Flying Lotus

{{short description|American musician and record producer (born 1983)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Flying Lotus

| image = Steven D. Bingley-Ellison at SXSW 2025 (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Flying Lotus in March 2025

| birth_name = Steven Ellison

| alias = {{hlist|FlyLo|Captain Murphy|Steve}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|10|7}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| relatives = {{nowrap|Marilyn McLeod (grandmother)}}
Alice Coltrane (grand-aunt)

| occupation = {{flatlist|

  • Record producer
  • DJ
  • rapper
  • songwriter
  • filmmaker

}}

| years_active = 2006–present

| website = {{URL|http://flying-lotus.com|flying-lotus.com}}

| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes

| background = solo_singer

| genre = {{flatlist|

  • Electronic{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2014/12/07/flying_lotus_miles_davis_would_literally_be_mad_at_whats_happened_to_jazz/|title=Flying Lotus: Miles Davis would "literally be mad" at what's happened to jazz|first=Sarah|last=Gray|website=Salon.com|date=December 7, 2014}}
  • avant hip-hop{{cite web |last1=Barnes |first1=Tom |title=Flying Lotus swears his experimental 'Kuso' movie is "not the grossest film of all time" |url=https://www.mic.com/articles/182160/flying-lotus-swears-his-experimental-kuso-movie-is-not-the-grossest-film-of-all-time/amp |website=Mic |date=July 14, 2017 |access-date=21 February 2022}}
  • nu jazz{{cite web |last1=Kalouti |first1=Noor |title=7 Genre-Bending Artists Fusing Jazz With Electronic Music |url=https://flypaper.soundfly.com/discovery/nu-jazz-7-artists-fuse-jazz-electronic-music/ |website=SoundFly |date=July 11, 2021 |access-date=21 February 2022}}
  • wonky{{cite book|last1=Reynolds|first1=Simon|title=Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past|date=2011|publisher=Farrah, Straus & Giroux|pages=76|isbn=9781429968584|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FI3dVT9t34C&q=flying+lotus+wonky&pg=PA76}}
  • IDM{{cite news|last=Weiss |first=Jeff |date=October 4, 2012 |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2012-10-04/music/flying-lotus-until-the-quiet-comes/ |title=Flying Lotus' Nocturnal Visions |newspaper=LA Weekly |access-date=March 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119054319/http://www.laweekly.com/2012-10-04/music/flying-lotus-until-the-quiet-comes/ |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |url-status=dead }}
  • progressive rap{{cite magazine|last=Trammell|first=Matthew|date=May 27, 2016|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/06/06/thundercat-the-unsung-vocalist|title=Rock Bottom|magazine=The New Yorker|accessdate=July 15, 2021}}}}

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

{{Infobox

| child = yes

| header = Logo

| headerstyle = background:#b0c4de

| data1 = 250px

}}

}}

}}

Steven Ellison (born October 7, 1983), better known as Flying Lotus or sometimes FlyLo, is an American record producer, DJ, filmmaker, and rapper. He has released seven critically acclaimed albums: 1983 (2006), Los Angeles (2008), Cosmogramma (2010), Until the Quiet Comes (2012), You're Dead! (2014), Flamagra (2019), and Yasuke (2021). Flying Lotus' other work includes creating the record label Brainfeeder, producing much of Adult Swim's bumper music, releasing rap mixtapes such as Duality (2012) under his Captain Murphy alter ago, curating and hosting the in-game radio station FlyLo FM in Grand Theft Auto V (2013), and directing the sci-fi horror film Ash (2025).

Early life

Flying Lotus was born Steven Ellison{{cite web|url=https://lamag.com/news/flying-lotus-turns-down-the-volume1 |title=Flying Lotus Turns Down the Volume |website=Los Angeles Magazine |date=October 2, 2012 |access-date=October 2, 2012}} in Los Angeles on October 7, 1983. He has Cameroonian ancestry, being descended from the Tikar people.{{cite web|title=Video: Flying Lotus Learns About His African Roots|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/02/video-flying-lotus-learns-about-his-african-roots|website=Complex|access-date=January 27, 2018|date=February 5, 2013}} He is the grandson of singer-songwriter Marilyn McLeod, best known for writing hits such as the Diana Ross song "Love Hangover" and the Freda Payne song "I Get High (On Your Memory)".{{cite web|title=Nardwuar vs Flying Lotus |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqKVSVfj6Vc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103163641/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqKVSVfj6Vc&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2012-11-03 |url-status=dead|publisher=YouTube}} McLeod's sister Alice Coltrane was a jazz pianist who was married to saxophonist John Coltrane,{{cite web|title=Flying Lotus Family Connection|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/news/flying-lotus-family-connection|website=Clash Magazine|date=June 22, 2010 |access-date=May 14, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Flying Lotus Bio, Music, News & Shows|url=http://djz.com/featured_djs/flying-lotus/|website=DJZ.com|access-date=March 8, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330144512/http://djz.com/featured_djs/flying-lotus/|archive-date=March 30, 2013}} and was named by The Fader as the biggest influence on Flying Lotus' music.{{cite web|last1=Beta|first1=Andy|title=Flying Lotus Confronts Death|url=http://www.thefader.com/2014/10/01/flying-lotus-youre-dead-interview-cover-story|website=The Fader|access-date=April 5, 2015|quote=But the biggest influence on Ellison’s music can be seen just above his grand piano. There hangs a five-foot-tall painting in black and gold of his great aunt Alice Coltrane, the jazz pianist and harpist...}} He attended the Los Angeles Film School and Academy of Art University.{{cite web|url=http://www.emusician.com/artists/1333/flying-lotus/45106|title=Flying Lotus|website=Emusician.com|access-date=July 30, 2018}}

Musical career

=2006–2007: Adult Swim, ''1983'', and Warp Records=

In 2006, while at his mother's house, Ellison saw an advertisement on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block asking for song submissions.{{cite web|last=Brown |first=Marisa |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/flying-lotus-mn0000717419/biography |title=Flying Lotus – Biography |publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation |access-date=March 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327152346/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/flying-lotus-mn0000717419 |archive-date=March 27, 2013 |quote=Experimental electronic music producer Flying Lotus... mixes electronic-flavored hip-hop with jazz influences. |url-status=dead }} He sent some in under the name Flying Lotus, a moniker inspired by lucid dreaming, and was accepted.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/evolution-of-flying-lotus/|title=The Evolution of Flying Lotus|last=Zadeh|first=Joe|date=September 26, 2014|access-date=July 30, 2019|magazine=Vice}} Around this time, he was interning at the pioneering hip hop label Stones Throw Records.{{cite web |title=3D World Online – Flying Lotus – In Full Bloom |access-date=November 12, 2012 |archive-date=July 28, 2008 |url=http://www.threedworld.com.au/content/view/6106/58/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728133334/http://www.threedworld.com.au/content/view/6106/58/}} He released his debut studio album 1983 on October 3, 2006.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9740-1983/|title=Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Flying Lotus: 1983 |website=Pitchfork|date=January 10, 2007|access-date=July 30, 2019}}

In 2006, Ellison participated in that year's annual Red Bull Music Academy in Melbourne.{{cite web|url=http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/about/alumni |title=Alumni: Melbourne 2006 |access-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418205543/http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/about/alumni |archive-date=April 18, 2016 |url-status=dead }} In 2007, he announced on CSU-Fullerton's Titan Radio that he signed with Warp Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.plugonemag.com/2007/02/24/flying-lotus-signs-with-warp |title=Flying Lotus signs with Warp | Plug One |website=Plugonemag.com |date=February 24, 2007 |access-date=October 1, 2012}} He released his debut EP, the six-track Reset on October 1, 2007.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/2qdp|title=Flying Lotus - Reset EP - Review|work=BBC|first=Sarah|last=Nyman|date=2007|access-date=July 30, 2019}} Soon afterwards, he became one of the label's cornerstone artists and released his second studio album, Los Angeles on June 10, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/los-angeles-mw0000788516|title=Los Angeles – Flying Lotus|website=AllMusic|access-date=July 30, 2019|last=Lymangrover|first=Jason}}

=2008–2009: ''Los Angeles'' and Brainfeeder=

In 2008, Flying Lotus released Los Angeles, a 17-track album dedicated to his home city.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/person/flying-lotus?filter-options=music|title=Flying Lotus Profile|website=Metacritic|access-date=September 30, 2012}}{{cite journal|last=Ware|first=Tony|date=September 28, 2012|url=http://www.emusician.com/artists/0767/flying-lotus/149551|title=Moving Forward by Dialing Back on Until the Quiet Comes|journal=Electronic Musician|location=New York|access-date=October 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014000540/http://www.emusician.com/artists/0767/flying-lotus/149551|archive-date=October 14, 2012}} That same year, he followed up Los Angeles with collaborative tracks with Samiyam and Gonjasufi, a limited white label run of remixes ("Camel", "Lightworks", R2-D2 sound effects, "Shadows of Tomorrow" and "Promiscuous") called Shhh!, and a series of LA inspired EPs. Each of the La EPs features remixes and unreleased tracks from his Los Angeles Album. The third in that series (titled L.A. EP 3 X 3), marked a new atmospheric style in his sound. The same year, Flying Lotus also remixed "Reckoner" from In Rainbows, an album by Radiohead.{{cite web|last=Thiessen|first=Brock|title=Flying Lotus Preps Second LA EP|url=http://exclaim.ca/News/flying_lotus_preps_second_la_ep|publisher=Exclaim! Magazine|access-date=September 17, 2012}}

=2010–2011: ''Cosmogramma'' and collaborations=

His third studio album, Cosmogramma, was released in the UK on May 3, 2010, and in the US on May 4, 2010.{{cite web|author=Cosmogramma |url=https://www.amazon.com/Cosmogramma-Flying-Lotus/dp/B003ATUFSK/ |title=Cosmogramma: Flying Lotus: Music |website=Amazon.com |access-date=October 1, 2012}} In January 2011, Cosmogramma won in the Dance/Electronica Album category in the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/10th/Album/Dance-Electronica |title=Nominees : Album : Dance/Electronica |publisher=The Independent Music Awards |access-date=October 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012102342/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/10th/album/dance-electronica |archive-date=October 12, 2012 }} The multi-award-winning Cosmogramma was a hard-hitting afrofuturistic shrine to soul, hip-hop, jazz and IDM but, with more emphasis on a lyrical message than ever before. The album was accompanied by live instrumentation (Thundercat on bass, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on strings, Rebekah Raff on harp) and live vocalists (Thom Yorke, Laura Darlington) – all picked to help communicate the spiritual musical lineage of Ellison's family (Ravi Coltrane, himself, played tenor sax). Stephen Bruner, aka Thundercat, who is featured extensively on Cosmogramma, would later become a large part of future albums by Flying Lotus.

In 2010, Flying Lotus collaborated with the Ann Arbor Film Festival in the performance of a live scoring of the 1962 avant-garde film Heaven and Earth Magic.{{cite web |url=http://aafilmfest.bside.com/2010/films/flyinglotusplaysheavenearthmagic_aafilmfest2010_aafilmfest2010 |title=Ann Arbor Film Festival 2010 : Flying Lotus plays Heaven & Earth Magic |website=Aafilmfest.bside.com |access-date=February 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708101624/http://aafilmfest.bside.com/2010/films/flyinglotusplaysheavenearthmagic_aafilmfest2010_aafilmfest2010 |archive-date=July 8, 2011 }} In a post-viewing interview with the audience, Flying Lotus said that he was unsure whether or not a recording of the performance (or a recreation of it) would be publicly released, but he would be enthusiastic towards similar projects in the future. He was chosen by Battles to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that it co-curated in December 2011 in Minehead, England, UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.atpfestival.com/events/nightmare2011.php |title=ATP Nightmare Before Christmas|website=Atpfestival.com|access-date=October 1, 2012}}

In September 2010, Flying Lotus released "Pattern+Grid World", an 8 track EP featuring Thundercat on bass & art by Theo Ellsworth. The Track Camera Day was used in the Killer Mike song Swimming, which was released as part of the Adult Swim Singles Series.

In January 2011, Flying Lotus won the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards for his video "MmmHmm" in the Short-Form Video category.{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/artist/flying-lotus |title=Flying Lotus |website=Independentmusicawards.com |access-date=October 1, 2012}}

It was reported in 2011 that Flying Lotus would be collaborating with R&B singer Erykah Badu on new material for her next album,{{cite web|last=Hughes |first=Josiah |url=http://exclaim.ca/News/flying_lotus_working_with_erykah_badu |title=Flying Lotus Collaborating with Erykah Badu • News |website=Exclaim.ca |date=April 12, 2011 |access-date=October 1, 2012}} and planned to remix one of Radiohead's songs from The King of Limbs.{{cite web|last=Hughes|first=Josiah|title=Flying Lotus Planning Remix of Radiohead's 'King of Limbs'|url=http://exclaim.ca/News/flying_lotus_planning_remix_of_radioheads_king_of_limbs|publisher=Exclaim! Magazine|access-date=October 3, 2011}}

=2012–2013: ''Until the Quiet Comes'' and Captain Murphy=

File:Flying Lotus, Bonnaroo 2012 (7373612680).jpg]]

With an appreciation for hip hop, but no established work, artists like Odd Future (also aficionados of Adult Swim), A$AP Mob, Spaceghostpurrp and Shabazz Palaces inspired him to directly participate, and he began production work for Odd Future's Hodgy Beats' Untitled EP. This led to the moment in which he decided to produce more in the genre.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/49132-flying-lotus-gives-first-interview-about-captain-murphy-working-on-new-material/|title = Flying Lotus Gives First Interview About Captain Murphy, Working on New Material|website = Pitchfork|date = January 12, 2013}} Throughout the summer of 2012, Captain Murphy began to make more appearances, dressed in Luchadore Ensemble.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

In August 2012, Flying Lotus announced a multimedia project with filmmaker Miwa Matreyek, which is to be titled The Mapping of Countries Yet to Come.{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Andrew|title=Flying Lotus Working On Multimedia Project, 'The Mapping Of Countries Yet To Come'|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/news/flying-lotus-working-on-multimedia-project-the-map/55545/|access-date=September 17, 2012}}

Flying Lotus produced rapper Mac Miller's song "S.D.S." for his album Watching Movies with the Sound Off.{{cite web|title=MAC MILLER – "S.D.S." P. FLYING LOTUS|url=http://potholesinmyblog.com/mac-miller-s-d-s-p-flying-lotus/|website=Potholesinmyblog.com|access-date=October 7, 2014|archive-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010105620/http://potholesinmyblog.com/mac-miller-s-d-s-p-flying-lotus/|url-status=dead}} He also created a song for the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time entitled "About that time//A glitch is a glitch".{{cite web|title=Listen to Flying Lotus' new song recorded for Adventure Time|url=https://consequence.net/2013/04/listen-to-flying-lotus-new-song-recorded-for-adventure-time/|website=Consequenceofsound.com|date=April 4, 2013|access-date=April 4, 2013}}

Behind closed doors, the work for his fourth album Until the Quiet Comes was almost done. A year prior, he had worked with Ann Arbor Festival to live score a surreal and avant-garde 50s animation Heaven and Earth Magic, and a fascination with dreamlike states had continued into this record. Until The Quiet Comes continued his creative relationship with Radiohead's Thom Yorke, as well as Jonny Greenwood, Niki Randa, Erykah Badu, Laura Darlington and, of course, Thundercat, and was cinematically captured in a short film by filmmaker Kahlil Joseph.

In late 2012, less than two months after the release of his last record, a website started circulating online: www.captainmurphy.xxx. Press speculated who the rapper was, with guessing being centered around the Odd Future Crew. The site hosted Duality, a 34-minute short film mixtape, that comprised both new material and tracks that had been leaking all summer.{{cite web|last=Martins |first=Chris |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/11/flying-lotus-is-captain-murphy-elijah-wood-tiny-tortures-video/ |title=Flying Lotus Is Captain Murphy, Drops 'Tiny Tortures' Video Starring Elijah Wood | SPIN | Newswire |publisher=SPIN |date=November 29, 2012 |access-date=July 4, 2013}}

In April 2013, Flying Lotus announced that he has his own radio station called FlyLo FM in the video game Grand Theft Auto V, saying there would be "a ton of new songs and information, including rapping a new Captain Murphy song produced by Hudson Mohawke".{{cite web|title=GTA 5: Flying Lotus to Get His Own Radio Station|url=http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/14237/article/gta-5-flying-lotus-to-get-his-own-radio-station/|website=Gameranx.com|date=April 24, 2013}} The radio station includes songs from Clams Casino, Aphex Twin, Hudson Mohawke, Tyler, the Creator, Dabrye, Thundercat, Machinedrum, Outkast, DJ Rashad and Shadow Child.{{cite web|title=Flying Lotus Has A Grand Theft Auto Radio Station|url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/flying-lotus-grand-theft-auto-radio-station|website=Red Bull|last=Sharp|first=Elliott|date=August 28, 2013|access-date=August 28, 2013}} In November 2014, Flying Lotus collaborated with MF DOOM on the track "Masquatch" for the reissued copy of the video game.{{cite web|url = http://www.stereogum.com/1720440/flying-lotus-masquatch-feat-doom/mp3s/|title = Flying Lotus – "Masquatch" (Feat. Doom) – Stereogum|date = November 20, 2014|access-date = November 24, 2014|website = Stereogum|last = Helman|first = Peter}} The two collaborated again on the track "Lunch Break" for an updated version of Grand Theft Auto Online in 2020.{{cite web|url = https://www.stereogum.com/2111052/mf-doom-lunch-break-prod-flying-lotus/music/|title = MF DOOM – "Lunch Break" (Prod. Flying Lotus)|date = December 16, 2020|access-date = December 20, 2020|website = Stereogum|last = Breiham|first = Tom}}

On July 17, 2013, Flying Lotus announced on Twitter that he had been nominated for a VMA for the song "Tiny Tortures".{{cite tweet|user=flyinglotus|author=KUSO|number=357486433348489217|date=July 17, 2013|title=Nominated for a VMA wow|publisher=Twitter}}

=2014–2015: ''You're Dead!''=

On July 15, 2014, Flying Lotus posted on Instagram a photo of vinyl test pressings labeled "LP #5".{{cite web|url=http://instagram.com/p/qfbyhZPEEz/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/qfbyhZPEEz |archive-date=2021-12-23 |url-access=subscription|title=Instagram|access-date=October 6, 2014}}{{cbignore}} On July 22, he announced that his fifth studio album, You're Dead!, would be released in the UK on October 6, 2014, and in the US on October 7, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://flying-lotus.com/youre-dead/|title=YOU'RE DEAD|work=You're Dead! – Flying Lotus|access-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006105133/http://flying-lotus.com/youre-dead/|archive-date=October 6, 2014}} The album features guest appearances by Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg and Herbie Hancock.

On August 15, 2014, Flying Lotus released a new song called "Cosplay" with his alias Captain Murphy.{{cite web|title=Flying Lotus' Rapping Alter Ego Captain Murphy Releases New Track "Cosplay"|website=Pitchfork|date=August 15, 2014|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/56328-flying-lotus-rapping-alter-ego-captain-murphy-releases-new-track-cosplay/|access-date=August 15, 2014}}

On September 30, 2014, Flying Lotus scored the short film A Portrait of Noomi Rapace, starring actress Noomi Rapace and directed by Aitor Throup.{{cite web|title=Flying Lotus Scores A Short Film Starring Swedish Actress Noomi Rapace|date=September 30, 2014|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/news/flying-lotus-scores-short-film-video.html|access-date=September 30, 2014}}

During the summer of 2015, Flying Lotus appeared at many summer music festivals including the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the Governors Ball Music Festival and the Glastonbury Festival. His performances received critical acclaim.

He appeared alongside Thundercat on Lamar's album To Pimp a Butterfly.{{cite web|last1=Zadeh|first1=Joe|title=The Evolution of Flying Lotus|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/evolution-of-flying-lotus/|website=Noisey.vice.com|access-date=September 25, 2014}} In July 2015, Flying Lotus, made his national television debut on Why? with Hannibal Buress, as the show's in-studio disc jockey.[https://twitter.com/hannibalburess/status/621418714018123776]{{dead link|date=December 2017|fix-attempted=yes|bot=TweetCiteBot}}

Lotus received two Grammy Award nominations at the 58th ceremony: Best Dance Recording for his song "Never Catch Me" and Album of the Year for his credits as producer on Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly.{{cite news|url= http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-grammys-2016-nominees-winners-list-story.html|title= 2016 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominees |date=December 7, 2015|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 7, 2015}}

= 2016–2018: ''Kuso'' =

On July 5, 2016, Ellison announced the start of Brainfeeder film division.{{cite web|last=Schwartz|first=Danny|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/flying-lotus-launches-brainfeeder-film-division-news.22713.html|title=Flying Lotus Launches Brainfeeder Film Division|website=HotNewHipHop|date=July 7, 2016|access-date=July 30, 2018}} Shortly after, at the Sundance NEXT festival, he premiered a short film titled Royal. It was later revealed to be part of his feature film directorial debut, Kuso.{{cite tweet|user=flyinglotus|author=KUSO|number=782264534769643520|date=October 1, 2016|title=Royal is part of Kuso. I'm trying to finish it all up for Sundance.}} Kuso would star Hannibal Buress, Tim Heidecker and David Firth among others.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/68492-flying-lotus-casts-hannibal-buress-tim-heidecker-in-new-movie-kuso/|title=Flying Lotus Casts Hannibal Buress, Tim Heidecker in New Movie Kuso |first1=Matthew |last1=Strauss |website=Pitchfork|date=November 15, 2016|access-date=July 30, 2018}} Kuso featured new music from Ellison himself under both the Flying Lotus and Captain Murphy names, Aphex Twin, Busdriver, and Thundercat, among others.{{cite tweet|user=flyinglotus|author=KUSO|number=819631672677122048|date=January 12, 2017|title=There's like a 2 albums of music and sound design in Kuso. @KamasiW @Thundercat @cockspit @Busdriverr @nikalotta Aphex twin @xCaptainMurphyx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125160605/https://twitter.com/flyinglotus/status/819631672677122048 |archive-date= Jan 25, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/67568-flying-lotus-working-on-feature-film/ |first1=Matthew |last1=Strauss |title=Flying Lotus Says New Feature Film Will Include New Aphex Twin Music |website=Pitchfork|date=August 15, 2016|access-date=July 30, 2018}} Kuso premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017. On June 6, 2017, Ellison announced that Kuso would be released via the horror video streaming service Shudder, on July 21, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/flying-lotus-sundance-thriller-kuso-shudder-july-release-1202454985/|title=Flying Lotus' Sundance Thriller 'Kuso' Lands at Shudder for July Release|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=June 6, 2017|website=Variety |access-date=July 30, 2018}} Kuso was also confirmed a theatrical release in New York City and Los Angeles. Addressing the responsibility of the wide release of Kuso, on Twitter, Ellison praised Shudder, explaining he found it to be a suitable home for the film's release.{{cite tweet|user=flyinglotus|author=KUSO|number=872109181523939329|date=June 6, 2017|title=I love shudder. Best curation of horror films and weirdo shit. Kuso will sit next to Tetsuo the iron man??? And visitor q?That's a good home |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607213308/https://twitter.com/flyinglotus/status/872109181523939329 |archive-date= Jun 7, 2017 }}

On November 2, 2017, Ellison released a music video for a new song of his, "Post Requisite", and is "currently finishing his next studio album on Warp".{{cite web|title=Flying Lotus Shares Video for New Song "Post Requisite": Watch|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/flying-lotus-shares-video-for-new-song-post-requisite-watch/|last=Yoo |first=Noah|work=Pitchfork|date=November 2, 2017|access-date=November 3, 2017}} He also wrote the soundtrack for the 2017 short film Blade Runner Black Out 2022 and has contributed music to the 2019 anime series Carole & Tuesday.{{cite web|url=https://www.otaquest.com/flying-lotus-thundercat-taku-takahashi-carole-tuesday/|first1=Lachlan|last1=Johnston|title=Flying Lotus, Thundercat, ☆Taku Takahashi, & More Join 'Carole & Tuesday' Composer Lineup|date=April 3, 2019|website=Otaquest|access-date=April 7, 2019|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404180505/https://www.otaquest.com/flying-lotus-thundercat-taku-takahashi-carole-tuesday/|url-status=dead}}

= 2019: ''Flamagra'' =

On April 17, 2019, Ellison announced his sixth album, Flamagra, released via Warp on May 24, 2019. The first single off the album, "Fire Is Coming" featuring David Lynch, was released on the same day.{{cite web |last1=Minsker |first1=Evan |title=Flying Lotus Announces New Album Flamagra, Shares New Video With David Lynch: Watch |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/flying-lotus-announces-new-album-flamagra-shares-new-video-with-david-lynch-watch/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=April 17, 2019 |date=April 17, 2019}} On May 12, 2019, a second single, "More", was released alongside a music video directed by Shinichirō Watanabe.{{cite web |last1=Bloom |first1=Madison |title=Watch Flying Lotus and Anderson .Paak's New Video for "More" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-flying-lotus-and-anderson-paaks-new-video-for-more/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=May 13, 2019 |date=May 12, 2019}} Flamagra (Instrumentals),{{cite AV media |people= Flying Lotus|date= 2020|title= Flamagra (Instrumentals)|trans-title= |type= |language= |url= https://worldcat.org/en/title/1193105569|access-date= 28 February 2023|format= CD|time= |location= London|publisher= Warp Records}} an instrumental version of the original LP, was released in 2020.{{cite web |last1=Bloom |first1=Madison |title=Review: Flamagra (Instrumentals) |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/flying-lotus-flamagra-instrumentals/ |website=Pitchfork |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=28 February 2023}}

= 2021–present: ''Yasuke'' and ''Spirit Box'' =

In 2021, Flying Lotus released Yasuke,{{cite AV media |people= Flying Lotus|date= 2021|title= Yasuke|trans-title= |type= soundtrack|language= |url= https://worldcat.org/en/title/1261776680|access-date= 28 February 2023|format= CD|time= |location= London|publisher= Warp Records}} his score for the Netflix series of the same name and his "full-length anime scoring debut" after a long history of contributing to other animation and film projects.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Nadine |title=Yasuke (Review) |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/flying-lotus-yasuke/ |website=Pitchfork |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=28 February 2023}}

On June 16, 2022, Ellison released two singles, "You Don't Know" and "The Room", both featuring Devin Tracy.{{cite web |last1=Coney |first1=Brian |title=Flying Lotus shares new double single with vocalist Devin Tracy|url=https://djmag.com/news/flying-lotus-shares-new-double-single-vocalist-devin-tracy-listen|website=DJ Mag |access-date=June 16, 2022 |date=June 21, 2022}}

On October 29, 2024, Ellison surprise released an EP, Spirit Box. The EP included two previously released singles—the Twin Peaks inspired "Garmonbozia", and "Ingo Swann".{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Walden |title=Flying Lotus Surprise-Releases New EP Spirit Box: Listen|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/flying-lotus-surprise-releases-new-ep-spirit-box-listen|website=Pitchfork |date=October 29, 2024 |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=4 February 2025}}

Directing

= ''V/H/S/99'' =

Ellison directed the "Ozzy's Dungeon" segment for V/H/S/99, also written by him and Zoe Cooper.{{cite magazine |title=Hear Flying Lotus' Score for His V/H/S/99 Horror Film Segment|url=https://www.spin.com/2022/10/flying-lotus-vhs99-score/|magazine=Spin |access-date=March 12, 2025}}

= ''Ash'' =

Ellison directed the science fiction film Ash in 2023. The film was released on March 21, 2025.{{cite magazine |title=Aaron Paul and Eiza Gonzalez tease their mystery sci-fi movie Ash: 'Our dynamic is super intense'|url=https://ew.com/movies/aaron-paul-eiza-gonzalez-ash-photos-flying-lotus/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=July 19, 2023}} Flying Lotus also wrote the film's soundtrack, to be released March 19, 2025.{{cite magazine |title=Flying Lotus Details Soundtrack for New Movie Ash, Shares Song: Listen|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/flying-lotus-details-soundtrack-for-new-movie-ash-shares-song-listen//|magazine=Pitchfork |access-date=March 12, 2025}}

Discography

{{Main|Flying Lotus discography|Flying Lotus production discography}}

= Studio albums =

Filmography

Film and TV scores

  • Until the Quiet Comes – original score (2012)
  • The Mapping of Countries Yet to Come – original score (2012)
  • A Portrait of Noomi Rapace – original score (2014)
  • FUCKKKYOUUU (by Eddie Alcazar) – original score (2016)
  • Lovetrue – original music (2016)
  • Blade Runner Black Out 2022 – original score (2017)
  • Perfect (by Eddie Alcazar) – original score (2018)
  • Carole & Tuesday – additional music (2019)
  • Yasuke – original score, executive producer (2021)

Director

  • Royal – short film (2016) {{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1886457/flying-lotus-makes-directorial-debut-with-royal-short-film/news/|title=Flying Lotus Makes Directorial Debut With Royal Short Film|date=July 6, 2016|website=Stereogum |access-date=July 30, 2018}}
  • Kuso – also writer and original score (2017)
  • V/H/S/99 ("Ozzy's Dungeon" segment) – also writer (2022)
  • Ash – also writer (2025)

Actor

Awards and nominations

{{Awards table|5}}

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2013

| rowspan="2"| UK Music Video Awards

| Video of the Year

| rowspan="2"| Until the Quiet Comes

| {{won}}

| align="center" rowspan="2" | {{cite web|url=https://www.promonews.tv/news/2013/10/29/uk-music-video-awards-2013-all-last-nights-winners/22529|title=UK Music Video Awards 2013 - all of last night's winners!|website=Promonews|date=29 October 2013|access-date=23 July 2021}}

|-

| Best Alternative Video – International

| {{won}}

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2016

| rowspan="4"| Grammy Awards

| Album of the Year

| To Pimp a Butterfly

| {{nom}}

| align="center" rowspan="4"| {{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/flying-lotus/19021|title=GRAMMY Award Results for Flying Lotus|website=GRAMMY.com|date=April 22, 2021|access-date=July 26, 2021}}

|-

| Best Dance Recording

| Never Catch Me

| {{nom}}

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2021

| Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

| Himself

| {{nom}}

|-

| Best Progressive R&B Album

| It Is What It Is

| {{won}}

|-

! scope="row"| 2020

| AIM Independent Music Awards

| Best Independent Track

| More

| {{won}}

| align="center"| {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/flying-lotus-fka-twigs-vince-clarke-aim-awards-9432763/|title=Flying Lotus, FKA Twigs, Vince Clarke & More Win at 2020 AIM Awards|magazine=Billboard.com|date=August 12, 2020|access-date=November 27, 2022}}

{{end}}

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • {{cite magazine|last=Frere-Jones|first=Sasha|author-link=Sasha Frere-Jones|date=December 1, 2008|url=http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2008/12/01/081201crmu_music_frerejones|title=Heavy Water|magazine=The New Yorker}}