Deep within the spirit of Chicago, an artist such as ell!psis is no stranger when it comes to complete mania. This high skilled musician has been working hard throughout the underground. Blessing and impressing many with his stone-cold flows and rhythmic characteristics. His highly versatile skills with frequencies are nothing but impressive and jaw-dropping.
From groovy trap heaters to some nasty hip-hop productions, his flexible workflow is truly one of a kind. Constantly trying out new techniques to improve his skills to an even higher degree. With releases on Presently Lifted, Sub.Terranean and even ADBC Records, he’s stopping at nothing from fulfilling his true destiny within the industry. There’s tons of unexpected gems you’ll discover within his colorful discography. And now, we’re pleased to team up with him for his own guest mix and interview! You’ll find plenty of bangers within this memorable journey of sound. And we even dive a bit deeper into his creative mind to learn more about his background and current state of living within a musical world.
How’ve you been doing so far this year?
There’ve been some ups and downs, but largely it’s been pretty solid! It’s definitely been great to finish music, go back to live shows, and catch up with my family and friends again!
It’s my favorite medium for expressing my state of being in a way that sounds unique to me.
What was your main goal or purpose when creating the ell!psis project?
When I started the project, I was purely wandering around in the dark in Ableton. Throughout years of growing into “ell!psis” I’d say the main purpose has been a journal of sorts. It’s my favorite medium for expressing my state of being in a way that sounds unique to me. And of course, there’s no parallel to having friends, idols, and fans express their appreciation for it.
Production wise, were you self-taught or did you learn from other peers?
It’s been kind of a mix of things! I was all over Youtube at first, and it led to picking up a music minor. Throughout college, I met lots of the people that are now my core friends, and they continue to blow my mind when we dive into production knowledge.
We notice you’ve worked with TYGKO and Mohawk Johnson a couple of times, tell us how those friendships came to be!
I met both TYGKO and Mohawk, along with Cam Stacey and most of my friends, through shows and music events here in Chicago/the Midwest. I was instantly impressed by both of them, both as performers and as human beings. TYGKO, Mohawk, Cam and I now live together and it’s become a really interesting melding of our creativity. I love all of these guys and cherish our friendships greatly.
Have you always felt the pure drive or connection towards pursuing a creative career?
To be honest, it took me a while to feel things out! After college I was still unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, and I had music and fencing as my core hobbies. I moved here for work and didn’t know a soul, but after connecting with the music community, I’d say that was my biggest catalyst for seeking a career in music.
Who’re some musicians you’d love to collaborate with at the moment?
That’s really tough, there’s some seriously inspiring people in our scene. Offhand, I’d love to work with Mr. Carmack, Tsuruda, Chuck Sutton, Willy Crooks, Jon Casey, Quiet Bison, Moore Kismet, Kilamanzego and HXRY.
What can listeners expect when listening to this mix?
Even before quarantine, I was in a pretty quiet and introspective place, and struggled with how to express myself musically. I eventually hit a stride, with no shortage of encouragement from my friends. This mix is going to be a fun way to share the catharsis of that process with tons of original music!
the two best things to focus on are putting in the right kind of work and making every interaction with people genuine. The recognition for your craft will come with time, but the additional reputation of your character will give it so much more impact.
Any wisdom you’d like to bestow upon listeners?
I’d say whether it’s music or any personal pursuit, the two best things to focus on are putting in the right kind of work and making every interaction with people genuine. The recognition for your craft will come with time, but the additional reputation of your character will give it so much more impact.
Do you recall a certain moment where you were completely amazed by the electronic music genre?
I think when I took the time to fully dive into Mr. Carmack’s discography, I was absolutely blown away by how unique his music is, and by how long he’s been making a crazy variety of beats. I used to go on long drives a lot, and I’d marvel at how any of those tapes could make me go from welling up with sadness about an ex, to feeling a surreal level of swagger, to hype enough to almost concuss myself on my steering wheel.
During 2020, what were some of the biggest challenges you had to face?
By far the most paramount challenge I’ve faced has been the disgusting injustice Mohawk has endured on house arrest for over a year and the ongoing ramifications that has had for myself and our other roommates. Beyond that, I’ve dealt with a lot of paralyzing imposter syndrome as I’ve spent most of quarantine isolated in my room balancing my music goals with a 9-to-5 I’m not enthusiastic about.
Quarantine was brutal, but also offered a lot of really twisted blessings.
What keeps you inspired these days to continue pushing for a brighter future?
Quarantine was brutal, but also offered a lot of really twisted blessings. It made me really appreciate the time I spend with family, friends, and my girlfriend. It also kind of gave me some time to establish a routine and good habits to balance everything. I draw a lot of inspiration from the people in my life and now think I’m in a solid place to maintain great relationships with them.
Recently, you just played your first set in over 2 years at RESET. How was the experience and overall vibe within the event?
It was incredible! The lineup itself was top-to-bottom homies from years back. It was also JKuch’s Chicago debut, and Xavi’s first time playing stuff from his recent album. I played all-originals for that set as well, which was super nerve-wracking. It ended up going over really well, and that night was one of the first times I really felt like a peer among a bunch of my idols.
If you could perform at any festival, which would you choose and why?
I would LOVE to play Electric Forest! They consistently book my favorite lineups year after year, and it really seems like it’s run with everyone’s experience and well-being as the top priority. What could be better than sharing music with friends and fans as part of an unforgettably scenic camping trip?
Knowing that other people are figuring life out and doing things they enjoy reinforces my appreciation for how their passion creates such beautiful music.
During your time in the industry, what were some things that completely surprised you?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate, and got to meet a lot of artists I’ve looked up to for years before I had much confidence in my own work, which was both an immense honor and a terrifying self-evaluation at times. What really took me by surprise was seeing a lot of them as human beings, without all the strategized perception from social media and stuff. Knowing that other people are figuring life out and doing things they enjoy reinforces my appreciation for how their passion creates such beautiful music.
Tracklist
ell!psis & Blake Skowron – ID
ell!psis – ID w/ Missy Elliot & Ciara – Lose Control
Kumarion – Want It (ell!psis & American Dave Remix) w/ William Crooks & Mohawk Johnson – SEE THE LIGHT (prod. Ache)
ell!psis – ID
ell!psis – Buried [More Creativity Records]
ell!psis – ID
ell!psis & Vincebyvince – ID
ell!psis – ID w/ Princess Nokia – Tomboy
ell!psis & Blake Skowron – ID
ell!psis – ID
Baauer – GoGo! (ell!psis flip)
ell!psis – Cordyceps [ADBC Records]
ell!psis – thoughtcrime
ell!psis & Jersea – ID
ell!psis & LYNY – ID
RL Grime & ISOxo – Stinger (ell!psis flip)
ell!psis & GoldScrolls – ID
ell!psis – ID
ell!psis & Palpa – Purgatory
ell!psis & Galva – ID
ell!psis & Naughta – ID
ell!psis & Tek Genesis – ID
ell!psis, Blake Skowron & Dabow – ID
ell!psis – ID
ell!psis – ID (feat. TYGKO)
