For this week’s Freeform Friday mix, we are joined by producer and Brainfeeder label boss Steve Ellison, better known as Flying Lotus. Easily one of the most influential electronic musicians of the last decade, FlyLo sits atop the experimental electronic music genre with his signature psychedelic and heavily-percussive sound. An extremely sought-after collaborator, Ellison has teamed up with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, Thundercat, Erykah Badu, and even Thom Yorke of Radiohead.
Now, he’s graced us with a brilliant ambient set featuring his originals plus music selects that he’s found personally inspiring in navigating this historic time — giving us a peek inside his mind.
We asked FlyLo a few questions in anticipation of his set. Read on for anecdotes on his current musical favorites, his admiration for Bobbi Humphrey and how the overall vibe came together for a late night chill session crafted by the man himself.
Flying Lotus’ current inspiration picks:
A lot of the music I put in the mix are original ideas that I had been making with my loop pedal — I've been having a lot of fun with that. The other tracks I featured are things I've been listening to lately and find inspiring right now and thought I'd share with people.
A track worth revisiting:
“River People” by Weather Report is a track that's very special to me because it's something I've loved for many years and it's something I revisit. It always inspires me. I remember recently in a music streaming session my buddy Chris played that lick from that song and it reminded me how good that song was — I went into the rabbit hole of getting into that track again from nowhere.
He wants you to know her name. FlyLo on Bobbi Humphrey:
Bobbi Humphrey's track “New York Times” is such a cold groove — that song is written by a flute player but it's so funky, there's more than just flute on there. It's an incredible composition. Bobbi Humphrey is one of those people that people need to know about. She is super amazing.
Flying Lotus on how this mix hits:
Tough question, it was such a stream of consciousness that I hope that it's almost like taking a sift through one of my albums, where it has these ebbs and flows. I think it's a mix for a late night chill session.