Flying Lotus: ‘The whole lo-fi beats thing has become like Starbucks music’

When asked to pick one rapper to make an album with, Flying Lotus chose Kendrick Lamar, calling him “an actual genius.” He praised Lamar’s clarity of vision and production instincts, saying the rapper knows where every sound is supposed to be and that working closely with him would be a “great meeting of the minds.” Collaborations have included unlikely pairings: working with David Lynch was “a dream come true,” FlyLo said, describing Lynch as someone who inspired his whole artistic path.

He recalled visiting Lynch’s studio and called Twin Peaks: The Return one of his best works and “the last thing he did.” Making his feature film Ash was “the most challenging, creative thing I’ve ever done in my life.” The project took five years and demanded huge personal sacrifices, he said, adding with a laugh that he doesn’t recommend the process.

He plans to keep making movies but hopes to avoid letting them consume his whole life.

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