Today we’d like to introduce you to Alec Messer.
Hi Alec, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started getting into producing EDM (Electronic Dance Music) immediately after I attended my first festival. I was convinced by some friends of mine to attend EDC in Las Vegas in 2016. I wasn’t much into the music much at the time, but after attending I immediately fell in love.
I knew that if I wasn’t up there spreading the love and energy that those DJs were through their music, then I was taking the wrong direction in life. There is nothing that can make people vibe, and connect with complete strangers at a level that one of these festivals can do. I started producing immediately after getting back, with no mentor, no help, but the will to do something special with my life that can impact the most amount of people.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all. I was in a deep pit of depression when I found my passion. I had an alcoholic mother with an overly religious father at the time. There were no lessons online on how to create the music I wanted to, and nothing that showed me any steps on how to get to the dream I wanted.
You may not know this, but there are hundreds of local DJs. I sure didn’t know this at the time. I wanted to be unique and create an all-original set before I started DJing. Little did I know, that most of the DJs did not have any pieces of their own production at all. After playing my first set and realizing that I have produced more than any other DJ in Utah to my knowledge, I started pushing marketing 100x harder.
Then I found out that if you want to play at nightclubs you had to know how to use CDJs. I didn’t know anyone at the time so I maxed a credit card and bought a pair of nightclub CDJ’s for about $4,000. I was determined to learn how to use them so I didn’t look like a fool when I got the chance to play at a nightclub. Little did I know, it’s not about skill when you are wanting to play gigs. It’s about marketing, connections, and drive. I ended up volunteering to help run shows for some friends I made, and started meeting people like crazy. Of course, there is no exact road map to making it in the industry, but I can sure tell you that I was taking the path in a very difficult way.
I all of a sudden got a lot of attention, pretty quickly. I played a gig every week for 16 weeks straight. Of course, I later found out that it is not good to over-saturate yourself in an area. This will cause people to not come to a gig because they can just “catch the next one”.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
So I am a Music Producer by the name of “Mr. WildFire”. I coined the name due to my red hair. Luckily having red hair is marketing on its own due to me standing out in a crowd of people. I make Electronic Music, specifically around the genre of Bass Music. I make Dubstep, Future Bass, Trap, Mid-Tempo, and other forms of Experimental Bass. I still play all original sets to this day. I have signed many record deals and played many different shows with the biggest one being the main stage at Imagine Music Festival in Atlanta.
I would say what sets me apart from others is that I have such a strong sense of love for the community as a whole, that people trust that I will do what is in their best interest. I am now focusing on my mental and emotional mindset. I believe that the rave community has. lost its sense of “PLUR”. PLUR was created over 20 years ago and it was strong in the rave community. It stands for “Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect”.
I want to make sure that people are aware of their actions, how they affect others, and why having good mental health is important as a whole. I am working on some music that will highlight how people can improve their mental health. I’m still working on the kinks on how to integrate it smoothly into a 3-minute track, but you’d be surprised!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see my industry getting much bigger, there needs to be something new and exciting to bring out more outsiders into the EDM scene. I believe as technology advances, and festivals, etc get more exposure, then the festivals will start growing even more rapidly.
I see new companies emerging finally to compete with the largest promoters/event throwers here in Utah. I see the community growing together more as a whole, and bringing a whole new sense of togetherness. I also see new subgenres of Dubstep becoming prevalent, the number one being “Tearout”. A style of dubstep with a pluck-like sub-heavy synth on top of a saw bass.
Contact Info:
- Website: mrwildfireofficial.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/mrwildfireofficial
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrwildfire1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mrwildfire
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mrwildfire
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4LsM2Hg69nBQ0BwYLVMbnE
