All Good Things: ELWD's New Album is an Ambient Beat Dream [Premiere + Interview]

Source: ELWD

"I'm looking for unusual sounds these days"

In a post-Dilla world, every beat has a bit of his glow. To no detriment at all, hip-hop and genres well beyond it are still unpacking the Detroit legend's DNA, a warm and endearing knock that pulls you in with irreplicable drums and an ear for the perfect mistake.

ELWD has already tested those waters on prior releases. His 2015 debut, Tropic, has that all-too-familiar swing, that preternatural pull towards dusty jazz and soul loops and crisp, neck-aching drum programs. But with his latest album, All Good Things, the UK producer builds a heart-swelling suite in two tranquil movements, where less proves be so much more. Sparse and spacious drums define the double-sided project, but instead of clinging to obscure Motown acts and diasporic funk, ELWD opts for a touch of atmosphere or "unusual sounds," as he told us via email.

To that effect, All Good Things is an ambient beat dream, as much an ode to the GOATs as ELWD's own cinematic statement, built with the tools of both eras. We caught up with the young dreamweaver on the eve of his album release. Scroll on for the full script and stream All Good Things down below. Hit the link to grab your copy on vinyl via Bandcamp.

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OKP: Where does a beat begin for you? The drums? A sample? A loose thought?

ELWD: All of the above really. Mainly from listening to older stuff for samples/inspiration first. Then I'll archive it all, and generally start with the drums.

Anything goes really.  I think it's important to get out of your comfort zone when you can.

OKP: How do you find your samples? What are you listening for?

ELWD: Record stores. Although I've found quite a bit digitally recently. If you have the right links, the internet can be a bit of a goldmine. I'm trying to find more unusual sounds these days, but you can never beat finding an old soul record.

OKP: Weapon(s) of choice? MPC? SP? Something weird and wild we’ve never even heard of?

ELWD: I've built my set-up quite a bit over the years, buying and then selling various pieces of hardware, a lot has come and gone, but a few things remain. I went through a phase where everything had to be ripped to tape. That was a lot of effort. Nowadays, Ableton is the center of most things, with a bit of SP action on the side.

OKP: Do you think about the songs you make in the context of a beat tape sequence?

ELWD: I like to think of my albums as movies in a way, like you have to listen to them in full, uninterrupted, with no gaps.

OKP: How do you arrange the sequence otherwise?

ELWD: Each track is different really, I like to group similar tracks together on projects, like scenes and then wrap everything up towards the end. The flow to albums is important to me.

OKP: Any standout moments from the creation of All Good Things that you’d like to share? Any formative memories they recall?

ELWD: The intro track is important to me. Ithink it sets the tone straight off. Also the outro. I made that track on a very hot day, and I presumed there was ice cream in the freezer, only to find out there was no ice cream in the freezer.

OKP: What’s next?

ELWD: A short mental break, I think. This next album has been calling me, though. I've been pretty inspired lately.