Images courtesy of The Color Factory NYC
Music and cannabis share a remarkable ability to enhance our experiences, inviting us to connect more deeply with ourselves and the world around us. Collectively, they create a space for reflection, creativity, and pleasure.
High Notes explores the intersections of music and cannabis, highlighting the records that elevate the moment.
Flamingosis—the creative moniker of NJ-born producer, beatboxer, and DJ Aaron Velasquez—blends old-school soul, funky grooves, and DIY electronic vibes. Flamingosis has crafted a distinct sound that resonates with listeners—collecting over 100 million streams and collaborations with artists like Marc Ribillet and GRiZ. He’s woven his distinctive threads and carved out a niche of his own, drawing inspiration from the vibrant energy of everyday life and the constant movement of the world around him. His latest album, Better Will Come, is a heartfelt journey of personal growth and resilience, inspired by and reflective of the ups and downs of life and the transformative power of adversity.
In this edition of High Notes, Flamingosis shares his recommendation for the perfect album to accompany a smoke session, insights into his creative process, and how he channels life experiences into his music. So, spark up, unwind, and dive in.
The Emerald Magazine: What’s one album you’d recommend for the ultimate smoke sesh, and what makes it the perfect choice?
Flamingosis: Max Graef’s Rivers of The Red Planet. Listening to this album always feels like the first time for me. It’s a great collection of eclectic tunes that flow from genres of hip-hop, jazz, techno, funk, house, electronica, and everything in between. The album is its own thing, on its own planet.
Emerald: Do you remember when you first discovered this album? How did it resonate with you?
Flamingosis: I think I was recommended this album right when I got out of college. It has still stuck with me to this day because, overall, it just sounds like itself and not trying to sound like anything else. It feels groovy, intricate, funky, and fun. Which is what I aspire to when making music.
Emerald: Are there particular moments in the album that stand out? Can you share a favorite track?
Flamingosis: Probably the track Itzehoe, a very hip-hop/house fusion-y kind of track. And I think you can bump the tune in a lot of different places because of that. You can play it in the club since it has that upbeat bpm [beats per minute], but you can also play it while relaxing at home because it’s also very smooth and melodic.
Emerald: How do you find inspiration when creating new music? Do you have any go-to rituals?
Flamingosis: Usually, listening to obscure music on YouTube inspires me. If there’s a lick in it that sounds particularly off the chain, I’ll end up sampling it and making a beat out of it.
Emerald: Has cannabis influenced your music or creative process over the years?
Flamingosis: Honestly, not really. I haven’t been much of a smoker the last handful of years. But it has enhanced the listening experience of music regardless whenever I choose to do it.
Emerald: What role does the setting play for you when you’re creating or listening to music?
Flamingosis: It definitely plays a factor and has an influence on me when making music. For some reason, I can usually bust out a couple beats whenever I’m traveling on a train. Maybe because I’m on the go and seeing environments constantly change whenever I look out the passenger window. It gets the creative juices flowing I guess.
Emerald: Tell us a little about how your latest release, Better Will Come. How was that conceptualized?
Flamingosis: It’s an album about being better for yourself. I was going through a bit of a rough patch during that time. But I used that rough patch as motivation to get better physically, mentally, and spiritually. These life experiences of being better for myself naturally manifested into the music as well. It helped heal me in a way, and I hope it helps someone else out there who listens to it.
Emerald: What’s the best way to truly immerse yourself in a record?
Flamingosis: The best for me is to listen to it alone at home while I’m slumped on the futon or playing video games (or both).
Emerald: If you had to set the mood for a sesh using three tracks from your own catalog, which ones would you choose?
Flamingosis: Stowed Away (feat. Ehiorobo), Long Distance, and Flight Fantastic.
Emerald: Where can we keep up with you / what you’re working on right now?
Flamingosis: Head to flamingosis.com if you’d like to come through to a show! Also I have a lot of new music projects in the works, and some of it will eventually come out sometime in 2025.
CHECK OUT MAX GRAEF’S RIVERS OF THE RED PLANET HERE:
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