UT student and indie artist Dorian Williams II, known as Skateland, performed the first set at Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival on Friday, warming up the crowd at Auditorium Shores on the South by Southwest stage with a relaxed yet lively performance.
An advertising PhD student at UT, Williams sat down with The Daily Texan to discuss his evolution, studies and future.
The Daily Texan: You were the first performer at Sips & Sounds. What was that like, and how did it compare to other festivals you played at?
Dorian Williams II: Playing a hometown festival was really cool, and to be the first one to go and to be from here felt like an Olympic torch moment, starting everything off. It was a great turnout. We weren’t quite sure what to expect, but it blew us away. This is like the spring version of (Austin City Limits), it’s been really cool. The show went well, played some new songs. It was a fun time.
DT: A lot of attendees likely heard you for the first time yesterday. How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard your music?
DW: I teeter between ambient, electronic (and) dream pop. That’s where I think I sit, with some guitar-driven stuff every now and then. … I’ve graduated from bedroom (pop). I moved out of the bedroom. For a while, that’s all I had to work with. I used to do everything in my room. Now I’m fortunate enough to work (in) a studio when I need to get stuff done. We’ve graduated from the bedroom to the living room, and now we’re in the studio.
DT: What’s it like balancing your studies with your music career?
DW: I have no social life. I don’t really do anything else. Those two things eat up my entire schedule. My friends have to drag me out of the house sometimes to take a break. … That’s a New Year’s resolution for me, to get out of the house more and do more fun stuff.
DT: As a student, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
DW: Do what you’re good at. Lean into what it is you do well. I used to get really distracted, and I would hear somebody else do something I thought was cool and (think), “Oh, I’m gonna try to make that,” but it would never turn out quite as good because that’s not what you do. You end up sounding like a cheap imitation of somebody else. It’s better to do the thing you’re good at, and then your audience will find you, instead of trying to be a copycat.
DT: What can fans expect from you next?
DW: I’m putting (out) an EP in late spring, early summer, and then we’re going on tour (in) Europe for the summer. Gonna play a bunch of festivals and shows over there. I’ll be in France for a little bit. … So, a new project and lots of tour vlog content.
DT: I’m gonna give you a little challenge, hearing about this new EP. Describe the sound in three words.
DW: Clean, sharp, minimalist.
