Wingtip

Two-stepping between pop, indie, electro, and even a little disco, San Francisco-born and Brooklyn-based artist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wingtip—aka Nick Perloff-Giles—keeps it classy and catchy at every turn. That’s why his breakout single “Rewind” [feat. Sophie Strauss] quickly became a global smash in late 2016. In under three months, the track went from being featured on Spotify’s “Young & Free” playlist to amassing over 12.2 million streams and counting. In addition, it received praise from Billboard, Dancing Astronaut, Indie Shuffle, My Old Kentucky Blog, and Neon Gold who dubbed him, “The logical heir apparent to The Knocks’ New York disco throne.” It all stems from his hypnotic hybridization of natural instrumentation and expansive production.

“At its height, electronic music can be really forceful, emotive, and kinetic, and it really expresses something directly,” he explains. “Rock, indie, and folk are a little more nuanced and subtle. Blending both is something I dig.”

That blend also came naturally to Perloff. Influenced by Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes, he went from playing guitar in rock bands during high school to composing electronic music on his laptop with inspirations ranging from Skrillex and Diplo to Baths and Gold Panda. The solo creative space proved liberating for the budding artist.

“When you’re in a band, it can be really difficult to motivate anyone else,” he remarks. “I started experimenting on my computer, and I didn’t have to deal with other personalities. At the same time, I realized I could incorporate a lot of the stuff I had done in bands. The vibe crystallized over time.”

Enrolling in Columbia University, he became a favorite at campus parties before releasing “Wonder” and “Keep You Warm” online. Prior to graduation, he recorded “Rewind” with Sophie Strauss—whom he met at a taping of The Daily Show—during just one hour of borrowed studio time. With its dance floor gloss, gliding guitar, funky bass, and unshakable croon, the track’s infectiousness is matched only by its immediacy.

“I wanted to create a song that juxtaposed the images of changing seasons and feeling differently in a relationship,” he goes on. “At the time when I wrote it, the leaves were changing, and it was nostalgic and weird. That was the mood I was in. Sometimes, relationships just end. You don’t feel the same way about a person as you initially did. It’s underdiscussed. Everyone always writes about somebody wronging them or finding a new person. This was a different avenue to explore.”

Signing to Republic Records at the top of 2017, Perloff continues to chart new territory and consistently engage audiences with his signature blend. “Music can directly connect and make listeners feel certain things or remember moments of their lives,” he leaves off. “It doesn’t just have to be about partying and escapism. I want to really reach people.”