Here comes Flying Lotus, about to blow our minds again. This time the blap-master from Cali is busy prepping a jazz LP featuring the legendary Herbie Hancock - a project he says will appeal to hardcore jazz junkies and music geeks. If you happened to want more, he's also producing Thundercat's forthcoming LP, mentoring Earl Sweatshirt, prepping the upcoming Brainfeeder compilation and cooking up some new goodies with Hudson Mohawke and Madlib. He discussed his increasingly busy schedule during a recent interview with Brightest Young Things. Check out some of what he had to say.
What have you been working on lately?Right now, I’m on my jazz shit, man. I’m doing a lot of jazz stuff. We’re trying to make something that’s kind of a geek album. There are crazy time signatures and really intense playing, just because we want to go there. We want to play really fast. It’s gonna be fun, man.
Does that fall under Flying Lotus or is it a thing of its own?
We’ll see. At the moment, there a lot of people involved. I’m gonna keep it that way, so we’re probably going to call it something else.
It seems like you’ve sought out more collaboration with each passing year.
I love what other people can contribute so much. I love working alone too, but at the same time, I love that someone can bring something to the table that I haven’t thought of. They bring different textures. I want to explore different things. I make a lot of music, and a lot of my shit could have used a voice on it. Some of it doesn’t need it though. It all depends. I’m working on this [Captain] Murphy record right now. There’s not a lot of people on it. It’s mostly just me doing everything. That’s just what it calls for.
Are you soliciting beats from other producers again?
I got a few. I got all the beats that I need. I did most of them, but there are a couple people that I got beats from, like Jeremiah Jae, Hudson Mohwake, and Madlib. Other than that, I’m doing everything.
Are you trying to get that album out this year?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You’ve mentioned a desire to do more hip-hop production for other artists. Has the attention that Captain Murphy’s received opened any doors on that front?
Yeah, well, the whole Captain Murphy thing only happened because I was working in the studio with different rappers. I’d be hanging out with guys like Earl or Ab-Soul, and I’d randomly slip on one of the Captain Murphy records and they’d be like, “Yo, what is that?” And I was like, “Oh shit. They’re tripping. If they say it’s cool, then fuck it, I can do this, because these are people that I think are dope.”
What was your reaction to Hudson Mohawke signing to G.O.O.D. Music?
I think that’s good for him. It’s such a good place for what he’s doing. There’s part of me that’s always gonna be like, “Oh man, watch yourself.” But his tunes suggest that he’s always wanted to make big records, so that’s a nice place for him.
Given the core elements of jazz and outré electronica in your music, has your popularity felt unexpected? Or do you view it as a logical conclusion to the hours you’ve put in?
I can’t lie: I’m very blessed. I feel very blessed, and I’m always humbled by the response to what my little time in my studio elicits around the whole world. That’ll never change. But, I feel like I care so much about it too. I don’t know, man. I like the fact that I haven’t made a crazy song that I’ll never be able to get over. I haven’t made my one hit thing yet. I’m really happy for that. There have been cool songs along the way. [Laughs] I’ve built a little following, but I haven’t had a YouTube sensation that I have to worry about following up. It’s kind of cool that it can be a gradual increase and expansion, and I’m not too big to the point where I’m annoying. [Laughs] Something like, “I’m tired of hearing about this guy!”
What’s a sign of success that’s surprised you?
The people who know about what I do always surprises me. I’ve been working Herbie Hancock recently. Herbie Hancock told me that I’m a pioneer. I almost cried. [Laughs] It made me tremble. He’s seen it in his time, so that must mean something.
Check the full interview at Brightest Young Things. Head over to The Revivalist for the full rundown of what Flylo and Thundercat have been up to.
Spotted at HT
