Lola Disco AMA 01/12/2018 (Edited Transcript)
Artist Introduction:
Lola Disco is a Future Funk producer based in Porto Alegre, Brazil. He’s most known for his album and EP releases such as “Summer Body”(2017), “Girl Talk”(2017) and the recent one “Time Machine”(2018). He’s also one of the co-founders of the collective Skyline Collective with Cero Rio and E.D.
Lola Disco Links: Bandcamp — Soundcloud — Instagram
AMA:
Q: What’s the inspiration behind your artist name?
I chose this name for totally random reasons, serious. First Lola Disco was a repost account i have created for repost my things. Lola Disco is not my first musical project, I have Paradizzle too and about 2013, 2014 and 2015 we were pretty active its me and other guy, so “Lola Disco” came out of nowhere.
Q: When did you start?
I started doing my beats sometime between the 2000s cant remember exactly the year. But I was a Hip-Hop DJ on that time so I produced many hip hop beats.
Q: Why 99% of your album arts are only girls?
Lola Disco is a girl, a vintage 80’s top model, she’s a character I invented. So 100% of my arts have a beautiful retro girl in it.
Q: Who introduced you to future funk?
I guess guys like Saint Pepsi, Onra and maybe the modern funk of Dam Funk.
Q: Where are you from?
Im from Porto Alegre, Brazila. A city in the south close to Uruguay and Argentina
Q: How do you see Future Funk in the next 5 years? Still relevant?
Idk, I think this japanese stuff [has] gone too far, people are making shit music just because it’s Japanese sample. Sorry, its my opinion, and if this does not stop I do not know if there will be future funk in 5 years. I love japanese funk, specially Junko Yagami there are some really lovely tunes on that scene but thats it
Q: Are you going to make tracks without samples, but still keeping these Disco vibes in the future?
Im making some tracks 100% original stuff but it is a secret ok? hahaha Actually, im not a musician, so its hard to do it, but I have a notion of music no?
Q: What do you think should be changed about future funk?
I think I told this before. Focus on really GOOD stuff. GOOD and unexplored samples. Japanese anime style is so cliche right now! Forget this, but if u find a GOOD japanese sample, sample it! But the way it goes the things, its such a boring scene now. Work on the beats, study some mixing/mastering tutorials. The ED Electric Dreams videos can help. Search for GOOD drum packs, the Amherst pack is a good example
Q: Who is the best future funk artist at the moment?
tuff question, I have to pick one? Ok, a top 5 is better, not in order and I’ll have some comments about each one: Unibe@t This dude is unreal, serious. He make beats with such atmosphere, Idk how he does it, I think he is best in the mixing/mastering game. And I love Unibe@t, but he has a problem……. I think he doesnt know how to do a hit, a danceable tune. But I think his sound is more experimental, but its fine to me hehehe. Fibre, I love Fibre, his drums are really tight, perfect mastering too. I love his loops and sample diggin work he makes, I consider this a lot. ED A friend that FF gave me. He is such a talented guy, it’s amazing how his work had evolved, a lot because he’s an extremely studious guy and he knows how to do a “hit”. THICC is an example. Tendencies is another incredible producer. I wish he had continued with his side project Touchstone sometimes some guys lose focus for some reason. And to finish my top 5…………. BEERLOVER. He is brazilian too from São Paulo. Unfortunately he is the biggest example of guys who lose focus, he started to do lo fi hip hop beats but never evolved and by now he disappeared
Q: What do you think of the current vinyl trend in future funk and vaporwave?
I think its such a cool thing. I’m a collector of vinyl too, but only old ones: Soul, Funk, and Disco records even Heavy Metal. My Iron Maiden collection is growing.
Q: How old are you?
Okay, I know this is a little funny. Im now 43 years old, serious, Im the Grandpa of Future Funk. But I do not look like I’m that old, believe me.
Q: How does it feel to have lived through the nostalgia that future funk and vaporwave romanticise?
Man I love the retro vibes, I think this is one of the things that make me love to create my music. Lola Disco is all about nostalgia of a future that never came hehehe
Q: When listening to a track, what’s one particular sound or pattern you hear that makes you immediately go “I hate this”? In short just little things which annoy you in ff tracks
I dont like the “high pitched “ vocals, seriously. You know that squirrel cartoon? Forgot the name. Hahahaha Some FF tracks seems like this. I turned up the pitch and key of all samples I work, but the “Alvin and the Chipunks” style are too much for me. Bad mixing too, the track must have an ambiance on the sound. Vaporwave must sound [like] a thing of another planet, you know? A thing never heard before, it must sound like a dream, or a nightmare, according to [different] side of view hahaha Sometimes the track can be really fast, like 130 bpm or more, and sometimes dont
Q: What gear (or DAW) do you have?
I use FL Studio on a Mac. Cont ask me how it works, but it works. I’ve changed my computer recently, I was working on a Macbook Pro since 2013, now I have an Imac, much better. I have this MPD bought from Beerlover but I dont use it at all. And for DJing I have a Pioneer Controller, Pioneer DDJ SB. I do a lot of gigs, mostly hip-hop parties hahahaha. And Akai MPD. And i have a pair of Technics Turntables with a simple Nurmark mixer. But Im not using it for DJing now. The controller is so much more practical
Q: Which advice would you give to new ff producers to begin?
Huuum, I would like to tell beginners who research a lot of music, discover many musical styles, practice and study the mixing techniques a lot. And finally, have fun!
Q: If you wanted to introduce someone to your music, what track/ablum would you show them?
Girl Talk EP is a good start, Cant Take My Eyes Off You
“Thats it guys, thank you so much, Love you all” — Lola Disco
This AMA was held in the Future Funk Subreddit Discord. Join it here: https://discord.gg/guF4qvU
