What So Not started as a project between record producer Emoh Instead and Flume. On 13 November 2011, What So Not released their debut EP, 7 Dollar Bill. During this time, they had released several remixes of artists such as Peking Duk, Tom Piper, and Major Lazer,. In early 2013, they embarked on the Massive Universe Tour, in several venues across Australia. In 28 May 2013, they released their second EP, The Quack, featuring a collaboration with Action Bronson on label OWSLA.
The duo released the song, "Jaguar" on 6 December 2013.
On 24 June 2014, What So Not and RL Grime released their single, "Tell Me", with Chris Martins from Spin describing the track as "of both melodic might and percussive ferocity".
On 20 February 2015, Flume announced that he has departed from the What So Not project, citing creative differences. In a post written on Facebook, What So Not stated that "over the last while, Emoh and I have been moving in different directions creatively, we haven't made any music together in quite a while", and thanked Flume for his time and effort put into the project.
"Gemini" which features George Maple, the first track from the Gemini EP, debuted on 9 May 2015. The track was named on Triple J Hottest 100 later that year and peaked at number 52 on the Australian Singles Chart. The lead and title track features Sydney-based singer George Maple.
Gemini was released as a free download on 18 December 2015, which featured collaborations with artists Dillon Francis, Tunji Ige and KLP (musician). The EP was downloaded over 800,000 times, charted globally on iTunes Electronic EP chart and was named to various year-end "best of" lists.
In November 2015, What So Not, Baauer and George Maple co-produced a track for Australian rapper Tkay Maidza, titled "Ghost". The song was premiered on Triple J.
On 9 September 2016, What So Not released the 6-track Divide & Conquer EP, which includes previously released track "Lone".
In October 2016, What So Not, George Maple and Djemba Djemba co-produced a track on Australian rapper Tkay Maidza's debut album, titled "Afterglow".
On 3 November 2016, RL Grime released the single "Waiting" in collaboration with What So Not and Skrillex which was in production since 2013. The track's release was teased through a promotional video which parodied chat-line advertisements and featured footage of 1980-era-influenced vixens with a phone number flashing across the screen, where by calling the number listeners can hear the song in full.
A collaboration between What So Not and New York artist LPX, "Better", was released on 8 September 2017; and was debuted on Australian Radio Station Triple J 7 September 2017. "I had a few productions I’d been working on in this sonic field but struggled to find a vocalist with the right attitude and tone to fit. Lizzy and I clicked instantly on this trajectory & began jamming on the tune," stated What So Not about the track's production. He released "Be Ok Again" which featured Australian musician Daniel Johns on 28 November 2017. The track was produced after Johns noticed What So Not working with Slumberjack as he walked by the studio, which prompted him to invite What So Not to work together at his Newscastle studio.
On 31 January 2018, What So Not announced the arrival of his debut album titled Not All the Beautiful Things which was released on 9 March 2018. The album featured collaborations with artists Skrillex, Slumberjack, San Holo, and American rock band Toto. Together with the announcement, he released lead album single "Stuck In Orbit" which was co-produced with Jono Ma from Australian psychedelic dance band Jagwar Ma. What So Not released third album single titled "Beautiful" on 27 February 2018 and announced a national Australia tour for his "Beautiful Things' World Tour" where he visited cities Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in June 2018.
What So Not's first single of 2019, "We Can Be Friends" featuring American singer Herizen, was released on 22 January 2019. He previously met the singer at a songwriting workshop in Nicaragua, while citing American record producer and rapper J Dilla as the track's main inspiration.
Be Ok Again
What So Not Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Looking at these pictures, nothing left to say
We were meant to grow old
Now these feelings take hold
Are we ever gonna be okay again?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
I keep on trying, keep on trying
Maybe it's too late
Keep on lying, keep on lying
I'm in such a state
Are we ever gonna be okay again?
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
Hold me (hold me), hold me (hold me), hold me
I keep on trying, keep on trying
Maybe it's too late
Keep on lying, keep on lying
I'm in such a state
Are we ever gonna be okay again?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Laying on the floor, in the doorway
Looking at these pictures, nothing left to say
We were meant to grow old
Now these feelings take hold
Are we ever gonna be okay again?
Hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
Hold me (hold me), hold me (hold me)
Staring at the stars
Fever dripping down on me
Staring at the stars (hold me, hold me)
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh (wait for love, wait for love)
Ooh-ooh-ooh (wait for love)
It's not enough, not enough, not enough (wait for love, wait for love)
It's not enough, not enough, not enough (wait for love, wait for love)
It's not enough, not enough, not enough (wait for love, wait for love)
The opening lines of "Be Ok Again" set a desolate scene. The singer is lying on the floor of a room, presumably after some kind of fight or breakup, and looking at pictures. The pictures evoke a sense of nostalgia, perhaps memories of better times when everything was simpler. There is a sense of regret, a gnawing feeling that things could have been different. The lines "We were meant to grow old / Now these feelings take hold" suggest that the singer is grieving for a lost future, one that seemed so bright and promising.
The chorus poses a question that echoes throughout the song: "Are we ever gonna be okay again?" This is a universal question that arises when people experience loss or trauma in their lives. The singer wonders if it is possible to recover from the pain they are feeling, and if life can ever go back to the way it was before. The repetition of the phrase "keep on trying" suggests a sense of perseverance and hope, even in the face of despair. However, the lines "Maybe it's too late / Keep on lying, keep on lying" suggest that the singer is struggling to hold onto that hope, and is perhaps in denial about the reality of the situation.
The final lines of the song, "Staring at the stars / It's not enough, not enough, not enough" suggest a feeling of insignificance, or a sense that one's problems are too small in the grand scheme of things. This is a feeling that many people experience when they are going through a difficult time, and it can be both humbling and frustrating. The repetition of "wait for love" in the final lines suggests that the singer is waiting for something to happen that will make everything okay again, perhaps a reconciliation or a new love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher John Emerson, Daniel Paul Johns
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
What So Not
Be Ok Again is a really personal track for me. Daniel's encouragement pushed beyond anywhere I've gone before creatively.
I'm excited to share this with you & everything in store for 2018.
Jovi Tahau
Niooce
MG Margaret
⭐⭐🌟🌠
Jenn Neil
Glad to See Daniel and You Pushing Boundaries Together!!♣️♦️😂🙄🤨
chromefoxx
This song is honestly spectacular. Gives me some Flume vibes. I would love to see the two collab a track or two or at least an entire ep. Amazing video, vocals, drops, and synths. Nice work Emoh 💙👏
Vernux
I ship it Almost every song What So Not released before 2017 was with Flume :)
chromefoxx
Vernux I heard they used to work together and holy shit really? Even his Divide And Conquer album..?!
Vernux
I ship it Divide and conquer was an entire album he made on his own and I thought it had everything even without flume...but yeah Flume used to be apart of What So Not and their last song together was Gemini which is still my favourite
chromefoxx
Vernux Ah yes, Gemini was a really good song. I would love to see them collab again
Vernux
I ship it oh yeah for sure and would love to see something with the two again