Live performance Evaluate: Flamingosis – UCSD Guardian

I’ve adopted Flamingosis for some time now, however this present felt like a rediscovery of who he’s as an artist.

I beforehand noticed Flamingosis, a New Jersey DJ, when he was performing with Yung Bae throughout the “Continental Groove” tour, and I completely fell in love together with his stage presence. I couldn’t get sufficient of the vitality that he introduced on stage, and I knew I needed to see him once more. Thus, once I noticed he deliberate to carry out in Downtown San Diego’s The Music Field, I used to be ecstatic. This now leads me to ask…

Have you ever ever been inside a mystical forest earlier than? And no, I don’t imply going inside a forest whereas on—*clears throat*—illicit substances. Properly, I’ve, since that’s the easiest way to explain Flamingosis’ present on Nov. 12. From begin to end, with each openers included, the complete expertise felt like I used to be being taken on a journey via a fantastical forest.

Each fantasy forest wants some form of cheery, enjoyable gatekeeper that opens the gates of creativeness for vacationers, and Ehiorobo, the opener, was that gatekeeper. I had by no means heard of the New Jersey artist earlier than coming to this present, however he positive left a long-lasting impression on me. His fashion combines points of R&B with Soul and EDM to make one of the crucial distinctive listening experiences I’ve had in a reside present. Though I didn’t know any of the lyrics to his songs—apart from his closing tune the place he coached us via the refrain—his upbeat music mixed together with his large smile make you wish to dance alongside him. This vitality jogs my memory of the forest gatekeeper; he makes you wish to dance and run together with him. After his set, I used to be anticipating a continuation of this fashion of upbeat music, lights, and visuals, however not each forest might be vibrant on a regular basis.

Everybody is aware of {that a} mystical forest additionally wants a darkish, scary part of the forest to strike worry into the hearts of vacationers, and Blockhead, a New York DJ, embodied this. I knew there was going to be a shift in tone from the opening visible that Blockhead displayed. It learn: “WARNING: The actions depicted on this video are strenuous and extremely bodily in nature. They shouldn’t be tried with out first consulting your physician.” Regardless of this, I nonetheless couldn’t have anticipated what adopted. Blockhead’s fashion of music was nonetheless EDM, however used hip-hop samples and had a darker tone, finest captured by his accompanying visuals. The display screen behind him glowed with pictures of individuals repeatedly falling within the air, psychedelic cartoons, previous WWII-era coaching movies, N64 Doom gameplay, and closely distorted footage of previous movies starting from numerous many years. All of the visuals evoked a way of decay and dread that completely captured his fashion of music. Particularly at first of his set, it felt like I used to be coming into the darkest a part of the forest. Nonetheless, in direction of the tip of his set, he started to joke round that he could be taking part in a few sillier, lighthearted songs, considered one of which sampled Fleetwood Mac’s “Goals.” It was at this level that it felt just like the darkish a part of the forest was starting to finish and make approach for the reward for vacationers who caught via.

Thus, lastly, after a fast intermission, Flamingosis made his technique to the stage. If Ehiorobo is the doorway gatekeeper and Blockhead the darkish part of the forest, then Flamingosis is the gorgeous lake surrounded by bushes and shining vibrant beneath the solar. He was a beautiful change of tone and tempo and completely saved the vitality excessive all evening. I do know, all through the article, I’ve been utilizing the analogy of the forest, and whereas I feel it finest captures the general nature — pun meant — of the present, I feel Flamingosis is due for his solely personal analogy. Though I’ve listened to Flamingosis on and off since I found acts like him and Yung Bae in 2017 and did get pleasure from his music, I might by no means discover the best phrase to explain all of it, however this present has helped me. Flamingosis is the embodiment of the vibes I affiliate with summer season. His persona and stage presence is enjoyable and outgoing, particularly throughout songs during which he involves the entrance of the stage and dances for the viewers. His music is easygoing, very heat in tone, tropical at some factors with Latin influences and samples, and funky at others as he additionally makes use of disco samples in a few of his songs.

Previous to this present, had you requested me what sort of music Flamingosis makes, I most likely would’ve mentioned future funk. On the time, I nonetheless related him with artists he beforehand labored and carried out with. Nonetheless, placing that label on Flamingosis would promote him quick, and his present demonstrates the huge stretch and plenty of iterations his fashion has undergone. From Lo-Fi hip-hop tracks to disco-influenced tracks and now extra tropical tracks, Flamingosis is solely good vibes, and I’m excited to see the place he goes subsequent.

Picture courtesy of Insomniac