstep, melodic, happy, sad, it doesn’t matter. In retrospect, the way I was raised definitely translated to my musical taste and now my career.

iEDM: Which artists did you look up to as role models throughout your childhood and why?

Whales: Growing up, I was constantly searching for new music, whether it was listening to the latest hits or going through older genres. My role models were Borgore and Infected Mushroom, each have a very unique sound and are two of the biggest Israeli artists in electronic music. I am grateful to be good friends with Borgore now, along with sharing the stage with him and Infected Mushroom.

As a young child, there was nobody to look up to and EDM was definitely an underground movement. The word ‘DJ’ was laughable in my country. There was no DJ culture other than the psytrance community, so Borgore and Infected [Mushroom] are huge for ushering in the dubstep era. 

I was also (and still am) a massive fan of Savant. He is autistic too and was super inspiring to me. I was fascinated by the crazy blends and exotic kinds of sounds and melodies he would mix together, he is so extraordinary. Other artists I became a fan of later on are Skrillex, Excision, and Flux Pavilion.

Borgore (left) ; Infected Mushroom (right)

iEDM: Your story is incredibly inspiring, proving that anything is possible regardless of one’s hardships or setbacks in life. Are there any moments that come to mind where you were on the verge of giving up but your passion for music kept you going? 

Whales: The first show I ever had in Paris is my defining moment that stands out. It was my first international show and I had been making music for around eight years at the time (2015). Things had really started to pick up for Sex Whales (my name at the time) over the past year, and I had reached the point where it was turning into more of a career and less of a hobby. 

I had not processed this yet. I had a sizable following on Facebook and SoundCloud, while some of my YouTube uploads were featured on popular channels, but it was hard to believe that this could be a sustainable career for me. 

Unfortunately, I was very ill back then. I could not even open my eyes for more than two seconds and had to hold them open just to see stuff. The only time I would feel relaxed with my Tourette’s and my ticks is when I was making music. 

Some people like to take a step back and chill when things start to go right for them. Not me. I am the kind of person that when I gain momentum, I push even harder. I was working so much on my music, even though I was the sickest I had ever been. I was weighing around 420 pounds (ca. 191 kg); I could not shower by myself, eat by myself. My Tourette’s would not give me a break and I would barely sleep for four or five days at a time. 

I was on the verge of dying, yet on the other hand, I had just gotten the offer for basically an official entry into a music career. They would pay for my ticket to Paris to perform. I wanted my mom to come with me but we could not afford a plane ticket for her. 

Despite my illness, I knew I had to go. It was a simple decision because either I go play the show and take on the risk of dying, or I pass on the opportunity of a lifetime and possibly die in the next year based on how my health was going. If I gave up my pursuit of music, then I would be letting my illness win.

So I went to the show and had never seen so much love and support for my project. There were 2,000 kids screaming my name, repping homemade Sex Whales merch, and asking for pictures. It cannot even process the amount of pain and illness I had gone through, then to be hit with all that love at one time. The show truly filled me up with a lifetime worth of happiness and appreciation.

That decision was definitely the moment where I was very close to giving up. As soon as I finished the show, I knew I had to perform live again and again and again for the experience and feeling it gave me. I truly believe that music saved my life.

Prior to that show, I was taking around 40 different pills a day for all the medication I needed and the side effects that came with them. Afterward, I stopped taking everything at once because I felt so empowered and strong from the performance. This was extremely dangerous but shockingly I was able to improve my physical shape pretty fast once I stopped the medication. 

I was able to live almost like a normal person without my impairments. My life became less about feeling like a burden and more about being an artist, doing something good for the world, being a good influence, and making people happy. Of course, there are still hardships, more than I can count. At the end of the day, my passion for music fuels me and keeps me going.

iEDM: What has been the largest obstacle you faced when cultivating your sound and expanding the reach of your music? How did you overcome it?

Whales: I think the biggest challenge I had was the fact that I love to make so many genres, putting my foot in too many doors. Back then, around 2015 to 2017, it was actually okay to create a bunch of diverse genres. There were artists making dubstep and house, trap and melodic future bass, and other combos. The industry operated differently and labels were more important. 

As the years went on, the EDM scene has shifted more into the artists’ hands, focusing on their personality and brand. Lots of top-tier artists have launched their own labels, like Excision and Subtronics. Listeners tend to go with something they can understand what’s going on and follow a narrative.

For the longest time, I could not describe my project in one or two sentences. I started my melodic imprint but then would make heavier music when I rebranded with Whales. I started to work with an amazing visual director to work on all the graphic and video art for my project. Now we were able to create more of an organized brand that is easier to follow.

This is present in my latest EP, even though there are numerous sounds and genres present. I am also super excited for my upcoming album, Two Worlds Apart, because the visual and auditory components blend so well together.

iEDM: There are so many different soundscapes and genres represented in your Fuckin’ EP. What techniques or production hacks have you learned to fuse multiple genres together seamlessly?

Whales: Dubstep can be made in a very traditional way or you can do some crazy shit with it. A lot of artists are afraid to take risks; I will always choose the latter. For example, Fuckin’ starts out with “Real Lies”, which is a Middle-Eastern kind of vibe, then “So Ready” is more hardstyle-centric. “Untouchable” intertwines elements of 90s hip-hop. 

I want each track to not just be a different mixture of genre, but a different wave of energy for its audience as well. By diving into how to create other genres like the ones I just mentioned, I was able to blend them with dubstep.

Fuckin’ kicks off with the heavy dubstep of “Real Lies” and closes with the melodic and chiller aura of “Drowning”. Was there a specific intention when ordering the tracks in this EP the way that you did? From your perspective, how does the flow of the songs convey a collective message or tale to its audience? 

Part of the intention with this EP is to show how my sound has changed and evolved throughout my career. When I rebranded to Whales, I obviously started making heavier music. But there still is plenty of room to showcase melodic, vocal-driven tracks on my project. Overall, the EP has a very minimalistic flow and sound design. There are some heavy drops throughout, and a lot of experimentation too. 

The closing of the EP, “Drowning”, is so people don’t forget it is still me, and I still love the melodic sounds that I made more frequently in the past. The melodic song at the end is like a grand finale for Fuckin’ and I knew Disciple Round Table would be all for that.

Each song is able to transition into the next, except for “Hurt” into “Drowning”. I like to be goofy and joke around, sometimes my music reflects that. I knew that everybody would be anticipating another smooth transition but I had a “nope moment” and completely switched up the vibes. “Drowning” ended up a fan-favorite, and my favorite too.

Fuckin’ as a whole is basically a teaser for the forthcoming album. I am so fucking pumped for it and there will be brand-new sounds and surprises.

iEDM: What was the process behind weaving in the vocal elements throughout “Untouchable” in a way that complements the progressions of bass? 

Whales: This was one of those tracks that came together naturally, everything just made sense. Initially I had a Jamaican vocalist record for me but it didn’t end up fitting with the vibe of the song. So I just tried the best-fitting vocals and it ended up matching nicely with the bass and filling out the intro. 

iEDM: Can you walk us through how you constructed the emphatic drop in your EP’s title track, Fuckin’? Which key plugins or FX did you utilize to add more energy and aggression to the song?

Whales: Funny enough, I used the least amount of effects I ever have on this EP. Like I mentioned, I wanted to be more minimalist with sound. Most of the compilation doesn’t have too much layering either, but specifically in “Fuckin’”, there is a lot of layering and small detailing.

I utilized the plugin PITCHMAP throughout the EP to help shape the bass. I was able to pull them into an Arabic scale in this plugin and moved the progressions of dubstep into more of a harmony. This is what allowed me to give certain drops a Middle-Eastern-like sound.

iEDM: The artwork and visuals for Fuckin’ are truly mesmerizing. What does the cover art symbolize to you and how does it connect with the auditory component of the EP?

Whales: Since I am from the Middle East, I wanted to embrace my culture and roots with the cover art. I also had to make sure my whale character was represented. Based on the sound of the EP, I thought merging ancient tropes with a cyberpunk theme would be very cool.  

I like to tell a story with my project, and each release is a new episode for the whale. The character has found a Pandora box which will open a portal. The portal will lead somewhere really visually and sonically mesmerizing, but I do not want to say anymore on it because it has to do with surprises encompassed by the upcoming album. 

A large population of artists use AI in their artwork because it is easier and requires less effort. I prefer to put a lot of work into the Whales visuals. If it is going to be great musically, it should be great visually too. A few days ago I was actually accused of using AI so I tagged my graphic designer/visual director and he showed them an inside look at the project.

iEDM: Why do you think Fuckin’ is a solid match for its encompassing imprint, Disciple Round Table?

Whales: I have worked with Disciple in the past on much heavier sounds and I love their community. This is the first individual EP I have done with the imprint. There are no collabs because I wanted to truly showcase my sound and musical identity. I have a friend at Disciple who I told, “I want to take the heavy Whales style, and do something really cool and refreshing with it.” 

When it comes to dubstep, Disciple is always open to giving space for new sounds and projects to blossom. Shoutout to Disciple and Monstercat for believing in me and providing me with the opportunity to express myself musically and take my project in different, exciting directions.

iEDM: What advice would you share with someone who is struggling to find their purpose in life and their true calling? How have you applied this advice to your own project?

Whales: Most of the time when I do lectures or speak to fans, I have people tell me they don’t know what to do with their life. “I’m making music, and I’m doing this and doing that, but I cannot find purpose,” they say. 

I think a common misconception is that purpose translates directly to success, whether monetary or stardom. People need to separate materialistic success and financial success from their passion. I have met so many people with tons of money but they are lost; they have no passion or purpose. Today, more than ever, you have all the accessible information and tools at your disposal to be anybody you want to be.

We need to understand that if you are a musician, you paint, you dance, or anything else, it does not have to lead to financial success for you to have purpose. As long as you are passionate and happy when doing something, that is your purpose. Whether you have a crowd or fans behind you should not matter. If I lost everything I had built over the last 10 years, would I still make music? Absolutely! Because that is what I love and what makes me happy, regardless of the success that comes with it.

One day, if you pursue your passion for the right reason, there is a chance it can become your job. My career happened very naturally. I literally called myself Sex Whales, so clearly I did not care about making it in the industry as much as I loved simply making music. For the first eight years of my journey, I had no management, no graphic designer, no team; I was completely on my own (with the support of my mom) and making music out of pure passion.

iEDM: You have recently teased a ton of exciting news, from a genre-bending album to your biggest tour yet. Can you elaborate or hint at what’s to come for your fans to get even more excited about?

Whales: This year is already and will be very special for my project. I am turning my biggest dream into reality. It will be the best shows from Whales, all genres and just 100% me. All the wildest things I have wanted to do for the first time are occurring this year, so it makes sense to launch my first PR campaign and make content to maximize the experience I aim to deliver to my community.

10 years is a lot of time. I owe my supporters something big! For those that have stuck with me all these years, they are going to see a little bit of everything from Whales.

Check out iEDM Radio's special edition episode featuring Whales' exclusive Fuckin’ EP mix HERE!

iEDM: Over the past 10 years, you have been on an amazing artistic journey. What vision do you have for Whales, and what do you hope to accomplish by the end of the next decade?

Whales: I want to do the same exact thing I am doing now. I know this may sound cliché, but I have a lot of goals that are based on surpassing myself. I am never going to compare myself to anybody else, I want to do bigger projects and shows than I ever have before. Hopefully, in 10 years I can do 10 times more than I do now. 

Some people might say I have achieved my dreams already. They might say I do not need any more fans or money, and they would be right. For me, it is all about my vision to make people happy with my music and bring more positive energy into the universe. I am not the most spiritual person but I do want to be good in this world. My main goals are to inspire people and continue enjoying the road that I am on.

Whales during his 2022 Lost Lands set (with Benda on the right)

Photos courtesy of Whales.

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