LC Flowers, the solo artist hailing from the border towns of Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, has transformed his musical journey from drumming in diverse bands to crafting abstract electronic music. Known for his debut album, LUA, blending drum n' bass and experimental indie rock, LC Flowers now unveils "May Kindness be the Lens Through Which You View the Contents of Life," his third collaboration with Mint 400 Records. Drawing inspiration from sunshine pop, UK Bass, breakcore, jazz, and ambient, LC Flowers employs a minimalist approach in live performances, using a five-track looper for dynamic effects. Based in Minneapolis for over a decade, LC Flowers recently embarked on a mini-tour, leading to the creation of May Kindness be the Lens Through Which You View the Contents of Life," a cathartic album capturing the essence of life's journey. We caught up with the elusive man himself to hear about this new project which for more mainstream fans has a mix of everything from Beck, Radiohead and The Shins to bossa nova Stan Getz/ Joao Gilberto style jazz.
Q: What has it been like working with an indie record label as opposed to working on your own?
Ears. I’m grateful to be able to say my music’s been heard on many college radio stations throughout the country and has been Shazamed all over the world thanks to Mint 400.
Q: Can you pinpoint some specific songs and songwriters that changed the way you write music?
Jessica Pratt, The Microphones, Ariel Pink, MF Doom, the list goes on…
Q: Do you find it hard to be inspired by artists that are younger than you, or are you motivated by their energy? Neither. Can you name any new artists you find inspiring?
Surprise Chef, Yussef Dayes, The Lemon Twigs, Hania Rani
Q: For your new album, what inspired the lyrical content, album title, and overall vibe?
Heartbreak inspired the content. The title is a reminder on how to view life and living. The vibe is an attempt at optimistic trauma processing.
Q: Do you find that you ruminate over writing songs and hold on to them for a long time before including them on a record? Or do you prefer to write them, release them, and be done with them? Do you ever re-visit old material to do a re-write or once it’s done it’s done?
I’ll probably re-record some very old songs at one point, re-release them and be done with them.
Q: Were there any lessons you learned in the writing and recording process for your current release that you will take with you into your next project?
I update recording templates/settings with every record so those will probably join the next album and continue to evolve.