O'Flynn
DJ | Producer
UK-based DJ and producer O'Flynn has spent the guts of a year in his parent's house sitting on a stack of sounds since the pandemic broke out. Like everyone else at the moment, he's waiting for parts of society to open up and in his case, get back to playing tunes in front of a physical crowd, browsing in records shops and earning a chunk of income from gigs again.
Before you get the chance to delve into O’Flynn’s releases on Silver Bear Recordings, you know you're going to be in for a vibrant aural trip with deep reds, luminous greens and oceanic blues smattering the cover of every sleeve — supplied by artist Sam Coldy — inviting you further into O’Flynn’s world. The colours translate into squelchy acid, phat drums and clattering percussion; the textures of which O’Flynn is most comfortably aligned.
After the success of his debut album ‘Aletheia’ on the same imprint two years ago, Loraine James, K-Lone, Dan Shake and Ekhe have mutated his tracks, with the result being the 'Aletheia Remixes’ EP. Over on his own imprint, Hundred Flowers, O’Flynn’s next release comes in the form of a digital single called ‘Talia’ via Panthus — the brand new sister label of Hundred Flowers.
Ahead of Release Day tomorrow, O’Flynn goes back to a fizzy memory from London, pre-pandemic. He also shares an insight into his studio and talks about a handful of artists who've caught his attention lately…
Kinder + Tyskies 💜
Where was this photo taken and why did you choose it?
Absolutely no idea where it was taken — it was post-gig for me in London. But this is what it's all about really — just having a good time with friends. DJing for me is all about trying to give maximum fun and energy to the crowd through track selection. I haven’t actually mixed in a year now because it just doesn’t mean anything to me unless there is a crowd. All of the hard work is for everyone else so I’m not just going to DJ to myself. I would also find it really hard to do a live stream without crowd because I usually look to them to know what music to play next.
How are you right now and what's life currently like in the UK?
I have been at my parents’ house in the countryside for a while now, it’s not been bad but I am really missing social life as I’m sure most people are — I have just filled my time with making music. But very much looking forward to going back to London and having some beers with some friends in the park soon. Fingers crossed things go back to normal this year.
Your upcoming single drops tomorrow. What's the vibe of the release and when did you make it? During lockdown or pre-pandemic? In either case, what was your approach to the release and thought process at the time?
I made this last summer when I was in London — it wasn’t a lockdown but there were restrictions. I usually go to record shops to try and find sounds to sample but I wasn’t really doing that over the past year so I had to try and find all the sounds I needed online. ‘Talia’ is the result of me missing 2019 when I played my album tour and also just wanting to give something back to everyone who made that time really special for me.
You also started a bi-monthly radio show on Balamii a few weeks ago, with the first show featuring UK producer and DJ, Ekhe. In terms of local talent, are there any emerging names, like Ekhe, who have slipped under your radar recently? If so, give us a handful of tracks so we can check out these artists!
Ekhe is my friend Jack. I went to university with him and he is one of the people I run my musical ideas past to get a gauge on whether they are good or not.
To be honest at the moment I would say 95% of the time I’m doing music right now is just producing rather than going out and finding new music so I’m probably not the best person to ask about this but these are some people making some really cool stuff:
SWORDMAN KITALA
Ugandan MC. I co-produced a track with Ekhe called Heat Flexx. Incredible MC and super nice guy. My favourite track of 2020 was the pq rework of his track ‘Kimbalagala’.
SON OF PHILIP
Just discovered on Bandcamp the other day. ‘Play Monotonous’ EP is really cool.
ADLAB / BILLY2CHIPS
I think name has been changed to Billy2chips. I was at a party called Cosmic Slopp in Leeds and my drunk friend pointed a guy out to me and said if I listened to this guy’s stuff it would change the way I made music. Haha not sure it did that—but his tunes are incredibly well crafted.
HUNA
Did a remix of a Swordman Kitala track which I rated.
INVT
Duo making some really cool analogue jam type of music. High-quality stuff
SPOOKY-J and EKHE
The third release on my label ‘Hundred Flowers’ by Spooky-J and Ekhe is hard and fast fun. But there is no preview for that yet.
It looks like nightlife in the UK is on a roll for a Summer of Love situation. If all goes well, what's the first thing you're going to do on 21st June?
Well, if everything is back to normal having beers and hugging my friends/family is number one on the list. The thought of that being possible makes me so happy.
It will be nice to be earning money again and playing music for people. I honestly have no interest in DJ’ing if there are not people to play to — but when there are people it’s my favourite time of the week. I’ll also probably go out to dinner as much as I can — I’ve basically been my parents’ chef since October so can’t wait to get food cooked for me.
Back to the present moment. Tell us how the photo below is something that brings you happiness in your day-to-day life right now?
I would say happiness is a stretch, but certainly, the thing keeping me sane is making music. It has always done that for me. I’ve been making music since I was 13 and suppose it is kind of a meditative state for me now. Also seeing my Nieces and Nephew in the garden has really helped after such a long period of not seeing anyone.
Waitin’ 🔊