There exists one objective truth: Thundercat is a unique artist unmatched in his craft. Timeless and transcending dimensions, he possesses an extraordinary talent for blending sounds and creating captivating sonic environments, contributing to his undeniable legacy. Navigating various mediums while remaining true to what makes him both eccentric and alluring, his deep-rooted connection to music is powerful. With a father who was an accomplished drummer and a mother who played the flute and percussion, Thundercat's upbringing nurtured the talents that led to his celebrated, Grammy-winning discography. He advanced his parents' legacy with remarkable skill while maintaining an unwavering dedication to his youthful curiosity. He embodies a duality—being both a child at play and a figure anchored in the cosmos and the earth.
Clash had the opportunity to speak with the Los Angeles native prior to his psychedelic performance at Camp Flog Gnaw, discussing the importance of nurturing his inner child, the sacredness of physical media, and of course, his favorite album by Tyler, the Creator.
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Your youthful spirit seems to significantly shape your identity. Can you elaborate on your relationship with your inner child? What do you do daily to nurture that aspect of yourself?
TC: I enjoy doing things that bring me joy. I’ve never stopped watching cartoons, and my interest in comics and Marvel has remained strong, despite the way they keep churning out those movies. They remind me of 7-Eleven burritos—good only when you’re really hungry and tipsy. But I’ve just never lost that connection to my younger self.
As a Marvel enthusiast, do you still frequent movie theaters? What was the last film you watched?
TC: Yes, I love going to the movies. The most recent film I saw in theaters was Black Phone 2. I appreciate when a franchise gets to that point. Another good one is Terrifier 3. I used to think that by the third movie, a franchise would really decline and be full of clichés, but now it feels like the opposite is true—by the third installment, it can actually be amazing.
Is there an animated film for which you would have loved to create the score?
TC: Wow. If given the opportunity to score an anime film, my first thought would be one of the Rurouni Kenshin OVAs, which was beautiful and poetic. I would also love to create a score for the classic Bandai intros that play at the beginning of credits or contribute to a Toy Animation intro, like Aniplex. Additionally, scoring something for Sega or Sonic the Hedgehog would be fantastic.
The boundless quality of your music often evokes a psychedelic experience and a sense of closeness to the divine. How does your spiritual background influence your creative process?
TC: That greatly impacts my work. I was raised in the church where they tell you about the challenges you'll face in life, and as a kid, you might brush it off, but then you experience those challenges for real. You must navigate them with what you have learned, remaining open to growth. It’s a continual journey for as long as you’re here.
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Having grown up in a highly musical family, how do you perceive the industry's evolution from your father’s time to now, especially with the rise of the internet and social media?
TC: I discuss this often. Honestly, the influence of social media is quite strange. In many ways, being an artist today can be very complicated and exploitative. Artists tend to be sensitive, and not everything is marketable. Mixed in with joy and trauma, artists' experiences aren't always commodifiable. Now, just as hypersexualization exists, there seems to be hyper-exploitation prevalent with the current industry climate. We're constantly bombarded by it, akin to radiation. Yet, in a world alongside franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek, I believe we can achieve integration. Like in the Star Wars episode I appeared in, there’s a concept of merging technology with human experience, which I think is attainable.
An excellent example of this is vinyl records. Some might think vinyl is obsolete and no one cares anymore, but young people still seek out records the same way folks did in the '50s and '60s. Vinyl never truly went away; it coexists with formats like MP3 and streaming. I feel more thankful when someone gives me a vinyl than when they recommend an album. There’s a value in physically holding the artwork and the tangible perspective it provides. So rather than it being a case of one overtaking the other, it’s more of an integration.
I concur; I strongly support investing in physical media.
TC: Absolutely. Streaming might have a broader reach, but even my daughter prefers to have a vinyl.
Reflecting on your musical upbringing in the '90s, is there a particular artist or band you remember listening to in your parents' car that influenced your path in music?
TC: For sure, my dad played
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There exists a singular objective truth: Thundercat is a unique artist. Not confined by time or space, his talent for blending sounds and crafting