Flying Lotus

Flying Lotus – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Dive into the life of Flying Lotus (Steven Ellison): his musical evolution, film projects, creative philosophy, memorable quotes, and the legacy of a genre-bending artist.

Introduction

Steven Ellison (born October 7, 1983), better known by his stage name Flying Lotus (or FlyLo), is an American record producer, electronic musician, DJ, filmmaker, and rapper.

He is widely recognized for blending electronic, hip-hop, jazz, experimental, and psychedelic sounds, pushing boundaries in modern music. His artistic output isn’t limited to albums—he also composes scores, directs films, and curates a rich multimedia aesthetic.

Early Life and Family

• Flying Lotus was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 7, 1983.

• He comes from a musically rich lineage. His grandmother, Marilyn McLeod, was a songwriter (notably for “Love Hangover”).

• He is also related to Alice Coltrane (she is his great-aunt), who was a pioneering jazz musician; this connection has influenced his musical sensibility and spiritual leanings.

• His ancestry includes Cameroonian heritage; he is descended from the Tikar people.

Ellison studied briefly in the Los Angeles Film School and at the Academy of Art University.

Youth and Education

From an early age, Ellison was drawn to varied aesthetics: cartoons, video games, jazz, hip hop, and visual arts.

He interned at Stones Throw Records, which allowed him to get hands-on exposure to beat production and underground music culture.

The moniker Flying Lotus was inspired by images he encountered in lucid dreams.

Career and Achievements

Early Music & Debut Albums

• He first gained attention by submitting tracks to Adult Swim’s bumper music (short musical stings), which helped his name spread in experimental music circles.

• His debut studio album, 1983, was released in 2006.

• He signed with Warp Records and followed up with Los Angeles (2008), which was partly a tribute to his city and influences.

• Over time he released several critically acclaimed albums:
    - Cosmogramma (2010)   - Until the Quiet Comes (2012)   - You’re Dead! (2014)   - Flamagra (2019)   - He also composed Yasuke (2021) for the Netflix anime series.

Film & Visual Projects

• He directs and scores films. For example, Kuso (2017) was his experimental film debut.

• He is credited with directing Ash, a science-fiction horror film, also composing its soundtrack.

• He has contributed music and scores to animations and experimental film work, such as Blade Runner Black Out 2022.

Label & Collaborative Ventures

• He founded the label Brainfeeder, which amplifies avant-garde, experimental, jazz-inflected, and genre-blurring artists.

• Under his alias Captain Murphy, he has released rap/hip-hop work (mixtapes such as Duality).

• He curated FlyLo FM within Grand Theft Auto V, effectively blending musical curation and gaming platforms.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Flying Lotus emerged in the 2000s in a music landscape increasingly open to cross-genre experimentation (electronic, hip hop, jazz fusions).

• His work connects electronic music with jazz lineage (through his family ties to Alice Coltrane) and spiritual or cosmic themes.

• He has been part of a wave of producers who see albums as immersive experiences, combining visuals, narrative, and sonic design (not just collections of songs).

• He bridges the worlds of underground experimental music and more public, mainstream contexts (e.g. forming film ventures, scoring for anime).

Legacy and Influence

• Genre-bender & boundary-pusher: He is cited as a key figure in dissolving boundaries between electronic, hip hop, jazz, and experimental music.

• Cultivator of new voices: Through Brainfeeder, he has provided a platform for young, adventurous artists.

• Multimedia artist: His work spans albums, film, scoring, visuals—setting a model for artists of the 21st century who don’t limit themselves.

• Artistic authenticity: He retains a strong personal aesthetic and vision while navigating collaborations and broader media.

Personality and Talents

• Visionary & introspective: His music often grapples with big existential questions—death, what’s next, spiritual musings.

• Playful & experimental: Though serious in aim, he often allows for humor, fun, and eclectic influences like anime and games.

• Producer & composer: Skilled not only in beatmaking but orchestration, sound design, and spatial audio.

• Collaborative mindset: He brings together diverse artists across styles (jazz musicians, rappers, visual artists) to produce cohesive work.

Famous Quotes of Flying Lotus

Here are several quotes that reflect his approach to art, life, and music:

“I’m so thankful that I had music to turn to in the dark times and be able to understand myself through it.”

“I feel like my music has a reputation for being pretty serious or whatnot, but I like having fun.”

“Death is a reality, and one day I’m not going to be here anymore, and whatever’s next might not be that bad either.”

“It’s tough when you’re an artist because you get to go around the world and make a lot of friends … but guess what? One day, all these people that you love are going to die.”

“I go through phases when I’m super into my anime stuff.”

“I’m just a fan of art and culture.”

“I love my Fender Rhodes. It’s been a part of my family since that keyboard came out … that is my baby.”

These quotes show a mix of humility, existential awareness, emotional honesty, and an embrace of eclectic interests.

Lessons from Flying Lotus

From his life and career, we can derive several lessons:

1. Embrace multiple mediums
   Don’t restrict yourself to a “role” (producer, musician, filmmaker)—expand into visuals, narrative, scoring, etc.

2. Honor heritage but innovate
   Drawing from spiritual/jazz legacies (Alice Coltrane) while pushing forward into new sound spaces.

3. Collaborate broadly
   Great work often emerges from crossing genre boundaries and working with unexpected partners.

4. Vulnerability fuels art
   His willingness to explore grief, mortality, and introspection makes his work resonate deeper.

5. Consistency and vision matter more than trends
   Rather than chasing what’s popular, he leans on what feels true to him, sustaining a distinct voice.

6. Art is a process, not only product
   His albums and films often take years and go through multiple iterations—valuing the journey is key.

Conclusion

Flying Lotus (Steven Ellison) is a rare kind of modern artist: one who bridges sound, visuals, spirit, and narrative. His discography, from 1983 to Flamagra and Yasuke, charts an evolution that remains anchored in curiosity, depth, and eclecticism. His forays into film, scoring, and visual projects only expand that universe.

His reflections, collaborative ethos, and fearless genre-melding ensure that his influence will resonate long into the future—for both listeners and creators.