Marking a decade in electronic music, Dutch duo Weval, comprised of Harm Coolen and Merijn Scholte Albers, released ‘Chorophobia,’ late last year and is an album that ironically confronts their own hesitancy to create a full-fledged dance record. Known for their genre-bending sound, the project represents a deliberate embrace of straightforward electronic music, a departure from their previous undefinable blend of krautrock, jazz, and ambient elements. The new direction delivers a bolder, more direct sonic experience designed for the dance floor.
“We realized we were a bit scared of doing that [making a full dance record], which is weird because we are already like 10 years into electronic dance music.”
The creative shift for ‘Chorophobia’ was profoundly influenced by a return to DJ sets, which acted as a “lifesaver” for the duo. This hands-on experience reconnected them with the immediate energy of a crowd, pulling them out of an “overthinking mindset” prevalent in studio work. Adopting a “rock and roll” and “punk” ethos, they streamlined their production, focusing on speed and instinct over endless revisions. This direct approach, combined with their distinct studio dynamic—Merijn as the quick arranger and Harm as the ideas generator—forged an album that is both familiar and refreshingly bold.
Weval spoke with B-Sides host Pete Mar about their 10-year anniversary drive, the low-key Hollywood show that featured an then unknown Billie Eilish, and their studio dynamic, and more.
