An Interview with FlowState

A new EP release from FlowState manages to deliver a soiree of soundscapes that come in the form of EDM, chill, hip-hop, drum and bass, and other styles of electronic-based music. The great thing about this record is that it all comes through with a set of moods and a series of intensities that come in waves, but it all has this character attached to it that you end up falling right into.

The On The Run EP wastes very little time and delivers some of the funk undertone, jazz background, chill, and hip-hop approach, and some other staples that you get to hear throughout the EPS course.

This is a track that you get engulfed in right away. It features guitars, piano, heavy-handed beats that really hit hard but actually help calibrate the dynamic balance of the song itself, which works amazingly because this entire release has a way of letting you escape into it.

As I mentioned before, each track delivers a kind of mood and soundscape that pulls you in and lets you float alongside it.

These are deep grooves that you end up wanting to dance to, bobbing your head with, and sometimes you get this crossover of old and new school approaches, so some of the tracks end up giving me little bouts of nostalgia here and there.

That first track features some great guitar work, horns, and a buzzing electronic synth.

The second track, "Toasted" has a little bit more of a heavy hand when it comes to the beat and rhythm. This is also a very bopping rhythm, but the groove is even deeper here, and it feels like more of a hip-hop-based approach.

This track bears a little bit more of an edgy approach, and I like that because it helps the cinematic backbone come through a bit stronger.

This track has some of the best synth work, if you ask me, because it is used as an instrument of rhythm here.

Most of the time, you hear this kind of synth being used as an instrument of melody, which is fine, and it is also used melodically here as well, but this synth and the way it was performed are thumping with the rhythm, and it's used rhythmically more than just melodically.

This was such a brilliant approach and gets you deeper into the track.

The following track, "Geronimo", was absolutely stellar and maybe one of my favorite tracks on the record.

It's got an amazing combination of textures that come in layers, but they each have a bouncing rhythm to them that, at times, even bounce off of each other.

I definitely fell for this track fast, and it also has a heavy, almost hip-hop feel to it, but showcases some glitch, breakbeat, EDM, and more.

This was a brilliantly put together track that you can tell was done with a lot of attention to detail, but still has all of this sonic presence that comes through with a brightness as much as it does a heaviness.

The closing track is a great one, too. The song is called "Sector 7" and has this almost watery flow to it. The synths used our area almost like a synth pad, and it creates an atmosphere that you end up falling into, and I love being able to swim through that atmosphere.

This was a really fun record that thrived in several ways.

The thing I love the most about it is the simple fact that it showcased so many different approaches and styles to this brand of electronic songwriting and beat making, which had that slight haunt at times, floatiness other times, heaviness at times, and just oozes character and mood.

This was an awesome record and should be listened to through from beginning to end.

With the release of such a well-woven record, we wanted to have a talk with FlowState to find out where this came from and what might be coming up next for the project.

Here's what happened.

Buzz Slayers: Let's talk about On The Run! This release was a blend of electronic drive and alt-pop sound with a cinematic backbone! Where did this EP come from? 

We were doing some late-night Twitch streams, mostly experimenting with the platform and playing around with sound design. The result of those sessions became On the Run, the next chapter in our story-driven EP series. It’s set in a dystopian future where machines have seized control and humanity is clinging to resistance. The concept came from recent advancements in AI and the deeper conversations we’ve been having about its impact on music, art, and society.

Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing a few different approaches to this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

As a duo, our influences are pretty broad. Artists like Pretty Lights, The Glitch Mob, KOAN Sound, Daily Bread, K+Lab, CloZee, sumthin sumthin, Ahee and Ganja White Knight all play a part. We’re drawn to anything with a broken beat, dope bass, feels and originality.

Buzz Slayers: Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?

This was produced entirely in a small home studio. We're currently rebuilding and upgrading our larger space, Octagon Studio, but we’re definitely not accepting any downtime while that’s in motion.

Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as an artist?

We’re both dads and used to catch up regularly at parks and playgrounds while our kids played. We would bring our MPCs and jam out under the trees, it became a weekly ritual for a while. We never really expected it to go anywhere, but a few years later, with the kids a bit older and more time opening up, we decided to retire our solo aliases and build something bigger. We locked ourselves in the studio and wrote Warrior EP, then landed a string of club and festival shows before dropping our follow-up Grand Theft EP. Since then, we just haven’t stopped.

Buzz Slayers: Are you performing live right now? 

We’ve got some exciting DJ bookings this year, including Archaic Gathering, Raindance Festival, and Are You Ready Festival. We’re actively working toward a live show format, but right now we’re focused on writing as much music as possible and pushing the story forward.

Buzz Slayers: Now that this is out, what's next for you as an artist and songwriter/producer?

We’ve got two more EPs lined up for the second half of the year, with singles in between. We’re exploring different worlds and soundscapes with each release and continuing to expand the larger FlowState universe we’re building.

Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?

Honestly, we don’t listen to much music at the moment, we’re too busy making it. That said, we have a lot of love for the Australian underground. AURA, Eputty, Illucid, Aydose and Boydex are all huge inspirations.

Buzz Slayers: What would you tell people they can expect on this release?

Expect something cinematic, gritty, and bass heavy. We’ve really tried to lean into the Hip Hop vibes here while retaining that Halftime and Leftfield sound. Our hope is that listeners can feel immersed into the world that we created.

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music? 

Just a massive thank you. Every listen, share, or message means the world to us. We’re still early in the FlowState journey and it’s incredibly rewarding to see people connecting with what we’re creating. We’re committed to building something meaningful and this is only the beginning. We’ve got a lot more stories to tell.

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