Flying Lotus Opens Up About Film-Making Sacrifices and Musical Philosophy
Creative polymath Flying Lotus has revealed the immense personal cost of making his debut feature film while discussing his evolving musical approach in a wide-ranging interview ahead of his new EP release. The musician and film-maker described the five-year process of creating his sci-fi epic Ash as "the most challenging, creative thing I've ever done in my life."
The All-Consuming Nature of Film Production
"Making a movie can just eat your whole life away, your relationships, everything," Flying Lotus confessed. "It's a huge sacrifice to jump into that world. At every turn, I wished all I had to think about was just doing the music." Despite the difficulties, he acknowledged the profound satisfaction of seeing his vision come to life on screen, from character designs to special effects.
The artist, born Steven Ellison, emphasized that while he plans to continue making films, he intends to approach future projects without completely abandoning other aspects of his life during the lengthy production process.
Collaborations with Musical Icons
When asked about his dream collaboration, Flying Lotus immediately named Kendrick Lamar. "He's one of the few people I've worked with in the hip-hop world who is an actual genius," he stated. "He doesn't get enough credit for being a producer as well – because he has such a clear perspective on what he wants in his music."
The musician also reflected on working with legendary film-maker David Lynch on the track Fire is Coming, calling it "a dream come true" and praising Lynch's enduring creative vitality. "He never seemed to get old," Flying Lotus remarked. "Twin Peaks: The Return was one of his best works, and it was the last thing he did."
Evolving Beyond the LA Beat Scene
Addressing his musical evolution, Flying Lotus expressed ambivalence about the current state of the sound that initially brought him recognition. "The whole 'lo-fi beats' thing has become like Starbucks music," he observed. "I have to make things that challenge myself – I want to try to do things I haven't done before."
He emphasized his commitment to artistic growth rather than repeating past successes. "I remember when I started out how fun it was to wake up every day and everything felt brand new and uncharted," he recalled. "Now I'm a better musician, and I have a better understanding of what I'm doing and who I am as a person."
Family Legacy and Unreleased Collaborations
Flying Lotus spoke movingly about his aunt, jazz legend Alice Coltrane, whose legacy has experienced a significant reappraisal in recent years. "It's just so awesome that she's getting her love now," he said. "When I was coming up, people always asked her about John Coltrane this, John Coltrane that. Now it's Alice Coltrane."
The artist also addressed the status of his unreleased collaboration with the late MF Doom, expressing frustration about being unable to connect with the rapper's estate to release the material. "I would love to release that stuff," he confirmed, noting that Doom had recorded "amazing stuff" over his beats that remains inaccessible.
Future Projects and Artistic Philosophy
Looking ahead, Flying Lotus confirmed that his Captain Murphy alter ego would resurface and expressed interest in collaborating with contemporary hip-hop artists like Westside Gunn and Freddie Gibbs. He also reflected on what separates good producers from great ones, emphasizing the human element of music creation.
"The difference between good producers and great producers is knowing how to get an artist to do their best work," he explained. "Every artist is going through something... And you have to find a way to navigate all that, to get the best out of the moments you have with people."
Flying Lotus's new EP Big Mama is scheduled for release via Brainfeeder on March 6, marking his latest exploration beyond the boundaries of conventional electronic music.
