An Interview With Eliot Lipp Before He Opens For Pretty Lights in Chicago!

Eliot Lipp has been on the top of my list of producers to always catch live ever since seeing him for the first time last year opening for Conspirator in Buffalo. It’s always an awesome feeling seeing someone for the first time and leaving jaw dropped. Since then I have seen him countless times, and each show has been its own unique experience. Eliot’s style is unlike any other, which makes him truly one of a kind. Eliot’s smooth style has had venues across the world dancing their hearts our for over 8 years, and he’s bringing his unique beats to Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom opening for Pretty Lights on November 9th! If you have never heard of Eliot Lipp, you are missing out! Check out this live clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hprR1OuxLR0 I had the awesome opportunity to catch up with Eliot Lipp. Check out what he had to say! Kyle – How did you start out producing? Eliot – I gathered some hand-me-down gear from other producers, a sampler, a keyboard, drum machine etc…I pretty much taught myself how to make simple beats and then just kept progressing. Kyle – I noticed you do a lot of stuff with your midi keyboard .. Do you improv at your shows? Eliot – Yeah some songs have moments where I solo on the synth. I definitely don’t plan my sets out ahead of time, I like to play off the crowd’s energy so improv is important. Kyle – You’re supporting Pretty Lights at the Aragon Theater in Chicago. What do you like best about playing larger venues? Eliot – You get treated better at the bigger venues, sometimes it’s bad though because I’ll get spoiled after being on tour with PL or a bigger artist and then I go back to playing small clubs again and I’m like “where’s my spring water & organic kombucha”. Kyle – How do you construct your set opening for someone such as Pretty Lights verse headlining your own show? Eliot – I rehearse about 50 or so songs before I go out on tour so I have a large arsenal in the cue. Once I get on stage I start to decide what songs to begin with based on the vibe in the room and depending on the crowd’s response I’ll move the set in different directions. Kyle – When did you sign with Pretty Lights music? Eliot – A year & a half ago before Shark Wolf Rabbit Snake came out. Kyle – You have a very unique sound. What are some of your biggest influences in your music? Eliot –  RJD2, The Alchemist, Mux Mool, Richie Hawtin, Daft Punk, Just Blaze, Jay Dilla, Flosstradamus, Kanye, Aphex Twin etc… I’ve been listening to lots of classical music this year too though, my favorite album lately is “The Four Seasons Recomposed by Max Richter” Kyle – What is your favorite piece of equipment you use live? Eliot – My Korg MS-20. It was the first analog synth I ever bought and it’s got an amazing tone. Kyle – Do you often collaborate with other artists? Eliot – Yes, I made a track with Wick-It last year, and me and Michal Menert made Gettin’ Money. And I have collabs with Mux Mool, Supervision and more coming up on my next album. Kyle – You have been playing with a live band. What is your favorite part about that? Eliot – Collaborating live, creating something completely unique at every show, improvising. Kyle – How did the live band act come about? Eliot – I met my drummer Cru Jones when he was playing in Michna’s live band a few years ago, and Nick Bockrath my guitarist has been on a bunch of bills with me in the past. I think stylistically the three of us really create a solid sonic palate. Kyle – What is one of your all time favorite cities to play? Eliot – Austin is probably #1, but I also love Minneapolis, Tacoma, San Francisco & Brooklyn. Kyle – What are some activities you enjoy outside of the music world?  Eliot – I like Painting, and hiking, and eating. Kyle – What’s your favorite food? Eliot – Avacado! Kyle – If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be? Eliot –  It’d be fun to close down the golden gate bridge for a night and have a show there. Or maybe deep in the Olympic mountains, in the rainforest on a day that it doesn’t rain. Kyle – Where do you see electronic music in 20 years? Eliot –  I think tablets, computers and midi controllers will be more fully realized as musical instruments. The “human” element in live compositions and performances will be much more advanced. I think what is now considered EDM will continue to evolve and fragment into new genres. The way we listen to music will evolve and we will become more accustomed the subtleties of sound texture. I think complex melodies will return to popular music and harmonies will replace the cheap sensation of giant sweeps and bass drops, songs will be guided more by their musicallity. Music is the universal language of raw human emotion, it’s how we understand each other culturally. Once a certain rhythm or melody has cultural relevance it can represent a new era & a new generation. Kyle – What was your first gig like? Were you nervous? Eliot – I was so nervous, it was in this warehouse on Chicago’s south side. I got physically sick because I was so freaked out. Kyle – What’s your biggest advice for aspiring musicians? Eliot – Be original, don’t lose your imagination. ———— If you are even on the fence about checking out the show on November 9th, or any Eliot Lipp show for that matter; do yourself a favor and go. You will not regret it! Check out other dates on Eliot Lipp’s current tour: 10/25 – The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA 10/26 – New Earth Music Hall – Athens, GA 11/1 – Emo’s – Austin, TX 11/2 – Suwannee Hulaween – Live Oaks, FL 11/7 – Mojo’s – Columbia, MO 11/8 – 2720 Cheokee – St Louis, MO 11/9 – The Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL 11/29 – 1015 Folsom – San Fransisco, CA 12/4 – Shaka’s – Virginia Beach, VA 12/5 – The Camel – Richmond, VA 12/7 – The Park Bar – Detroit, MI 12/12 – Samana Lounge – Vail, CO 12/13 – Three20south – Breckenridge, CO 12/14 – Cervantes’ Other Side – Denver, CO 12/26 – Whiskey Jacques – Ketchum, ID]]>