There has been so much nostalgia for 2016 recently, and What So Not took that to heart. The trap pioneer has returned to his roots with his latest single, “Everest.” The track serves as the first release from his upcoming I Saw A Trap DJ And It Changed My Biochemistry EP. It feels both like a return to form and the beginning of a new chapter.
Back when What So Not first started, the project was a collaboration between Flume and Emoh Instead (Chris Emerson). Early tracks like “Jaguar,” “High You Are,” and “Gemini” helped define the melodic trap sound of the era. By 2016, Emerson had fully taken control of the project and began pushing it in his own direction. His Divide & Conquer EP expanded on the trap foundation while leaning further into future bass and cinematic production.
In recent years, What So Not’s sound has gone in a more drum & bass direction. “Everest” feels like a direct callback to Not All The Beautiful Things. The track opens with atmospheric synths and haunting vocals from Alina Pash before slowly building tension into the first drop. When it finally hits, it delivers the same emotional weight and explosive energy that made fans fall in love with What So Not in the first place. There are even moments that carry strong Alison Wonderland-style energy, especially in the way the drop balances melody with chaos. What stands out most is how refined the production feels. “Everest” captures the sound that helped shape the 2010s trap scene while showcasing how much Emerson has evolved as a producer over the last decade.
On how the vocals for “Everest” came about,“A friend of my roommate at the time, Alina, pulled up to my apartment in LA one day and this record is what we created the first time we ever stepped into the studio. When Alina first heard it, she wrote a mantra in her native language, a call for strength and unity in troubling times. I can’t imagine a better suited performance for this production and what I’d hope it would become.” – What So Not
What So Not will be supporting the EP with a limited run of shows, including stops in Denver and New York. He will also be making a few festival appearances at Das Energi and Lost In Dreams. Tickets for those shows are available now.
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