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A chat with Leicester's Flat White Chris
Flat White Chris has just released his debut EP, “I.S.K”. It’s a project that showcases his passion and dedication to the music scene, under his own label, Flat White Records. This debut release is not just a milestone for him but also a testament to his artistic journey and vision.
In this EP, Flat White Chris has joined forces with renowned UK rapper TRIM, who was formerly a member of the influential grime collective, Roll Deep.
The EP features a couple of synth-heavy, deep house tracks that bookend the 3-track package, providing a rich, immersive listening experience. These tracks are characterised by lush, atmospheric synthesisers, driving basslines, and shuffling percussion that all contribute to creating a hypnotic groove.
Sandwiched between these deep house cuts is a standout electro track. This track serves as a dynamic centrepiece, showcasing a different yet complementary facet of Flat White Chris's production skills.
Overall, this debut EP marks an exciting collaboration between Flat White Chris and TRIM, pushing a different sound on Flat White Records.
Following on from our premiere of ‘I.S.K’ we sat down with Chris to talk about the release, inspirations, the collaboration with TRIM, his Leicester roots, and more….
Hi Flat White Chris, congratulations on releasing ‘I.S.K EP (ft. TRIM)'. How does it feel?
Thanks, it’s a nice feeling as this one has been in the works for a pretty long time.
Talk us through the release, are there any standout tracks you’re particularly excited about?
I’ve enjoyed having the opportunity to work with Trim on this EP so I have to say that both of those tracks stand out for me.
It’s your debut EP, but it seems you’ve been honing your craft for years. Can you tell us a bit about how you got to this point with your music? And at what point did you begin to feel confident enough to release your music?
I know, right! It was about time I released something on FWR. I wouldn’t say there’s been any stand out moment where I’ve made the conscious decision to push my music. I just like doing it, and it’s the natural progression when you spend time making tunes. Eventually, you want people to hear them.
The EP is out on your own Flat White Records imprint, what was your inspiration to start your own label?
Flat White Records started as an online record store, with the vision being to open a physical cafe/bar/shop/creative space/whatever. After about a year of selling records, the decision was made to launch as a label, and I found this way more rewarding. Don’t get me wrong, I still sell records and love hearing new music all the time, however, I’m a DJ primarily and I was keeping all the best tunes for myself. Not a great business model! My main focus for now is the label and my own DJing/productions.
Tell us about the EP vocals by TRIM, how did that collaboration come about?
I was aware of TRIM from his Grime stuff years back and then heard him on a Bobby Donny release by Low End Activist called “Park End”. I heard this and reached out. This initial interaction must have been nearly 4 years ago! To say the process hasn’t been rushed is an understatement.
Can you describe the connection between your music and your Leicester roots, and how they continue to influence your music today?
Whilst Leicester isn’t known globally as having a rich musical history, it certainly had influences on me. There have always been, and always will be, collectives and parties doing their thing in the city. The most notable for me were the City Fly parties as they were pushing a deeper house sound that I really connected with at the time. Aside from the music, Leicester is a multicultural city and there are always sights and smells to inspire.
You've recently been touring a lot outside of your hometown, how have you found it? Are there any particular standout gigs?
I’ve really been focusing on getting my sound heard outside of Leicester recently and have really been enjoying the variety. London, Manchester, Ibiza, and Berlin are the obvious highlights.
How is the scene in Leicester at the moment?
The best way I can describe it is “in recovery”. Leicester has always had a pretty small and tight-knit scene with only a few crews and venues doing good stuff. The pandemic hit us hard with Leicester in lockdown for what seemed like forever and it’s taken its toll on our scene. That said, things have been picking up more recently, there’s even a new club space (Doppler) which has also launched as a radio station.
What has been the highlight of your career so far? Can you talk about a specific moment or accomplishment that stands out as particularly meaningful to you?
It’s hard to say as I don’t take myself too seriously. I’ve been lucky enough to support some great artists and play in some amazing venues over the years. I do, however, always reflect on my first gig in Berlin when Slothboogie asked me to join them in the Sisyphos Wintergarten. I feel like that was a bit of a turning point for me and cemented in my mind that I want to keep aiming for these types of gigs. I have since been back to play at Sisyphos but that first experience was something else!
Which other artists have had a big influence on your sound?
Steven Julien / Funkineven - His drum machine programming and use of gritty synths is unparalleled, in my opinion.
Watch here
Ron Trent - I’ve always been inspired by the deep, percussive sounds of a Ron Trent production.
Watch here
Can you share some insight into your creative process when producing music? Do you have any particular rituals or methods that help you stay inspired?
I don’t have any particular routine when it comes to making music. I really enjoy getting in the studio early in the morning, first thing, with a coffee. If it’s later in the day I feel like pairing it with some form of exercise, even if it’s just a walk around the block, helps me out. It sounds cheesy but it’s almost like a form of meditation for me, where I can ignore life's distractions and do something I enjoy for an allocated period of time.
What’s one artist we should be listening to right now?
Last Nubian. He’s got some really nice bits coming out, maybe something on FWR too ;) and is also doing killer live shows with his band.
What's next for you?
More gigs, more music, more life.
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