Lefto Early Bird is a music fan through and through. Devoted to the future of sound while keeping an ear in the past, his influences span Jazz, New Beat, Acid House and Rap music. All of these sounds – and more – have molded his production style over his near 30-year career, giving him new ideas to take his music to new heights. As a producer, DJ and radio host, Lefto Early Bird has become a legendary name, working with the likes of Flying Lotus, Floating Points, Theo Parrish and Virgil Abloh. Meanwhile, he has built a loyal fanbase on Mixcloud, with over 130k followers on the platform.
These days, his production is taking center stage and his new album Motherless Father, released via Brownswood Recordings, represents the latest stage of his journey. A deeply personal record speaking to new beginnings, high energy and all of his influences. To celebrate the new release, we caught up with Lefto Early Bird, who shares with us the tracks that have shaped his sound as a producer, making him the artist he is today. Scroll down for his deep dive into the music he loves.
EBS – Something Else
Lefto Early Bird: “I’ve always been heavily influenced by a red line sound across a track, one particular tone across the tune. EBS’ ‘Something Else’ is a great example of creating a vibe over an endless tone. It’s an amazing and super creative way to work as it’s almost like seeing what you’re building around that tone. On my album, ‘Electric’ is probably the closest track to this idea.
Joy Orbison – Swag
“I probably haven’t listened to anything as often as Joy O’s record still slipping vol. 1 during the pandemic, driving the road along the canal in Brussels. This record has been a major influence. An album that is very enJOYable from beginning to end and definitely gave me the right direction to approach my record.”
DJ Assault – Sex On The Beach
“This is an instant classic. But it was the tune I was listening to on the way to the studio on the day I made ‘I Sing To Find Peace of Mind.’ I used it’s vibe to elaborate my track with my own voice, DJ Simbad’s tenor saxophone solo intro. The singing on my track wasn’t intended, I sang to find a melody that would fit the song and recorded it and kept it.”
Theo Parrish – Second Chances (ft. MonicaBlaire)
“Sound Sculpture Vol. 1 by Theo Parrish, just like many other albums and tracks, is where I feel artistic freedom and that’s what I’ve always been pushing. The Rhodes keyboard on this tune, the bassline and the hi hats that aren’t in tempo make it an amazing track to vibe to. Add to that Monica’s voice and it’s a beautiful song. The freedom on this track is what I always tried to recreate on my album.”
Goldie – Inner City Life
“This is a track that introduced me to so many different sounds coming from the UK, from Jungle to Street Soul and much more. I only realized when the track was done that I unintentionally created a cover of Goldie’s tune. I asked Gilles Peterson for the singer’s contact but heard she passed away unfortunately. It was at a time when I talked a lot to singer/producer Iman Houssein from London. I ended up asking him to write and sing his own version of ‘Inner City Life’ while keeping the chorus. It became a tribute to the beautiful voice of Diane Charlemagne, the original voice on this legendary tune and I am very honored and lucky to know that Goldie was touched by my version.”
Moodymann – Shades Of Jae
“Most of these Detroit bangers have a unique vibe, a repetition I really like and puts me in a trance. Until the beat drops. ‘Shades Of Jae” is one of those tunes that really inspire me. The breaks in the song, the repetition of the keys, the stoney voice, the amazing groove. I mean everything is here to make you move. It has definitely had it’s impact on me and on the album. ‘I Feel the Pain But Can’t Describe It’ has definitely some elements of this track I think.”
Donny Hathaway – The Ghetto
“Maybe Moodymann was influenced by this one because Donny Hathaway’s live version of ‘The Ghetto’ is really something else. I love the freedom of this tune. The soul clapping, the way Donny plays the Fender Rhodes keyboard. It’s really an exceptional live performance and maybe one of the best I’ve seen on the internet. If you’re into his music and sound of course. For me, it’s all about taking your audience to another level, sometimes another continent. There are percussion solos on this track that teleport you to Cuba.”
Travis Scott – ASTROTHUNDER
“This tune has some melancholy and nostalgia in it and I’ve played it a lot on the road on the way back from gigs. The sound is wide and the way Travis blends his voice with the background elements or uses his voice as another part of the beat gives it a new dimension. Just like most of my tracks, I didn’t realize until the very end of the production how close some of my music is related to the sound of this record. The subconscious really works well.”
nthng – Heitt
“The album this track is from is called Hypnotherapy and that’s how I feel listening to this record. I’ve really been into Ambient and loops that made me feel hypnotized during the pandemic. I started to understand how catchy repetition could be in music. I’ve read a lot about repetition in music and how it affects people’s minds and how great tracks are written based on a loop. A repetition, and you’re now sold to that particular track. That’s how I felt listening to this album on empty roads at night. It creates a world and images in front of your eyes. I have a few tunes that didn’t make it on the album that have that certain vibe.”
Levon Vincent – ETA Infinity (Warm Mix)
“Here I am again with repetition that works like a red line. A certain tone from beginning to end on a track. It’s amazing how so little can have such an effect on me. Levon Vincent’s music has a lot of that and a heavy kick and bass that makes you feel the track in your guts. I’m really keen to work on new music based on repetition and build around it to make you forget about the repetition, but is actually always there.
Lefto Early Bird’s new album Motherless Father is out now via Brownswood Recordings.