tech
January 11, 2026
‘It’s more productive than doomscrolling’: film-maker Ben Wheatley on his secret life as musician Dave Welder
While playing with nine-figure Hollywood budgets, the Kill List and Meg 2 director has become a prolific music producer. Next up is his experimental film, Bulk
TL;DR
- Ben Wheatley, known for films like High-Rise and Meg 2, has been secretly releasing music as Dave Welder.
- Dave Welder has released 26 albums spanning electronica, dub, ambient, kosmische, and drone genres in just over a year.
- Music-making began as a hobby on GarageBand and became an obsession and creative distraction for Wheatley.
- Wheatley's latest film, Bulk, features music entirely composed by him under the Dave Welder moniker.
- The film and its soundtrack reflect a 'cottage industry', 'handmade', and 'punkness' DIY ethos, utilizing modern technology like iPhones and GarageBand.
- Wheatley's musical inspirations include the Fall, Neu!, and Aphex Twin.
- The DIY approach is seen as a complement to, rather than a negative reaction against, his work on big-budget films.
- Wheatley is exploring ideas for immersive cinema experiences combining film and live music.
- Dave Welder has performed live at venues like London's Cafe Oto.
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