Comedian and musician Reggie Watts and producer John Tejada have joined forces to form a new electronic/dance music group to be called Wajatta.
Wajatta, as the name suggests (a mash-up of Watts and Tejada), represents the collaboration of Reggie Watts and John Tejadaâs inherent musical abilities. Having grown up with similar musical influences, the two draw from their love of urban electronic music. Best described as electronic dance, the new music has roots in Detroit techno, Chicago house, ’70s funk and New York hip hop. Tejadaâs deep and melodic productions make a perfect backing for Watt’s wide vocal-range and live looping skills.
To the uninitiated, Reggie Watts is an internationally renowned musician/comedian/writer/actor who currently stars as the bandleader on CBSâs The Late Late Show with James Corden. Using his formidable voice, looping pedals, and his vast imagination, Watts blends and blurs the lines between music and comedy, wowing audiences with performances that are 100% improvised. Wattsâ first Netflix special, Spatial, was released to massive critical acclaim last year, with the New York Times calling it âa giddy rush of escapist nonsense,â and dubbing Watts, âthe most influential absurdist in comedy today.â
With regards to the collaboration, Watts explains,
“Having been a longtime fan of Johnâs I was completely taken aback when we had the opportunity to meet a while back at one of his LA shows. We exchanged information and kept in touch. Eventually we decided to try something in the studio together. I explained that I love to work improvisationally and quickly in the moment. John fortunately has a fast mind and also works in this way so as soon as we started recording it just worked immediately; me being able to just flow what was in my head in response to his music and him locking onto that and crafting something great around/with it. Itâs been such a fun experience brief and yet prolific as the partnership continues. Iâm so excited to finally release music that I think will inspire people to move and expand on the dance floor or groove in their headphones. I believe Wajatta is that culminative experience!!”
Tejada also discusses the collaboration:
“Reggie and I met at one of my shows last winter and we began work on our collaborations soon after. âRunninâ was a work that was actually started by Reggie live on The Lot Radio Brooklyn. Reggie gave me access to all his looper files and I added my own synth and drums to it, layered some more Reggie and away we went.â
The newly-formed group is also set to release their first single this December 1st. But even now, you can check out this single online via Soundcloud:
 The song will be available digitally everywhere and is available right now for pre-order on iTunes here!
