First Day Feature: Flywlkr Talks Musical Background, Dream Collaborations, The Indigo EP & More

Flywlkr (formally Sir Flywalker) has been slowly carving his name as a sought after producer since crafting a number of tracks for Curren$y and the Jets helped to shine light his way. The recent Mississippi State University grad blends a sound that is as smooth as it is captivating and with a growing catalog of collaborators Fly is set to make some serious moves. A couple of instrumental EP’s in and with a healthy backlog of tracks in which he graces the microphone as a soloist and as a part of the group Da A$tronautZ make him more seasoned than what meets the eye. The experiences picked up from those prior projects are leading him into the next chapter of his career as he puts the finishing touches on his Indigo EP. The project is the next installment in his Sounds of Color series which follows his preceding beat tape, Purple. We were able to have the honor of making Flywalker our first featured artist for interview on FDF and delved inside of his brain to learn more about the process and background of his work.

For those who may not know could you tell us a bit about your background?

For sure, im a music producer, engineer, and artist by the name of Flywalker (@FLYWLKR). I am originally from Memphis, TN but was adopted by Mississippi as a teenager. I have wild hair and I wear what I want, do what feels right and only say what I feel if I have facts to back it!

When do you think it became clear to you that music was something you truly wanted to pursue?

I would say it became clear when I made my first complete song.. I was so overjoyed by it. I had sat there and made the beat, wrote the lyrics, recorded myself, and played it back and at that moment I discovered my true love for the art. I believe that the cathartic feeling that music gives me then really let me know that it was something that I wanted to do for a lifetime.

Who were your biggest influences growing up musically?

Honestly? Producers who rapped.. so Juicy J and Dj Paul, David Banner, Kanye, Q-Tip, Pete Rock, Madlib, Dilla, and guys like that early on.. When I was a teenager I was more into bands like gym class heroes and guys with subject matter and wordplay like Hov, UGK, Outkast, Lupe Fiasco, etc. Too many to name but that’s a good thing right?

I would call it a great thing. More influences create a more diverse sound. With that being said who would you say are some of your favorite producers outside of those just mentioned? Maybe a couple that are more currently prominent?

I’m biased on this answer.. but my favorite producers right now consist of firstly, myself, Staccs, Metro Boomin, London, (whoever made the beat to latch by sam smith lol), Nate Fox, Boi-1da, Hit Boy, DJ Burn One, Chris Calor, DJ Dahi, Pharrell, Kanye of course, Black Metaphor, The Aquadice, Freddie Joachim, Alexander Spit, partynextdoor, Eric Dingus, Jeftuz, and Koen.

What is your favorite album of all time?

Of all time?

Late Registration by Kanye West. Easily

What do you feel is lacking in the world of production and how do you think you can fill that void?

Same thing that has been lacking in the world of production for years now. ORIGINALITY. I think I can fill the void by not filling it in a sense.. because once a new sound catches on there’s only a matter of time before everyone wants a beat similar to this beat or that beat. It’s keeping your signature sound but not getting stuck in it. The key is to consume all types of music and learn how to truly grasp the concept of versatility.

How would you describe your in studio process? Whats the way the way you usually go about constructing your music?

My process is usually pretty natural. Firstly, I have to make sure I see whats on my agenda and prioritize. Secondly I give myself a quota on how many beats I need to make that day, or how many songs to mix, or how many recording sessions I should try and do in a week. Then I just sit and create. I spend a lot of my free time listening to and researching other music, either to find dope songs or to find more music to potentially sample, or take notes on. So I’m always stocked with fresh material each day to come up with or work on.

How do you go about finding the samples that you use in your production? Do you search for them or is it something that catches you ear while casually listening?

Both. Movie scores, soundtracks, commercial background music, I shazam songs when I hear them and I like them, but for the most part I go on youtube and search for something crazy and let songs play until I find good joints. I also rip old cds and albums that I either get recommended or run across at thrift stores and things like that. The sample game is heavy.. I have like 50-100 gb’s of joints.

I keep seeing hints of you mentioning a big summer on twitter. Could you shed some light into what you have lined up?

The next project in my sounds in color series is up first.. the other things I have in store I haven’t solidified so I can’t speak on those too much! I’m just excited to have this body of work in the finalizing stages. I will be releasing a single before the month is out.

When I listen to your music I instantly start to mellow out. Is that what you’re aiming for or is there a particular emotion you want someone to take away when they listen?

That’s definitely what I go for. I try to portray a feeling, or a fantasy through my music to make people mellow out and feel good. I make beats that take me to the beach with my feet in the sand mentally, as I sit in my lab in Mississippi haha. I want people to interpret it however they feel, but most people def get mellowed out and can relax to it.

What advantages do you think you may have over most artists being that you have found yourself behind the microphone and the boards?

That’s the advantage right there. I can do everything myself. There are great producers that can’t write a rap, there are great artists that can’t make a beat to save their life. There are audio engineers who cant mix, and etc.. The fact that I have these all in my skillset gives me the ultimate advantage.. I am the supplier of my own beat selection haha

Do you have any desire to sign with a major or would you prefer to remain indy?

I would do whatever is best for my art and the trajectory of my music career. I would rather remain in control of what I built.. but if the right offer comes along and it’s life-changing in a good way, I would definitely go major.

https://soundcloud.com/flywlkr/golden-arms

You’ve already given us the Purple EP and Indigo is right around the corner. What gave you the idea behind your “sounds of color” series?

Reading books about spirituality. I chose the 7 chakras to be the actual colors/concepts of the sounds in color series. I’m aiming to evoke feelings through the notes I choose to use, down to my sample selection/beat selection. Originality x 5

What is the direction we can expect from Indigo?

It’s a really introspective and feel good project. I get great vibes off of the music when I play it back to myself, and when I preview it for others.. Its totally relaxed & conscious. It’s highly progressive from purple that’s for sure.

You’ve had the chance to bless a pretty nice collection of rappers with your production including Curren$y, Pell and Young Roddy to name a few. Do you have any collaborations in specific that you would like to get done in the future?

Yes of course, I definitely want to some work with Kehlani, Isaiah Rashad, Audio Push, Travis $cott, and a host of others. But I would also like to work with producers and collaborate on music.. producers with alternative or opposite styles as me.

How do you feel having a degree helps you in your music career?

It doesn’t at all. I was blessed to meet the people I needed to meet to gain knowledge and access to networks in college, and that in turn made me more effective with spreading my music, finding the right people and right outlets to work with, and knowing the business.

What made you want to finish school with instead of pursuing music full time? Was it a hard decision to make?

I finished because that’s just how I have always been. School wasn’t a complex task for me like it was for others. I didn’t want to be there just like everybody else I knew. I finished because I knew that accomplishment would make my mother proud, and it was attainable because I majored in something that I alternatively love to do.

Are their any artists that you’ve worked with that you feel more people should be hip to?

Of course, Christina Marie, LV Baby, Raw Elementz, Grand National, Odd Fella, The Aquadice, Jay Dot, Lil Nardy & the list goes on.

What is the best way for people to get in touch if they’d like to link with you on some music?

The best and most effective ways to get in touch with me are through email: flywalkermusic@gmail.com and twitter. I might not tweet back all the time, but anyone (even if I don’t follow them) can send me a direct message. If you want to work, be serious about it, because I handle my art very professionally.

Anything else you would like to share with your fans before we wrap up?

Most definitely, fro life or no life.. make sure you stay tuned for more details on the Indigo EP & the first single that will be dropping soon.