What Are The Fool's Gold 15th Anniversary Artists Listening To?
The artists of Fool's Gold 15th Anniversary show speak on their inspirations and where they see the future of music going.
Published
We're two days out from the Fool's Gold 15th Anniversary show (hosted by yours truly) and I can already feel the vibrations exuding from Webster Hall. From 11 PM to 4 AM (good god!), some of the hottest and most iconic musicians of our time will gather in an epic roster curated by A-Trak. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of the mini-festival. There's still tickets, make sure to grab yours today!
As a fun surprise, we've also organized a treasure hunt! Each winner gets two tickets! Tune in on IG for more information ;)
A-Trak
What are you listening to these days?
The funny thing with my listening habits is: there’s music that I’m constantly checking for my DJ sets, and then there’s headphone music. But anyway, I really love the new Hudson Mohawke & Nikki Nair EP! There’s a few new releases on Fool’s Gold that I have on heavy rotation: an EP by house producer and vocalist Life On Planets, and a very zany project by this British guy Redinho who recorded on some old broken synths during the pandemic. There’s a British house producer called Salute that I really like. I’m also digging that new Central Cee & Dave EP.
What do you listen to get amped up? To relax?
I grew up listening to mostly hip hop and when I want to get amped that’s what I turn to. Have you heard this kid BLP Kosher? He’s a young Jewish rapper from Florida who first got known as a skater, he’s got a song called “Jew On A Canoe”. It’s the type of thing that could either be terrible or great, but in his case it’s great. I love Babytron too, he’s from Detroit. I also get hyped up listening to Babyface Ray from Detroit.
To relax… the new King Krule album is great. There’s a lot of mid-90s rap that is my comfort food, my bowl of oatmeal. Stuff like Digable Planets’ 2nd album ‘Blowout Comb’, or De La Soul (now that their old albums are finally on streaming services!). Or even the 70s music that those groups were sampling, like Roy Ayers or Sly And The Family.
What's the weirdest inspiration you've ever had for a song?
This wasn’t for a specific song, but one time my brother Dave took me to the New York City Opera and the flow of the performance gave me a bunch of ideas for my DJ sets!
What do you think is the next big wave in music?
90s Dance is already having a moment. I think 2013-ish EDM (which left a stench for a long time) is right around the corner. But on a bigger level it’s all about international artists now, and young artists doing their take on traditional sounds. Peso Pluma is basically the biggest thing in the world, I think that’s indicative of where it’s all going.
UFFIE
What are you listening to these days?
Lately I’ve had Nia Archives, Logic 1000, Snow Strippers, Kumo 99, Fever Ray, MF Doom, Led Zeppelin on rotate a lot. Loving “On & On” (Confidence Man), and of course a lot of demos :)
What do you listen to get amped up? To relax?
Love some old school hip hop that would be on a throwback high school playlist, anything with a speedy BPM as well. To relax Sigur Ros, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Polo & Pan….
What's the weirdest inspiration you've ever had for a song?
There have been some weird ones but probably the sounds and feelings of being in the womb takes the cake.
What do you think is the next big wave in music?
I think it will be strong, powerful perspectives with a lot of energy and attitude…. feels ready for some pioneers and anarchy.
NAEEM
What are you listening to these days?
Cooper B. Handy
What do you listen to get amped up? To relax?
Amped: Paranoid London, Baltimore club, all club music jersey philly too anything I can get sturdy to.
Relax: Denice Williams, king krule, Badu, Arthur Russel
What's the weirdest inspiration you've ever had for a song?
The David Bowie vampire movie The Hunger.
What do you think is the next big wave in music?
I’m not sure but whatever it is it probably won’t be in the artist favor.
FROST CHILDREN
What are you listening to these days?
John Prine, DaDood, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, George Clanton, Precious Human, Babymorocco, SEBii.
What do you listen to get amped up? To relax?
To get amped up, we like to start with a little bass house, and we’ve been loving this English label out of Sheffield called “Off Me Nut” that our friend Jake showed us. Also Ling Tosite Sigure, very epic and expressive Japanese band.
To relax, a little Dorothy Ashby, Blossom Dearie, Susumu Yokota, Little Wings. And our dad’s music (Bob Prost, new song out). Lulu, in a quirky way, likes to relax to Algernon Cadwallader. Angel will frequently relax to the Beatles.
What's the weirdest inspiration you've ever had for a song?
We recently made a rap battle (in the style of “Epic Rap Battles of History) between Jimmy Neutron and Sheen (from Jimmy Neutron) over a DaDood beat.
What do you think is the next big wave in music?
According to Lulu, there will be new tempos that artists invent that cause audiences to dance in novel ways. According to Angel, the music industry will nudge towards more of a classical world of hyper-rule following. Rules are meant to be followed, and the best music of the next decade will be vigilantly obedient.
BAG RAIDERS (Chris Stracey)
What are you listening to these days?
Been on a bit of a Fourth World thing lately, lots of Jon Hassell... Lots of Japanese Environmental/New Age music, some weird synthy ambient stuff, lots of classical and lots of Ryuichi Sakomoto (RIP) playing the piano..
What do you listen to get amped up? To relax?
to get amped up, prob drum and bass or old euphoric happy hardcore stuff.. or something weird and hectic like Clown Core.. to relax, see above.. I like to try operate in a state of deep relaxation most of the time, also I listen to a lof of field recordings..
What's the weirdest inspiration you've ever had for a song?
lately i've been on a bit of a thing where I've been using AI to generate album covers for imaginary artists, seeing what comes out, and then think to myself what the music would sound like judging by the record covers.. That's something new... normally i'm tuned into the cosmic radio in my mind so there's stuff floating round my head 24/7, it's just a matter of grabbing it and putting it into a voicenote on my phone if i'm out on a hike or something.. then I try work it up in the studio... Really tho I have multiple ways of making music, sometimes it's that, sometimes it's just making beats on my MPC, sometimes it's the piano... mostly normal stuff. Weird is like, watching a movie and fixating on the way a person says a line because it sounds overly melodious, and then that could be the inspiration.. That happens sometimes.. Oh and sometimes when i'm alone I just sing to my dogs about how their days are going, and sometimes I think "whoah that's actually pretty good"
What do you think is the next big wave in music?
probably AI-cyber-surf-punk-faxmachine-core.. all the kids are talking about it... it's mostly weird out of tune surf guitars with glitchy dial-up modem connection sounds and fake drake verses over the top... I heard the aesthetic is sick tho and the fits are wild...
IVAN BERKO
What are you listening to these days?
Caroline Polachek’s new LP. All the releases on Transmigration Records. Tornado Wallace. Budino mixes. Telephones. Jex Opolis. Fantastic Man. Paramida. All the mixes from Bar Part Time. Gee Dee’s new one on Klasse Wrecks. So much. Been really into Mina the Italian Pop singer. Cass McCombs’s newest LP. Deep Heavy Fear which is a new band from Berlin. I like to go hear Lloyd play here in NYC.
What do you listen to get amped up? To relax?
To get amped up while I’m running I usually put on Xterminator by Primal Scream. I bought that cd when it came out and I can only say it gets better and more accurate as the years roll on.
To relax I listen to mixes by Siba K (RIP.) Christian Bob Dylan too.
What's the weirdest inspiration you've ever had for a song?
Most of my inspiration comes from “weird” places. Lights and scents are really cool. You can’t download those.
What do you think is the next big wave in music?
The next big wave of music? Hmmmm. That’s a brilliant question. Not really sure just hope it’s not ambient or whatever.