Conscious Creators 008: Wreckno sprinkles his sparkling energy onto forthcoming debut EP single, ‘Honey Drip’ [INTERVIEW]
The world of EDM is vast and diverse. From the commercial realm to the underground, electronic music is always moving at hyperspeed. But how can fans sift through all the noise to seek out the more substantive, meaningful, consciously-attuned musicians? Introducing: Conscious Creators, a focused writing series dedicated to highlighting artists who continually devote themselves to creating music that upholds CE’s mission.
These are the industry tastemakers committed to bypassing the surface-level gimmicks in favor of something more substantial. Their art encourages alignment with the self, affirmational living, shadow and light work, self-healing and self-love, living authentically, practicing intention. These are the creatives dedicated to leading their audience into a conscious awakening.
It’s no secret that Wreckno has catapulted himself to stardom throughout the lockdown. Now that the world is opening back up, and in perfect coordination with Pride Month, Detroit’s own 25-year-old queer rapper/producer now delivers the single “Honey Drip,” which he describes as “a blend of bass music and [the emergent] queer rap genre.”
What a niche intersection, indeed, we thought when talking with the bubbly, always-animated face behind Wreckno, Brandon Wisniski. Along with the drippy new single, Wreckno announces his debut EP, Pansy, slated for release June 23.
Speaking exclusively to his creative evolution throughout lockdown, the soon-to-be-released music video to “Honey Drip,” and his upcoming EP, which is a reclamation of the hate speech he’s experienced since the age of just six, Wisniski spilled the tea about his Pansy EP and its many associated Pride Month projects.
“Something I’m very passionate about is the ability to find power in the fact that we’re all different, and reclaiming those words that were once used to hurt and put us down. This EP is a big middle finger to everyone who has weaponized someone else’s uniqueness and inner beauty against them.”
– Wreckno
One of the best things about Wreckno is how he balances being so forthcoming and straight-forward with being humble, authentic, and true-to-self. In fact, he’s positioned himself as EDM’s quintessential “gay icon” in how he manages this unique identity both on- and off-the-stage.
“Musically, I was in a really big transitional period this last year. It feels as though I spent 2020 inside a chrysalis, and this debut EP feels like the butterfly emerging,” he said.
Wreckno has made a name for himself not just for his music and on-stage energy, but for creating safe spaces for celebrating queer people within the bass music genre, a genre typically lacking LGBTQ representation.
“It was always a dream to be a queer icon, in some form, but it didn’t feel like it could be a reality until ‘Medusa’ happened,” Wisniski told us. “When ‘Medusa’ came out, it finally felt like a tangible dream – I know I still have a long way to go, though.”
With the forthcoming EP landing at the latter end of Pride Month, Pansy is meant to be an exploration of queer empowerment, self-love, and reclaiming his identity with celebratory art doused in pride. “I’ve been called various homophobic slurs since I was six years old,” Wreckno revealed.
Each song on Pansy is representative of Wisniski’s diverse range of musical tastes and styles— it’s the perfect mashup of what a fan can expect from a Wreckno set.
“It feels like each song has its own vibe,” he continues, “some of them are definitely tied more to the high-energy Trap/Bass flow, but then other songs begin to start leaning more into the Pop/House realm.“
Wreckno’s favorite song on the EP is his self-described “cute little banger” with Trans superstar Chase Icon and Miss Tiddy that he’s super excited about. “It’s so gay and so hot,” he quips.
“Honey Drip” is heavily focused on Wreckno’s vocals and is the perfect example to showcase the evolution of the Wreckno project. Speaking to the single’s upcoming music video, which he has just wrapped the filming for, Wreckno describes the experience as a major landmark milestone in his life and career.
“This has been a dream of mine since I was a teenager. The team we worked with was absolutely incredible – from the production team, glam team, choreography, etc. – everyone put so much love and work into this video. I’m so excited for everyone to see this video and shit their pants.”
– Wreckno
Without a doubt, Wreckno is in high-demand amongst the masses. So much so that he’s got some star-powered collaborations coming down the pipelines, including “Everything” with Super Future and Dev, who heard “Medusa” and loved it so much that she reached out.
“This one means so much to me because the first songs I ever recorded with my brother were all inspired by Dev tracks from the early 2010s,” Wreckno told CE about the forthcoming single. “Dev is AH-MAZING.”
He’s also got something cooking with Conrank and Gardella as well as Wakaan boss Liquid Stranger, who wanted to collaborate after Wakaan picked up “FTSU,” featuring jordnmoody and Ujuu.
Wreckno has always been an avid collaborator— with the singles “Gravity Glue” with Gardella and DEWMBA, “Soundfolk,” featuring Trigem, the Hypernatural EP with Super Future, and his Pride Month 2020 project, ROYGBIV EP, having garnered hundreds of thousands of streams.
Wreckno will be touring in December and performing at the Asteria Arts & Music Festival this July and Dancefestopia in September. One dollar for every ticket sold in the month of June will be donated to the Trans Justice Funding Project, an organization dedicated to funding grassroots Trans-focused / Trans-led organizations across the US. “We really wanted to give back this Pride Month, and the Trans Justice Funding Project felt like the best way to make the biggest impact,” said Wreckno.
“This is important to me because right now there is various Anti-Trans legislation being introduced across the nation. The fight for the LGBTQ+ community does not end until all communities represented are equal.”
– Wreckno
“Honey Drip” sets the tone for Pansy and the overall rise of Wreckno’s burgeoning career inspiring a new generation of queer artists. Stream the single and read our full interview with Wreckno below, and stay tuned for more releases ahead of Wreckno’s Pansy EP.
Wreckno – Honey Drip
CE: Hey Brandon! Thanks for talking to us again – this is all kind of coming full circle since the last time we spoke was when you joined us on Wide Awake Radio for Pride Month 2020. Speaking of…
It seems like every June is a big release time for you. Thinking all the way back to the ROYGBIV EP, then the “Medusa” collaboration with GRiZ that has gone viral in so many ways, and now your Pansy EP coming out June 23, it seems like you’ve become a “gay icon” in many ways for a lot of queer youth to really shoot for the stars!!
Was this always your intention or did it just kind of fall into place that way with staying true to your identity?
W: It was always a dream to be a queer icon, in some form, but it didn’t feel like it could be a reality until “Medusa” happened. When “Medusa” came out, it finally felt like a tangible dream – I know I still have a long way to go, though. Musically, I was in a really big transitional period this last year. It feels as though I spent 2020 inside a chrysalis, and this debut EP feels like the butterfly emerging. I spent the last year working on my writing, producing, and rapping skills, and I feel like this EP is a great showcase of the work that myself and all the incredible people I’ve been collaborating with have produced.
CE: “Honey Drip” is amazing. This really marks a launching point for a different sound in the Wreckno catalogue, although the rhymes are still heavily present. In what ways do you see this as the marker for a new evolution in the Wreckno sound? What different stylistic turns have you taken?
W: “Honey Drip” is exactly the direction I’ve been wanting to go – a blend of Bass Music & Queer Rap. We went in quite a few different directions when it came to the upcoming EP – it’s a perfect showcase of what a fan will get at a Wreckno show. It feels like each song has its own vibe – some of them are definitely tied more to the high-energy Trap/Bass flow, but then other songs begin to start leaning more into the Pop/House realm.
CE: What do you hope to say with the newest EP? I love this reclamation of hate speech that you’re turning on its head as a term of empowerment. Is that what the EP is really about?
Absolutely. I’ve been called various homophobic slurs since I was six years old. Something I’m very passionate about is the ability to find power in the fact that we’re all different, and reclaiming those words that were once used to hurt and put us down. This EP is a big middle finger to everyone who has weaponized someone else’s uniqueness and inner beauty against them.
CE: If you had to choose, what’s your favorite release coming off the new EP?
W: I have a cute little banger with Trans superstar Chase Icon & Miss Tiddy that I’m super excited about. It’s so gay and so hot.
CE: So tell me a little bit more about this recent music video filming that I saw on your social live stories. It seemed like top-level technical production. Tell us a little bit about the experience and the team involved behind that!
W: B-U-D-G-E-T, honey. The upcoming “Honey Drip” music video is a major landmark milestone in my life and career. This has been a dream of mine since I was a teenager. The team we worked with was absolutely incredible – from the production team, glam team, choreography, etc. – everyone put so much love and work into this video. I’m so excited for everyone to see this video and shit their pants.
CE: Tell us more about working with the Trans Justice Funding Project and how that interwoven into your June releases.
W: We really wanted to give back this Pride Month, and the Trans Justice Funding Project felt like the best way to make the biggest impact. The Trans Justice Funding Project provides grants to thousands of Trans-led & Trans-focused grassroots organizations to help fund their initiatives. This is important to me because right now there is various Anti-Trans legislation being introduced across the nation. The fight for the LGBTQ+ community does not end until all communities represented are equal. This upcoming EP is all about empowerment and owning your true self – characteristics I see so strongly and am inspired by in the Trans community.
CE: Anything else exciting coming down the pipelines along with the EP release? I’m sure you’ve got some exciting things planned for the live show. What can fans expect?
W: I’ve spent the last several years traveling, performing, writing, and creating. Throughout that time, I have been able envision and harness where I see myself as a performer and artist. Fans can expect more live vocals, more Wreckno gems, more performers, more everything! My dream is to have choreo added to portions of my performances, as well as drag queens, flow artists, voguers – the possibilities are endless!
CE: I’ve heard of several big collabs you’ve teased on your socials – can you tell our readers more about the who and the how these came together?
W: Dev – She heard “Medusa” and loved it. She sent me an acapella, we teamed up with Super Future, and created “Everything.” This one means so much to me because the first songs I ever recorded with my brother were all inspired by Dev tracks from the early 2010s. Dev is AH-MAZING.
Liquid Stranger – Liquid Stranger is the best!!! He reached out to me after Wakaan picked up my Ujuu & Jrdnmoody collab “FTSU.” I feel like he’s leading bass music into its next evolution and I’m so excited to be working with him.
Conrank – We started a track together last November and had Gardella hop on (which resulted in one of the most fire verses I play live). I’m so excited for this one to eventually be released.
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Featured photo: Max Dashenvsky.
Information seeker. Dog lover. PhD drop out. College professor by day, EDM photographer by night.
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