Shlohmo: Artist You Should Know

By Mario Cotto, KCRW DJ and Music Host

Of all the unbelievable music scenes our fair City of Angels has to offer, seemingly none has risen quite as high quite as fast as the “Beat Music” scene which has flourished quite organically at East LA’s weekly The Low End Theory.

Home to a veritable who’s who of KCRW favorites like The Gaslamp Killer, Tokimonsta, Daedalus, Nosaj Thing, and Flying Lotus, The Low End Theory has become a juggernaut of epic proportions, to the point that Radiohead’s Thom Yorke has spun there a couple of times.

One of the scenes freshest faces is a local kid (seriously, I think this kid is barely drinking age) named Shlohmo, whose skill and tenacity have him sitting at the table with the big boys and getting much deserved praise from typically snarky blogs (who will remain nameless) for his debut release on the LA-based label Friends of Friends, “Bad Vibes”.

His new album skirts the boundaries of two questionably named and oft derided genres; dubstep and chillwa-WAIT! WAIT…Hear me out. Seriously, with a real focus on melody and an ability to generate a tight groove and give it ambient flourishes that make for a compelling listen, Shlohmo has crafted truly inspired music that is nostaligic and dreamy in a way that deserves greater attention. See, “It Was Whatever” for a taste of what are “Bad Vibes” in name only.

Shlohmo: It Was Whatever