Say what you will about the glitch-hop gang, but SoCal’s experimental beatmakers are riding a wave the likes of which hasn’t been seen since trip-hop’s mid-’90s ascent. And while lines can easily be traced between Flying Lotus and producers like Ras G, Samiyam, and Take, there are just as many less-easily categorized MIDI warriors bashing the android rhythms out.
Chief among them is Jason Chung, who continues to sling bangers and mash under the name Nosaj Thing. While plenty of folks assume he’s yet another Fly Lo disciple, you’d be better off filing his music alongside Burial, Plaid, Black Dog, or even good ol’ J.S. Bach. On Chung’s Alpha Pup release, Drift, impressionist classical nuances share space with brittle percussion and drum rhythms. The Danny Elfman fan and former music-store employee chatted up our sister publication Earplug, explaining how he was inspired by The Smell, what it’s like to roll with Flying Lotus, and what the chat room beatmaking scene is all about.
