Comedian/musician/band leader of CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden Reggie Watts has teamed up with famed Los Angeles-based techno producer John Tejada to form the electronic group Wajatta, a mash-up of Watts and Tejada. Their first single, “Runnin,'” will be released on December 1 via Comedy Dynamics Records.
The new project finds the pair celebrating their mutual love for Detroit techno, Chicago house, ’70s funk and New York hip-hop.
Obligatory press release gush from Watt: “Having been a longtime fan of John’s 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. It’s been such a fun experience brief and yet prolific as the partnership continues. I’m 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!!”
Obligatory press release gush from Tejada: “Reggie and I met at one of my shows last winter and we began work on our collaborations soon after. “Runnin” 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.”