Bart Skils and Weska have reignited their long-running production partnership for a sublime new two-tracker ‘Torn
Clouds’ on Drumcode. The pair first linked musically in 2019 for the excellent ‘Polarize’ EP and ever since have
shared a strong musical kinship. EDM Tunes spoke with them exclusively as they discussed production heroes,
dream studio gear and how they manifest their career goals.
What do you like most about working with one another? What’s something unique that each brings to the collaborative project?
Bart Skils: Cody (Weska) is great with melodies and chord progressions – it works incredibly well with my rolling grooves, and together we create a lot of magic.
Weska: Bart is genuinely one of the nicest guys in the industry, so working with him is always super easy. It’s funny, most of our work is done remotely. I think we’ve only done a couple of sessions in person, which makes collaborating very easy. We usually start projects when one of us already has an idea or direction in mind, so we’re aligned from the jump. He’s amazing at seeing the full arc of an idea or a sample, from rough sketch to final product.
Do you go in with a plan or just let things flow?
Bart Skils: Usually we go with the flow – we can start with a sample or vocal and add melodies, bass, and drums, or we have a melody hook we work with and build a groove around it.
Weska: We’re pretty good at going with the flow, but we always have a rough plan or idea to start. Our best tracks usually come from one of us finding a sick sample or starting an idea with a clear vibe, and then we bounce it back and forth until it’s done.
Who are your production heroes?
Bart Skils: Sound design and productivity-wise over the years, I would say Luke Slater, Cari Lekebusch, and Mark Broom.
Weska: I feel like I’m influenced by different producers every week, depending on the mood I’m in or the style I’m writing. But over the years, Eric Prydz has never left that list. I’ve been listening to him since my teens and still find myself inspired by everything he puts out. The French icons—Daft Punk and Justice—have also been core influences from the very beginning. They’re all-time for me.
What’s a dream bit of studio gear you’d like to add to your collection?
Bart Skils: I’ve always worked with my Genelec 8050 monitors, but recently I’ve been thinking about upgrading to the Genelec 8351BP. These monitors are fully coaxial, and the calibration in the room is incredible from what I’ve heard.
Weska: I’d love to get my hands on the Shadow Hills mastering compressor. The digital version is already a beast, so I can only imagine how the original hardware sounds. But honestly, the real dream is just a studio with a window and some sunlight—simple things, right?
Do you set career goals and try to manifest certain things, or do you just let things flow? If so, what would you like to achieve in 2025?
Bart Skils: I mainly set goals per year. I’ll plan a direction I musically want to go, think about musical ideas, and do festival/event planning. Then at the end of the year, I reflect and see what could improve or be better structured.
Weska: Oh yeah—I’m big on manifesting. I set goals at the beginning of each year and check in every quarter to rebalance and stay on track. It helps to work toward something tangible, especially because music is rarely ever “done”—just “done enough” (at least for me). In 2025, I’d love to play some festivals and tour Latin America—it’s easily one of my favourite places to play. I also want to find the right homes for all the music I’ve been working on.
Outside of music, what sort of hobbies or practices help you stay balanced?
Weska: Health has become a huge focus for me—I’m honestly obsessed. I stopped drinking almost two years ago (which feels amazing), I train regularly, meditate and do breathwork daily, and I’m really into surfing. I don’t live near an ocean, though, so any trip I take usually turns into a surf trip (shoutout to my girlfriend), and I love playing gigs by the sea. When I’m in Toronto, I surfskate a lot. I try to get outside and stay active as much as possible—running, biking, frisbee, camping, snowboarding—whatever the season allows. It helps me burn off energy, focus better, and just feel amazing. A few years ago, I started journaling every morning before training, and it’s been a great start to the day and a great way to settle my chaotic mind.
Share a musical recommendation you can’t stop listening to.
Bart Skils: I listen to new stuff all the time—something I’m waiting on is the new Tame Impala album. It’s been five years since the last one and he’s been leaning more and more into the electronic side of music.
Weska: Justice – Hyperdrama
What’s coming up next in terms of your next collaborative project?
Bart Skils: I’ve got a very cool project coming up at the end of July that has been in the making for almost two years. The track is called Sweet Harmony and originates from the godfather of house, Marshall Jefferson.
The standout piano hook and vocal were revamped in the early ’90s by London group Liquid, and it took ages to get it cleared between all people involved.
Finally, Marshall Jefferson heard the demo version—which he loved—so we agreed to release it as a collab together. I’m extremely proud of the result.
Weska: I just wrapped up a new collab with Enamour that turned out amazing—I can’t wait to test it out for the first time next weekend. I’m also deep into a few more collaborations with some incredible producers and vocalists. Can’t say too much just yet, but I’m really excited about what’s coming.
What’s your most anticipated gig of the summer fans should check out?
Bart Skils: I’ve got a full run of great festivals and events this summer and among those are Awakenings, Fusion, 909, and a secret warehouse event in LA where I’ll do the 3-hour closing. But in general, every weekend is full of highlights at the moment.
Weska: I’m heading to California next weekend—playing Halcyon in San Francisco and Sound in LA. Of course, I’ll be trying to squeeze in some surf while I’m there. It’s the dream when your passions line up like that. In August, I’m working on some Latin America dates, and in September, I’m heading to Ibiza for Resistance at Amnesia. I haven’t been to the island in a few years—stoked is an understatement.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Bart Skils: I’m very thankful that I get to do what my passion is, and all of you are so supportive of my sound and grooves. I’ll never take it for granted and will keep on pushing the sonic limits and following my heart.
Weska: There’s so much good music coming out right now across all genres. I love the blurred lines—people just writing what they like and having fun with it. It feels like the kind of music that inspired me to start producing in the first place, and I’m grateful to be part of it.
Bart Skils & Weska ‘Torn Clouds is out now on Drumcode: https://drumcode.ffm.to/dc331