Flosstradamus has been smashing bodies in the club for some time now. Starting out in 2005, the two local Chicago natives have an excellent ear for music that seems to steam at the right moment. Musical influences like hip-hop, juke, house and numerous others fly across the border throughout their productions and skillful DJ sets. The duo have worked with some gifted personalities like Kid Sister, The Cool Kids, and Danny Brown. They have had the opportunity to release blazing, hot music for the likes of Fool’s Gold, Top Billin, Scion and Mad Decent. With a handful of things in store for us in 2012, more fun collaborations, and new releases, one could only think of the fresh heights the twosome are looking to set. A few days ago I had the chance to catch up with Curt of Flosstradamus and talk about various things. Check the whole outfit down below!
First off, I have to thank the both of you for taking out the time for sitting down to chat with us. I’m really curious to hear about how you guys met? Is there an interesting story behind the connection?
Thanks for hollering! We met in 2005 from a mutual friend who later became our roommate who (way) later started LOL Boys. He had heard us play solo on different occasions and thought it would be good look if we met. Within that year we started Flosstradamus then started touring not too long after that.
You guys recently released your EP “Total Recall” for Mad Decent and also completed a great, bumping remix for Major Lazer. How did you guys come to connect with the management over at Mad Decent with both the EP and remix?
It wasn’t even a management thing. We have known Diplo and Paul Devro for ages now. We have played shows with them over the years and would trade tracks in between. We had sent out a bunch of our demos to them to check out. They picked 3 to put out on Jeffrees. As for the Major Lazer remix. We had been playing the original in our set but wanted to make a new version that fit our new sound. We hit up Diplo and the rest was history. “Run the TRAP!”
Major Lazer – Original Don (Flosstradamus Remix) by Flosstradamus
You guys have collaborated with a load of talent from the likes of Kid Sister, Cool Kids and Danny Brown. What do you think are some benefits of two artists coming together? Who would you guys collaborate with if you could and why? (Top 3)
Well Kid Sister is Josh’s real life sister and the Cool Kids used to be our roommates. We all were just friends and family playing shows and doing music together in Chicago. Its the same with Danny, he is in the Fools Gold family with us. We sent him some beats, he liked one then and wrote From the Back. Anything we do we like it to happen organic. If it feels natural to us it will make a great product in the end. Our current top 3 people to collaborate with are:
1. Mystical, 2. Chief Keef, 3. Mark with A K
You guys have traveled extensively throughout the world, playing gigs everywhere. What are some of your favorite cities to play?
We have been on the road for over 7 years now yet it only feels like its 3. Anytime we cross the border to Canada we have a great time. Canadians are just more accepting to anything progressive. Id also like to get back to Brazil for a bit.
Who are some of your musical heros?
We really like all types of music its hard to pick out the current heros. The artists that defiantly got me into making music were Beastie Boys, Fatboy Slim, Propellerheads, Bran Van 3000 to name a few.
How often are you guys in the studio? And on the topic of studio’s, what do you use?
Well like I said before we have been touring for over 7 years. We were DJ’s first and producers second. We had to teach ourselves how to produce. We were very fortunate to have received many remix opportunities to use as practice. Though the gears have defiantly changed as of recently. We took of 3 months of touring before the new year to focus and wrap up a bunch of ideas we have had lying around. Jubilation and Total Recall came out of that sabbatical. It feels good to come back home to the studio and crank out a few new tunes and edits. I think we have finally found our stride. We are both using Logic to produce our tracks, with add-ons like Maschine, Melodyne, Sylenth, etc. We run our mixes through a Dangerous Music D-Box to get our sounds bigger. We have switched our live show up as of recently. Instead of using 4 turntables 2 mixers we have a 1 computer 2 controller Ableton driven system. Its making touring interesting again. Its fun to mess up on the fly!
Are you both good cooks? What are some of your favorite cuisines? Drink of choice?
I would say Josh is better at doing the cookin dance than me. Falafel is the tour staple, and Coffee is the drink of choice.
Top 3 tracks at the moment?
Baauer – Harlem Shake
Chief Keef – I Don’t Like
Mister Tweaks – Addiction
Flosstradamus feat. Kid Sister – LUUK OUT GURL x DANCE A$$ by Flosstradamus
Top 3 artists at the moment?
All of the above plus DJ Sliink, Grimes, Supreme Cuts
Funniest/Weiredest experience since your introduction to the EDM world?
A few Halloweens ago Josh and I dressed up as the Prodigy and played a rave in San Francisco. We made a whole set themed around the Prodigy. We came out and all of the kids in the crowd were so young they didnt get it. We figured if they were into EDM they would for sure know who we were trying to be. FAIL!
What is in-store for all the flosstradamus enthusiasts in the next few months?
New EP on Fools Gold, Collab with DJ Sliink, tours and collabs with ****** ******* (another Mad Decent artist) As well as a new tune or two on our soundcloud every month (stay tuned).
Thank you so much for the chat! It was a pleasure, any final messages to your fans?
If you just found out about us or have been into us from beginning, thank you for all the support. It has been an awesome ride and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. Thanks, Flosstradamus 2.0!
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