Talk about the 20th anniversary of Fantastic Vol 2 by Slum Village. What makes these projects so timeless and open to interpretation?
The original Fantastic Vol. 2 is one of my all-time favorite albums, period. The album is perfection! Being asked to rework it in collaboration with Slum Village has been mind blowing. The grooves and vibe on the tracks is timeless. There is a great balance between hard hitting and driving drums to more laid-back tracks. So when it came to the interpretation of the music, I wanted it to be more of a love letter to the album than something unrecognizable or too avant-garde. I still wanted the drums to be knocking, and the textures to be thick, as a nod to Dilla, but with just enough live twist on it to be fresh.
What can listeners expect from this celebration?
The albums are a celebration of the original music, and for me, the sound of Detroit — music with soul — so expect knocking drums, some of the original vocals and new vocal takes.
What is next for Abstract Orchestra?
Abstract has a tour with Slum Village in the U.K. and Europe in February 2020 as part of the 20th anniversary of Vol. 2, so [I] can’t wait to get on the road again with SV!
Take a listen to Abstract Orchestra’s interpretation of “Fall In Love” by Slum Village below.
