Rising Stars: Meet Wilson McKay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wilson McKay.

Hi Wilson, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started learning guitar at 13 from my dad. I progressed with that and in a band with friends during high school. In my early 20s while working at Guitar Center I started to learn music production and how to dj. I practiced making music of all different electronic genres and released songs on SoundCloud intermittently.

After a few years of hiatus due to life events. I linked up with my current promotions partner Seth Hoover via a singular drum and bass show. He made a post after Jungle Bells 2021 about wanting to do a compilation album with local producers. I responded and wrote a song for it and it made the cut. While waiting on the release, he (Seth) invited me out to a Silent Disco run by Scott Steiner to network and tell people about the album release party he was putting together. I met two wonderful people, Brent and Chuck who were there as well. About a week or two later, Brent reached out to me about Dj’ing one of Scott’s silent discos called Sound Not Found. So it was Seth, Brent, Chuck and I playing the drum and bass channel for the event. This was my first gig ever playing for a crowd. I apparently did better than I thought personally. Since then I have played and thrown several events in town at Crazy Atlanta with Seth under the Atlanta Drum and Bass brand. I’m also working with Full Send DnB Label on a forthcoming Ep and the BedSet Radio Music Collective Mixtape 03. Our next Atlanta DnB event is August 26th and is probably our biggest show yet.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I can say it’s definitely been eye-opening. I have only been on this path since the start of the year so it’s all very new to me. I’m learning something new at every event I’m a part of. I’m sure there will be more challenges to come but I’m ready.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Drum and Bass producer and Dj. I work in the film industry for a day job and help produce and promote Drum and Bass events in Atlanta. Our focus is to help create a music scene that is inclusive, peaceful, unified and has a true love for the music that is Drum and Bass. I’m most proud of the music I’m writing currently, and the amount of momentum I have right now. I would say what sets me apart from others is my ability to make grounded and honest connections with people. I’m always 100% myself.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
That any amount of support you can give to another person without an expectation of something in return is so important. It’s genuine. Whether that is sharing a social media post, buying a ticket to a show someone you know is playing or a part of, buying that single on Bandcamp, or just checking in on someone going through a hard time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/groovesharkdnb
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Groovesharkdnb/
• Twitter: twitter.com/groovesharkdnb
• SoundCloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/gr00veshark
• Other: twitch.tv/gr00ve5hark

Image Credits:
Jacob Hightower Richard Kaski Richie Spencer