Flying Lotus

This post is going to be fun.  Flying Lotus, or FlyLo for short, is the alias of electronic musician, Steven Ellison.  He is by no means your standard producer of electronica, however.  He crafts complex tracks that draw from a wide variety of influences.  Hip-hop beats, organic instrumentals, floating vocals, and video game sound effects all meld together with fantastic balance to give his music a distinct sound.

Like any good musician, it seems that FlyLo also likes to occasionally indulge in some mind altering activities...

Holy zodiac! That's a trip.  The song is from his 2010 album Cosmogramma and is called "Zodiac Shit".  His real 'influences' aren't all herbs and pills; he has said that he gets high to enjoy his music, not to make it because he gets distracted and forgetful.  No, FlyLo music is much more a product of the environment in which he was raised.

The Los Angeles native has kept close ties to his musical family.  His music takes strong inspiration from the lives and works of his aunt and uncle, jazz musicians Alice and John Coltrane.  In addition, their son, Ravi, remains an important part in Ellison's creative process.  See Ravi and Alice perform here.

Flying Lotus's name might not have mainstream notoriety, but his music does.  Anyone that has ever watched Cartoon Network's [adult swim] programming block (as I am right now) should recognize his songs from their witty and snide bumps.


Hit the jump to see what I'm talking about.





Crop Circles: This clip used "Galaxy In Janaki" off the Cosmogramma album.




PSA - Salmonella: This helpful PSA features "Spicy Sammich" from the Reset EP.




For The Troops: I really like this song, "Auntie's Lock/Infinitum" from his sophomore album, Los Angeles.  The pulsing organ line drives the song forward as Laura Darlington's slow chant tails along.  So relaxing.

Check more bumps here.

Visit FlyLo's website for all kinds of cool features including some pretty cool Asteroids-style games down at the bottom of the site, 'Attack' and 'Destroy'.