Originally published on Flypaper Magazine 06/11/16
What is jazz to you? Is it the slightly irregular rhythms? The familiar sound of an upright bass? Or is it the freedom to interpret and improvise? Naturally, there is no single answer to this question. By its nature, jazz evades strict definition — especially when its influence is so enormous, and “what jazz was” has since transformed into hundreds of different styles and genres. Continuing on our recent exploration of the ways jazz has influenced rock, pop, and hip-hop, I wanted to look into how electronic artists are infusing jazz into their work.
But that led to a second problem: How do you define electronic music? Is it the use of electronic and digital mediums? If so, isn’t all music today “electronic” to some degree? Like jazz, it’s been impossible for me to pinpoint a definitive characteristic of all electronic music. It’s too diverse. Just look at the number of electronic sub-genres in this list! So to make it easier, I’m looking at artists who call themselves electronic musicians, and in particular, at the ones who I think are pushing the edges of the genre today — experimental electronic artists. You’ll notice that a lot of these artists don’t fit easily into a single genre — they blend many different ones, which is what makes them so interesting.
Let’s start with the big names…
Squarepusher
Squarepusher, a.k.a. Tom Jenkinson, is the poster child for this discussion — a trailblazer in the movement. Signed to Warp Records (THE label for all the big names in electronic music and IDM, see: Aphex Twin) who have handled all his releases since 1997, Jenkinson continues to push out music that evades genre. In April 2015, he released his first solo LP album in three years, Damogen Furies, which he describes as his attempt to “explore as forcefully as possible the hallucinatory, the nightmarish and the brutally visceral capacities of electronic music.”
His music is overwhelmingly eclectic — a musical minefield of genre amalgamation. He pulls from not only jazz, but also acid house, drum ‘n’ bass, ambient, jungle, and electro acoustic music. In my eyes, Squarepusher is a jazz musician at heart, but his musical mind wanders deep into electronic experimentation
Flying Lotus
Flying Lotus, a.k.a. FlyLo, a.k.a. Steven Ellison, is the next generation Squarepusher. Where Squarepusher may have started the “nu jazz” conversation with a few people in Britain, Flying Lotus lead a global conference. He founded Brainfeeder, a label that is pioneering the blending of jazz with electronic and hip-hop by signing artists like Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, and Taylor McFerrin. Like Squarepusher, FlyLo himself is signed to Warp Records, his most recent release being the studio album You’re Dead in 2014. On this, he collaborates with Kendrick Lamar on the hit “Never Catch Me.”
Though You’re Dead was a brilliant album (like all of his albums, really) Cosmograma is his masterpiece. Released in May 2010, the album marked a new era for FlyLo. Where his previous albums relied predominantly on electronic and digital mediums, Cosmograma draws on many acoustic instruments and live performances. It also features an epic line up of guests including, Thom Yorke, Laura Darlington, and of course, Thundercat. Here’s my favorite track on the album:.
Now the underdogs…
Taylor McFerrin
Taylor McFerrin, as mentioned, is signed to FlyLo’s label Brainfeeder with whom he released his debut album Early Riser in 2014. McFerrin is the eldest son of the legendary vocalist Bobby McFerrin, and I can confidently confirm that McFerrin junior has inherited the jazz gene. Taylor McFerrin’s foundation as a musician is quite eclectic; he’s a vocalist, keyboardist producer, and beatboxer… essentially a multi-instrumentalist.
On Early Riser, he explores this ambient, atmospheric space where he takes his listeners on what feels like a sonically-induced acid trip in a rainforest. His influences range from Stevie Wonder all the way to J Dilla, stopping by at Brian Eno’s crib. Taylor McFerrin is a jazz fusionist, more so than an electronic musician. On Early Riser, he collaborates with Thundercat, Robert Glasper, Nai Palm, Cesar Mariano, Emily King, and daddy dearest! Here’s my favorite tune on the album:
Mndsgn
Ringgo Ancheta a.k.a. Mndsgn (pronounced: “mind design”) is another producer who dabbles in between jazz, hip-hop, and electronic. Signed to Stones Throw Records, Mndsgn released his debut album Yawn Zen in 2014.
Personally, he has a captivating backstory: His parents were members of the Philippine arm of the Aum Supreme Truth Cult, and fled to the US in the late 1980s following the group’s turn towards terrorism. They were granted political asylum and settled in rural New Jersey where Mndsgn grew up with no electricity. He had never heard modern music before he hitchhiked to Philadelphia, which is where his musical career began.
Yawn Zen is a extensive expedition into his musical mind — with warm, fuzzy harmonies surely inspired by the LA summer vibes. One wonders how someone who had such minimal exposure to musical influence growing up can make something like Yawn Zen…. must be a really quick learner. The album is a low-key, mad chill, and meditative journey. Mndsgn’s innocent vocals layered with the neo-soul and space disco vibe, place him right in the center of our discussion.
Lionmilk
Lionmilk sounds something like the East Coast equivalent of Mndsgn. His real world name is Moki Kawaguchi and, full disclosure, he’s a good friend of mine. I met Moki at The New School in an Ambient Music class, which is an appropriate place to meet someone like Lionmilk. He spends his days playing keys for The Breathing Effect, signed to Alpha Pup Records. But when the sun sets, Lionmilk emerges with his otherworldly sound and dreamy vocals.
Like all the artists in the article, I have a hard time putting Lionmilk into a box, but if I must, I would describe Lionmilk’s music as an interplay between experimental jazz and experimental electronic. Though it’s clear to any listener that he’s got a major hip-hop influence. Listen to his newly self-released his album YUMS here.
YUMS is a world of its own — another realm of sounds! Lionmilk creates this soundscape of ambient sounds, eerie conversations, smooth Rhodes, and his own indie-style vocals, that invites the listener to get lost inside. So, listen up NYC! Lionmilk is the best kept secret I’ve come across in a while and I don’t say that lightly, so go listen to his music and share it!