May
Interview w/ OC’s Badman FLINCH
GRIMERS!!! This dude needs no explanation why he’s OC’s badman. Touring w/ 12th Planet and getting mad love from some of the biggest producers in the game, Flinch has this EDM scene moving to the music. If you haven’t seen him live make sure you check out his set, it will blow your mind. We’ve had the chance of hanging with Adam on multiple occasions and I can tell you he’s a genuine dude that wants to give back to the fans. Make sure you go check out his tunes over on his Soundcloud. Here a Q & A and his new song from OWSLA records.
Q. Tell us how you first got introduced to the EDM scene and were you ever previously in any bands, or musical groups growing up?
A. I was playing in an indie band at the time I attended my first EDM event ( nocturnal wonderland 96 ). I was skeptical at first but as soon as I entered the parking lot of the event I was instantly mesmerized by the production level and of the very unique style of fashion and just the positive energy. Its safe to say I was converted over night, and quickly began trying to intertwine electronics and synth into my current music projects. Shortly after I moved into an apartment with some people who were djing and producing drum & bass and hip hop and that is where I got my start.
Q. Do you have any particular creative processes when producing a track?
A. If I do I’m not fully aware of it… I generally start with sound design and then move into a melody that sparks my interest
if I’m working with a vocalist or doing a remix, I’ll come up with an idea around there work. Theres generally a lot of coffee and smoke in the air.
Q. If there was anyone you could do a collaboration with who would it be and why?
A. That’s a very hard question to answer, being that I love so many producers work… but I’ve always wanted to work with Pendulum
Q. And speaking of collaborations, how was it working with Korn?
A. Working with KoRn was exciting and challenging. I think most producers like a challenge , but it was kinda hard to figure out the balance of rock and dubstep. We wanted to make them a big bassy tune, but didn’t want to mask the distinct KoRn core sound.
It was wonderful to be a part of, and a huge learning experience to see how a major rock band functions and how they create the energy that keeps them evolving as artists.
Q. In which ways have you personally seen the music scene change in regards to electronic music, especially over the past few years?
A. Its hard to tell how much the scene has changed and how much I have changed….Its bigger than ever, I’d say that the people aren’t really dancing as much, but I was never much of a dancer myself. I think the biggest change is that young people that are coming to events now, they know the songs from the internet before they hear them out on a big system, so when you play a vocal track they sing along, and they almost prefer you to play the whole song rather than a quick mix. I think my generation was exposed to the music at the source, the party. Where as today’s generation is hearing the music online and from friends, and go to the party to hear it LOUD! Basically is more about the music than ever, and less about the drugs and the fashion.
Q. And to wrap it up, what are some things we can expect to see from you this year?
A. You can expect to see a lot more music and touring!!
For more info about Flinch go check out his Soundcloud or Facebook
Feb
Hey Grimers, we got a massive release from GRIMESQUAD’s Trevor Kelly on Irie Cartel Recordings.
[ICR004- Trevor Kelly- The OG Chronicles (OUT NOW EVERYWHERE~BEATPORT etc.) by Trevor Kelly
Go pick the OG Chronicles on beatport!
Jan
Hey GRIMERS! We got on the real! w/ artist Jeff Locke
Briefly tell us about yourself and how you came to be involved in art?
The name’s Jeffrey Locke. I’m a Southern California boy, born and raised and, as an artist, I couldn’t be more fortunate to have the surroundings that I do. Art has always been something in my life. I’m an introvert and I think that expression has always flown more freely from me through art: written, sonically, and visually. I always say it’s my therapy—my reason to exist, really. I need art to maintain sanity. Without it, I am just all bottled up feeling.
At what point did you realize being an artist was something in which you had potential?
I realized that something greater could blossom from my art as soon as I saw how much joy and purpose comes from the creative process. Also, my friends and family have been huge in encouraging me to continue on and progress with my art. I’ve seen how much that encouragement can foster better things and I make it a point to encourage everybody in the creative field. It’s incredible what a nice word will do for somebody. That’s what is truly rad about communities like LA Grime.
Who are some of your greatest inspirations?
It’s funny what/who inspires me. As far as people go, I am just going to shoot off a few names that come immediately to mind: Aubrey Beardsley, Harry Clarke, Dali, Vince Guaraldi, Jeff Soto, David Bowie, Klimt, Thoreau, Vonnegut, Jim Henson, Maurice Sendak, man-I-can-go-for-days-with-this. Something that really inspires me, though, is detachment. When I don’t have any tools to make any art at all, I suddenly have all of these ideas and want to make them happen more than anything. I can be driving somewhere and all of a sudden all of these ideas are flowing and that insane urge to run back into my room and get cracking won’t leave my head. The feeling of not being able to create makes me want to create even more. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, I suppose.
What motivates you to continue to create?
I have to create something all of the time just to escape boredom, a static mind. At this point, I realize art is something I need to do and if I can support myself (however meagerly) by it, that would be the dream. It is also motivating just to have people say they love a piece you have created out of nothing with two hands. There is nothing better.
Out of your pieces, what are some of your favorites?
This new piece, “Mirela”, that I just finished is something I am digging a lot. It sort of incorporates a lot of elements of my style into one work.
And what was it that you were trying to communicate when creating that particular work?
A lot of times I try to capture a “stream-of-consciousness,” surreal, dreamy quality in my work. I have a tendency to use female figures, too. With “Mirela,” I like to imagine she is a character from another galaxy altogether. Maybe another dream world. A warrior woman. I try to leave interpretation open, mainly. I’d rather people see what they want to see. Sometimes aesthetics just comes down to that initial draw to an object, not the “meaning.” I always put aesthetic appeal first. Some people might hate me for that, but hey, sometimes it’s just nice to look at something beautiful and leave it at that. It’s like when you pass by a beautiful woman and think, “Hey, that’s nice,” then you never see her again. It’s still pleasing even without knowing her background, her “meaning.” This might be why I resonate with the Art Nouveau movement. Art for art’s sake.
How would you like to describe to us your personal style?
Art Nouveau meets The Summer of Love.
Is there anything you’re currently working on that you would like to tell us about?
I have plans to work BIG this year. I want to do murals, huge panels, canvasses, etc. That’s my goal. It’s 2012; I’ll work big for the Mayans.
Click here to check out more of Jeff’s pieces
Jan
Its raining like cats and dogs over here in LA but that doesn’t anyone. Hope you guys are ready for Sundays mass? This week The Overthrow presents LIL DEATH w/ Them Howling Bones. We’ve had a chance to go to this and we all highly recommend it. Click here for more info. Also included this Mix from Bag Raiders to help you get through this rainy day
Bag Raiders Monthly January Edition 2012 by bagraiders
“Art is love and love is real”
GRIME SQUAD Music
