What So Not's home away from home guide to LA

WHAT SO NOT is coming back to Australia, he's playing Splendour In The Grass and he's got a huge tour as well. But the Sydney producer has been calling somewhere else home (pretty much) for some time now. That town is Los Angeles.

With connections to OWSLA, friendships with legends like Skrillex - it makes sense why What So Not (Chris Emerson) is over there. LA is producer heaven right now. It may have even been a factor as to why his latest single a colab with GANZ and JOY., is so ripping! We thought it was "so well done, from the synths to the drums that small headphones don’t do it justice - this song needs to be played loud through a speaker system and danced to."

When it comes to what it's like to live in LA, we think Chris knows best, so he's taken us through his favourite five spots. Warning: this will make you hungry/thirsty/jealous.

Silver Lake Ramen

"It’s been a long day in a dark studio, sitting by yourself contemplating if anything you’ve come up with in the last 10 hours is even viable. Maybe you should have spent some time in the sunshine? Maybe gone to the park? Or actually talked to another human? It’s just before 10pm and it's cold out and you’re ordering an Uber X back to a one bedroom apartment just north of DTLA. All you want is to cuddle up with someone in bed and watch Netflix. That someone is Silver Lake Ramen."

Stamp Proper Foods

"Buckwheat pancakes, zucchini pasta, smashed avo on toast, an array of juices and smoothies and good coffee - my first stop shop in LA every time."

Trader Joes

"There’s something about grocery shopping that makes you feel grounded, no matter where you find yourself in the world. I like to stay in Airbnb’s and cook, over hotels and room services. Trader Joe’s is a pretty amazing set up for that - super cheap, healthy, organic produce with an abundance of stores across LA."

Blue Bottle Coffee

"Finding good coffee in the US can be tricky. Eating at airports every day I often settle for Starbucks as its consistently ‘OK’ and readily available. Traditionally airport food is stacked with salt, sugar, steroids, preservatives and probably the worst thing to put in you before long flights. However, take the Starbucks Oatmeal @ $3.5, add in a fresh banana @ $1, throw out the dried fruit and sugar and add a little cinnamon and half’n’half from the milk station. The flavour isn’t too far beyond bland, but you just scored yourself the cheapest and healthiest meal in any airport in America (Also a good hack, if you order through the Starbucks app, you don’t have to line up in the 20min queue)."

"There is however an upper class to the constantly ‘OK’ Starbucks coffee, by way of ‘Blue Bottle Coffee’. They have a few vendors around the US, one I recall one in Venice, but also sell their stock in pre-packaged cartons that I’ve started to see around LA and at airports. I’m not usually one for pre-made sweetened coffee, but the ‘New Orleans’ with brown sugar cane is on point."

Guisados

"I have a very fond memory of this place. I was taken here by a now friend the first day I ever set foot on US soil. We’d been at the OWSLA offices and I just met the whole gang for the first time. The restaurant was part of heavily debated list of about 30 or so taco joints across Los Angeles. Clayton’s goal was to try and get through the list over the course of the year, crafting a detailed review of each to determine the BEST taco place in LA. I didn’t try the other 29, though he said this one was up there and I haven’t had better taco’s since."

What So Not is almost back in his actual Hometown now, but luckily for you he'll also be bringing A-Trak and Rome Fortune to meet you. Dates below:

WHAT SO NOT & A-TRAK AUSTRALIAN TOUR

W/ SPECIAL GUEST ROME FORTUNE

Tickets on sale from whatsonot.com & atrak.com

Thu, June 30 | Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Fri, Jul 1st | Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide

Sat, Jul 2nd | Metro, Perth

Thu, Jul 7th | Prince Bandroom, Melbourne

Fri, Jul 8th | Prince Bandroom, Melbourne

Sat, Jul 9th | Max Watt’s, Brisbane

Photo Credit: Sylvè Colless

CHECK OUT MORE HOMETOWN GUIDES HERE

SEE ALSO:

WHAT SO NOT, GANZ & JOY COME TOGETHER FOR ‘LONE’