WHATMORE: From LaGuardia’s Halls to Coachella’s Stages, a Genre-Bending Collective’s Ascent

The air in the South Brooklyn rehearsal space hummed with a palpable energy, a day before WHATMORE’s sold-out performance at the iconic Bowery Ballroom. Cisco Swank, Elijah Judah, Jackson August, Sebastiano, and Yoshi T, the five members of the genre-defying collective, trickled in, still shaking off the remnants of a late-night show in Washington, D.C. Since the October release of their self-titled debut album, WHATMORE, the group has rapidly ascended, their unique fusion of rap, jazz, and indie-pop capturing widespread attention. Viral TikTok moments, a burgeoning, devoted fanbase, and a coveted Coachella booking – these successes, while seemingly instantaneous, are the culmination of years of shared experience and artistic evolution.

The Genesis of a Musical Bond: LaGuardia’s Creative Crucible

The foundation of WHATMORE was laid not in a recording studio, but within the hallowed, albeit "corny" in an endearing way, halls of The Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Performing Arts. It was here, as freshmen, that the future bandmates first crossed paths, united by their shared passion for instrumental music. Sebastiano, Jackson, and Elijah honed their skills on the saxophone, Yoshi commanded the clarinet, and Cisco displayed his multi-instrumental prowess on drums and piano. LaGuardia, an alma mater to luminaries like Timothée Chalamet and Kelis, fosters an environment where artistic expression takes precedence over traditional high school hierarchies. As Yoshi aptly describes, "There’s no traditional American jocks. It’s all filtered through some creative thing, so if you’re the lead in the musical, you’re like the equivalent of the cool guy." This shared creative upbringing instilled in them a unique understanding of musicality and a collaborative spirit that would later define their sound.

A Decade in the Making: From Solo Ventures to Collective Identity

Following their graduation from LaGuardia, each member pursued individual artistic endeavors, yet their paths remained intertwined through frequent collaborations. The formal genesis of WHATMORE as a cohesive unit occurred when Cisco was slated to perform at Williamsburg’s Baby’s All Right. This showcase served as the catalyst for the group to consolidate their creative energies, a move that swiftly led to the production of their debut album.

The recording process for WHATMORE was characterized by an intentional, almost improvisational, approach. "We made it pretty quickly," Yoshi recalls, detailing a methodology that involved setting strict two-hour limits for song creation. "When that timer ended, if we were still fucking with it, we’d keep going, but usually we’d just switch." Sebastiano likens this iterative process to "Frankenstein, we would just pick and choose what we would take out, and what we would keep." This experimental yet focused approach allowed them to distill their diverse influences into a remarkably cohesive and self-assured debut.

The Sonic Tapestry of WHATMORE: A Debut That Resonates

The resulting 12-track album, WHATMORE, defies easy categorization. Its self-assuredness is remarkable for a debut, evoking a sense of nostalgic familiarity for those who came of age with artists like Tyler, the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, and Rex Orange County. This resonance stems from the album’s ability to capture the personal, formative experience of discovering music as a teenager, where each song felt like a direct reflection of one’s own youthful circumstances.

While comparisons to Brockhampton, a prominent hip-hop collective, have been inevitable, WHATMORE’s sound is far more eclectic. The album seamlessly transitions between disparate sonic landscapes. The opening track, "never let me go," offers a hazy, introspective exploration of adolescence, reminiscent of late 2000s alternative rap. In contrast, "jenny’s" delves into the indie-punk realm with its guitar-driven balladry addressing fears of failure and wasted potential. The energetic anthem "chicken shop date," complete with a music video filmed in a Brooklyn chicken shop, showcases their more assertive and high-octane side. This deliberate eclecticism is a direct testament to their backgrounds as instrumentalists and their upbringing in the diverse cultural milieu of New York City.

Elijah, the band’s producer, elaborates on the influence of their urban upbringing: "I feel like as soon as we started doing that [commuting solo and listening to music], we were also creating soundtracks to those commutes." These sonic experiences, deeply intertwined with memories and emotions, coalesce to form their unique artistic identity. "It all blends together to create your taste, and all those experiences are what led to us making music that sounds the way it does."

Building a World: The Visual and Auditory Narrative of WHATMORE

WHATMORE’s artistic vision extends beyond their sonic output, encompassing a deliberate effort to construct an immersive "world" for their audience. This is evident in their visual storytelling, as exemplified by the trailer for their recent double singles, "A-Side / A-Side." The video, inspired by fourth-wall-breaking techniques in films like The Big Short and the series Euphoria, opens in a lecture hall and culminates in the reveal of the new singles, "still loitering" and "2000’s pop punk rnb." Jackson August emphasizes this creative imperative: "We’re just trying to build a world. I feel like with a group, you have this superpower where there are so many different influences, stories to tell and characters to build around."

A Devoted Following: The Live Experience and Fan Engagement

The burgeoning success of WHATMORE is underscored by the fervent dedication of their fanbase, a phenomenon vividly illustrated by their sold-out show at The Bowery Ballroom. The queue of concertgoers snaked around the block twice, a testament to the band’s growing appeal. Among the attendees were dedicated fans like Lindsay Harner, 27, who traveled from Philadelphia after witnessing their prior performance, and Sophie Wei, 25, who journeyed from New Jersey. Wei articulated a sentiment shared by many: "I don’t know, they’re just a couple of guys who just sound like they have a really fun time, and I really respect that. And, I can tell they get hype."

Inside the venue, WHATMORE delivered an electrifying performance that mirrored the palpable excitement of the crowd. Their set was a dynamic display of singing, rapping, and enthusiastic stage presence, fostering a collective energy that blurred the lines between performers and audience. The audience’s engagement was remarkable; not only did they know all the lyrics to the six-month-old debut album, but many had already memorized the lines from the newly released singles. The evening’s crescendo arrived with the encore performance of "east side with my dogs," a clear fan favorite that elicited an explosive reaction, solidifying WHATMORE’s reputation for delivering unforgettable live experiences.

The trajectory of WHATMORE, from their formative years at LaGuardia High School to their current status as a band poised for global recognition, is a compelling narrative of artistic synergy, relentless dedication, and a profound understanding of how to connect with an audience. Their genre-bending sound, coupled with their commitment to building a cohesive artistic universe, suggests a future where WHATMORE will continue to redefine the boundaries of contemporary music.