We recently caught up with the incredible Wav Gardn Band, a group that embodies self-reflection, warmth, and kindness in every note. Their music, a mix of synth wave and soul, is a testament to their desire to put healing and love out into the world. With five talented members—Siiisa, Johnny Basz, Finny, Lungsta, and De’Tumi—Wav Gardn is more than just a band; they are a movement towards restorative musical experiences.
Each member brings something unique to the table, blending their talents to create a sound that feels like a warm embrace. The band’s synergy is undeniable, and their shared passion for crafting music that resonates emotionally sets them apart in the synth wave scene. Wav Gardn isn’t just about beats and melodies; they’re about creating a space where listeners can reflect, unwind, and connect with their truest selves.
Your music has been described as a “sonic hug”—how do you create such a soothing and soulful atmosphere in your sound?
We always start our sessions with an intimate circle (therapy), creating a space where we can be vulnerable with each other, which then transcends into the music.
As a five-member band, how do you balance and blend each member’s musical influences and talents to shape the overall neo-soul vibe?
We share a common goal when it comes to genre and creating sonics, our musical backgrounds are very different, from hip hop, gospel, jazz and house music, these influences also reflect in a lot of the music we make, everyone is uniquely musically gifted, blending those talents is the easiest task.
Can you take us through your creative process? How does a song evolve from an idea to the lush, soulful sound that defines your music?
All our sessions start from how we feel, we also try to link how we feel to a colour pallet that helps us with the mood of the song. The conversations we have prior to us even starting to write, compose, or produce are fuelled by how we feel that day. Our creative process would usually start with drums, followed by all the melodic progressions that help the songwriting.
What role does live instrumentation play in capturing the organic, warm feeling of neo-soul, and how does it influence your performances?
Live instruments resonate a lot more with us than just programmed music, live elements make the music feel human, it’s not perfect, and the beauty is in all the little mistakes we can hear in the music. We feed so much from each other’s energy when we play live, the improvisations we can do on the music we love so much makes us translate it differently each time we play.
Neo-soul often has deep emotional undertones. How do you connect with your audience on an emotional level through your lyrics and music?
We believe our music is very honest and relatable, the lyrics are written from a place of honesty, truth, and childhood memories, the instrumentation feels like being back home with your favourite human beings. So, the mixture of those two elements play an important role in the music we make.
With five members, how do you maintain cohesion and unity in the band while also allowing each of you to express your individual style?
We’re transparent with each other, we respect each other, and we trust each other. Even outside of making the actual music, we have a solid foundation of friendship.
Which artists or bands have inspired your sound the most, and how do they influence the “comforting” quality of your music?
The Internet, The Muffinz, Robert Glasper & Jimmy Dludlu are maybe our biggest inspirations sonically. The texture of the music they make reminds us of how home feels, there’s a feeling of hope and love in the compositions even though the music can sometimes feel improvised it is still so beautifully put together.
How important is the storytelling aspect of your music, and how do you ensure that your narratives align with the soulful, warm vibe of your sound?
It’s always been our job as artists to reflect the times that we live in, so conceptual songwriting is an important aspect of our music. Going back to our (therapy) before we begin any session, this is what sets up the colour and mood of any song we decide to make.
What do you hope listeners feel when they hear your music, and how do you want to impact the neo-soul genre as a band?
We hope our listeners feel what we feel when we make the music, we want them to feel joy, acceptance and love. We want to revolutionise what is known as Jazz and Soul, we call our Genre Future Soul, we believe the future is soul.
What’s next for the band creatively? Are there any new sonic directions, themes, or collaborations you’re excited to explore in future projects?
We have a lot of music and visuals that we can’t wait to show the world. We have so many different sonics that we explore on our debut album that might surprise a lot of people.
