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If you wanted a unicorn thought experiment, pairing deliriously sultry soul music from the height of Stax and Motown era with au courant heartthrob handsomeness, then Don West has done the hard work for you; he is the answer. This Melbourne-based troubadour has taken a cinematic look at our favorite soul sounds and reimagined them with a coolness and candor that feels too vivid, like an ex-lover's scent on your sheets. With his debut self-titled EP released at the end of last year, has cemented himself as a must-see touring artist, already selling out multiple nights in Sydney and Melbourne. Cueing up this year for the release of his full-length album, he also just announced his first international play at Syd For Solen, Thursday 7 August, alongside Chappell Roan, Khruangbin, and Mk.Gee. Stay tuned for updates on this transformative titillating talent and see below for hints on vinyl shopping, dream lineup, and more.

OnesToWatch: Who is Don West?

Don West: I am whoever in the eyes and the hearts of anyone who cares. 

Congrats on your debut EP. How did it feel to get that out there? 

Thank you very much. It feels great to get it out in the world and watch it do its thing. I poured my heart into it, so I’m glad people are liking it. It was also the great unknown for me. I’ve always listened to the music but I had never cut a soul record, so I’m glad it’s resonating.

Any collaborators? Who produced the EP? 

My buddy Kesmar produced and co-wrote the record. This EP was the lovechild of our first meeting. It’s crazy to think that a few months before getting into it, we were strangers. Now the best of friends.

It’s undeniable to be transported by your sound, how do you feel about the retro revival? 

It’s a step in the right direction for good music. I think that it’s so accessible these days, it was only a matter of time before it came back around. Soul and Motown records have been sampled over and over again, so it's a familiar sound for many of us. There’s something really cool about finding an old record that’s been sampled. You go, aaaah that's where that's from. We've all done it.

Send us on a side quest to build our vinyl soul collection, name three albums we must have. 

I love side quests. But only three!? Very difficult. What’s Going On, a Marvin Gaye classic should be a staple in everyone's collection. 100 days, 100 nights by Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings is one of the great soul funk albums of our time. Got A Story To Tell, Thee Sacred Souls. One of my favourite releases for a long while. Only came out the back end of last year and I've played it to death. I'm going to break the rules because D’Angelo always has a place in my collection with Voodoo.

Who is your dream billing right now, who would you love to perform with? 

There are a bunch of great bands doing cool things that inspire me. Definitely the likes of Thee Sacred Souls, Jalen Ngonda, Olivia Dean, Khruangbin. If I’m really lucky, Al Green is still out there doing shows and sounding great!

Besides this excellent EP, what else should we be on the lookout for? 

Big year ahead. I've got an album done that I'm going to start releasing after my Australian tour in March, which I'm very excited for. The band and I are going to get over to Europe and the UK for some headline shows and a few festivals. It's looking like we will also be doing a bunch of shows in the USA, which is crazy. If I find the time, I'd love to get album number two done too.

What's inspiring you right now outside of music? 

I've been writing while Parts Unknown is on in the background. A very dangerous show for those with a wanderlust. I guess Anthony Bourdain is inspiring me? There’s so much of the world I want to see and there’s so much I want to experience. I like the idea of getting lost.

What's a place in Sydney we need to be to best appreciate your music? 

Walking to the beach as the sun comes up, cafe, pub, kitchen cooking with your squeeze. Going for a jog I dunno? It’s easy listening, I like to think it works with whatever you’re doing or wherever you are.

Who are your OnesToWatch? 

Ella Thompson. I just saw her open for Jalen Ngonda. Her voice was insane and the band was tight. She's doing soul and doing it well.