Catching up with Jimmy Edgar

Jimmy Edgar is a serious talent, who is probably best described as a renaissance man with ideas and styles beyond his years. The Berlin-based Detroit native with a mischievous mystique has been a prolific artist and musician for two thirds of his life, working hard to release music on labels like Warp, !K7 and Hotflush under his own name and as part of collaborations Sepalcure (alongside Praveen Sharma) and JETS (alongside Machinedrum). Sonically, he's actually pretty much fluent in a myriad of vernaculars, from "software as music" and glitchy underground hip hop to his signature glossy, erotically charged robot funk. Visually, he's established himself as an in-demand director, photographer, and multimedia artist with an impressive roster of videos, exhibits, and magazine work to his credit. In short, Jimmy is more than a little bit of a don. Ahead of his performance in Room Two on the 15th November (where he’ll be performing alongside I-D, Djedjotronic and Kowton), we caught up with Edgar to discuss meditation, majestic creations and his recent Boiler Room set… Hi Jimmy, how’s it going? Perfect, couldn't be better. How are you? Great, thanks! You've just finished a tour around the states. How was it for you? Any key moments? Yes, excellent. It's always good being home and in my element. Living in Berlin for the past four years definitely makes me miss some of the amenities I had growing up, so it’s nice to be back for a few weeks. One of my favourite shows was VIA festival with Actress. Also, playing Mutek in Mexico was amazing… they always come through with great vibes. You’re renowned for being a multi-dimensional artist. Not only do you DJ and produce but you’re also an artist, photographer, director and musician. These are all clearly avenues to express your creativity, where do you draw your influences from? I am more of a re-creator than an inventor. I like to hybridize art forms and show them in new lights. This is what we are doing with my label Ultramajic. I feel I have the job of polishing things up and futurizing them for people who are not aware. I've always really liked taking inspiration from fashion photography and making music from it, not sure how it correlates but I have tons of photos around my studio. I have been doing a lot more airbrush pieces too; I'm working on five 12'x18 foot pieces for an exhibition. For now, it will be a temple for which to manifest, as a standing show. I don't like to talk about things so much before they are done, but it’s exciting to be working on it. We had some neon made in China earlier this year, so we are constantly trying to dabble in new things. I like to keep this creative flow which ultimately what inspires me… good vibes and flow, focus. Which creative platform would you say gives back the most? Well I am most known for my music, but lately I have gotten the most self-gratification from these airbrush pieces I am talking about. I really feel I am coming into my own with the art pieces and that’s a great feeling as an artist. In regards to music I've always felt like I stood alone and no one could imitate my sound. I just have this natural confidence with music and I don't need anyone’s approval. With art it’s different... In previous interviews you’ve mentioned how, in the past the medium for your music tends to be your moods and emotions. I think you even said that when you were younger, a lot of your music was written when you were angry or frustrated. Do you find that the music or art that you make when you’re crowded with these emotions forge a different creative process to the music you create when you’re in a, let’s say, happier state of mind? I was lead to meditation because I didn't believe you had to be in a negative traumatic state to be influenced… yet so many of us find this meditative state when we are most bothered. I found a back door where negativity doesn't reside… so I've been focusing on that and just opening this metaphorical door can lead you far astray from dark, which is the idea right? I'm far from perfect in this way but it’s a good path to start with, just knowing you don't have to be a victim and taking responsibility for your inspiration… instead of blaming your family, the weather, or mood. Compared to a lot of other DJ’s, your work and personal embodies a lot of colour and charisma. I do focus on colour because it’s so beautiful to use. Colour schemes within design are the pinnacle of holy understandings. I've been studying tattvas this year, and changing the colours creates different vibrations, very interesting stuff when its concerned with design and art. My charisma is trying to be more intellectual. I'm very shy in person and I would say it has a lot to do with the generation we live in, and the lack of communication we have with people every day. I'm a travelling DJ and people have this idea that I'm always fucked up, meeting people, partying.. and that’s barely accurate, it’s a lot more strange. You just did your Boiler Room session with Machinedrum and Jets. What was that like? Ultra, I actually free styled my set and I was focused. I didn't look up once because I was so bent on playing a perfect set. I quite enjoyed the Jets set afterwards also because we performed with hardware for the second time, and one of our last shows! I always have fun Djing, that’s what it’s about for me… It’s why I haven’t played live in over a year. I am working on a new show with visuals and it has to be mind-blowing otherwise I'm not going to even bother. Music and art obviously has had a massive impact on your life and has clearly shaped the person and artist you are today. If it was completely up to you, how would you want your music to impact those who listen to it? For people who know my music, they will find a way to listen to it. If it strikes a chord then I let them have the experience. Obviously good sound, good visuals are important… but I think the lead up mysteriousness always captivated me most.