GOLDEN BOY PRESS Interview #195
FELIX AND THE FUTURE presents a new view, his work is completely his own, itās like diving right into his mind. The colors, the fashion, the sound, everything comes together in perfect harmony, or more like, perfect chaos. Pulling cultural influence from the various places in the world heās been, itās like going on a vacation with him when we listen to his music. A lot seem to be on the fence about his sound, but we absolutely love it, itās unique and completely original, and anything extremely theatrical, is great in our book.
Could you introduce yourself?
Iām Felix and the Future. Iām a singer-songwriter, director, and costume-maker. I come from a long line of petty thieves, harlots, and time travelers.
Why music? What made you decide to pursue music as your means of expression?
Music had always been an important form of expression for me. Unfortunately, the kids in my 5th grade choir class said I should consider doing something else, like being a professional mute.
I stopped singing then, and started again when I was 18 when I bought my piano. When I got to New York City I sold my old clunker computer and bought a digital piano. My only goal was to play Fiona Apple songs. Halfway through āNever Is a Promiseā, I decided it was time to start writing my own music.
For a few years I casually wrote songs and improved my singing voice. It was only after a few years of hiding in my room writing songs did I decide to start performing live.
Now I just sing loud enough where I drown out the critics.
Whatās your life philosophy and how do you try to apply that to your work?
Never underestimate the power of practice and repetition. Also, never be afraid to make a fool of yourself.
Iāve found that Iām only unsatisfied with an outcome of a situation when Iām underprepared, whether it be good or bad.
Also, never use absolutes.
Do you feel that youāve found your sound? Or do you still learn and experiment everyday with trying new things in your work?
My sound evolves with every new song. There are styles and nuances to my work that appear in most of my songs, but I do try new and unique things that help me expand my abilities as a songwriter. Every song is a learning experiment. A new possibility always presents itself just as I thought Iāve figured it out.
Could you tell us about some of your favorite places youāve traveled? Can you tell us about the places in your music videos, āBoxerā and āFamily Treeā?
Mexico has always been kind to me as an artist. It helps that my fatherās family came from Mexico so I have always felt connected to the colors, the food, the language, and faces. The happiest day of my life was the day that I shot āBoxerā in Xochimilco, which is kind of like the Venice of Mexico. Itās an incredible series of channels with gondolas full of mariachi bands, families celebrating birthdays, boats with abuelitas selling blankets and floating flower gardens. I had a 14 hour layover on my trip from Costa Rica where I was shooting āFamily Treeā and last minute the crew and I decided to shoot another video. We bought most of the props for the shoot from people selling random things at stoplight intersections on the way to Xochimilco. Xochimilco is basically a free set full of anything one would need for a video.
We shot āFamily Treeā in Costa Rica. I designed a series of Bird and Fish costumes that would match the landscape. Then we found this restored Caribbean mansion called La Perla del Pacifico, in Puntarenas that was full of reupholstered French Dome Chairs, a wrap-around verandah that overlooked a beautiful series of lakes with Mangrove waterways, and most importantly, a fully-restored Chinese Opium Bed. It was a set designers wet dream.
As for Costa Rica, the landscape itself allowed us to shoot on white sand beaches, luscious green jungles, gorgeous sulfur pools, and towering lava mounds at the edge of the sea.
For me I prefer natural landscapes to the studio. At the moment, my music belongs in nature.
Unfortunately I have very sensitive skin that reacts violently to nature. Some of the issues weāve dealt with during a shoot: a face full of broken blood vessels, and attacks by mosquitoes, ticks and hives. Luckily I know enough drag queens that I can text and ask for advice on how to turn an ogre into a fairy prince.
What does the word, āartistā mean to you?
Most days itās channeling what I see, hear, and feel into something aural or visual. Other days itās a series of panic attacks, while selling my belongings on craigslist to pay my rent.
How would you describe your work in three words?
Neptuneās Top 40.
Would you mind telling us about your favorite live performance?
I played in Warsaw, Poland at a bar that was shaped like a space station. It was small and completely empty. My show coincided with the EuropeCup which was being hosted in Warsaw at the same time and the same day. I was supposed to go on at 10pm, but the owner kept insisting that I wait to play by feeding me red currants and sparkling rhubarb juice. Finally around 1am I look out the window and see lights coming by the hundreds. Around 2,000 people filled up the bar and the outdoor area. They had all come from seeing the Soccer Match. They were all dressed in Warsawās colors and in face paint. I was completely mortified. I had never played for so many people. And I was used to playing for art/club crowds. I got onstage in front of all of the footballers dressed in a mermaid tail. I took a deep breath and went apeshit.
I have no idea what they thought of me, but they were silent through my entire set. An old man came up to me afterwards and said, āIām glad I saw that before I died.ā in Polish. And he walked away. Sometimes I wonder if he was a ghost.
Do you have any words of advice for new artists just starting out? Is there something you wish someone had told you when you started?
Everyone has an opinion. Almost none of them are of importance. Be kind and patient with yourself. Itās natural to doubt yourself, but donāt let the doubt paralyze you from creating.
With your sense of avant garde fashion, and over the top visuals. How does fashion play a role in your music?
Iām a visual person. I usually have a vision of location when I write songs. I create the environment and the world where the song exists. And style comes to play in these worlds. I am inspired by both classical and modern pieces as well as by cinema, architecture, and animals.
Fashion, in itself, interests me very little. Style is what I seek. Style is personality driven. Like a mask, I feel very liberated when I am dressed for the occasion.
They say you should dress for the job that you want, not for the job that you have. Itās very hard to find an outfit fit for the Ambassador of Intergalactic Affairs for Neptune.
What can listeners expect from your upcoming album, āHoly Handsā? What are you most looking forward to with the release of the album?
You can expect more theremin and more dance numbers.
This is the first time Iām doing a crowd-funding platform, and itās strange and exciting. I love the idea of getting fans involved in the creative process. Already, I have more than 7 fans that are going to be featured in my next few videos.
I am most looking forward to shooting more videos for the songs. I have so many places I want to travel to. I also look forward to touring.
If you had to choose a favorite track that youāve made, what would it be and why?
āKarenā is a new track from my forthcoming album. Right now itās my favorite, because the song has pushed me emotionally and technically further as a songwriter. I work with strings in a way that I havenāt yet, and I really let this song breathe. I let the song take as long as it needed before I cut it.
With the sense of rush and fast pace action in the music industry, what do you do to find peace and relaxation?
When Iām stuck in NYC for prolonged periods of time, I like to go to the Russian Baths or to go to Spa Castle. I go rarely, but when I do I feel very energized.
My newest form of relaxation is laying in the hammock that I just installed in my studio, naked, drinking Maya Cocoa Spice Tea. Itās not as glamorous as the Beverly Hills Hotel, but Iām a simple person.
Where do you see yourself in a year from now? What are some goals for your music career you have planned?
An immediate goal is to release the song āDriveā this month. Then next month Iāll be releasing the official music video, which Iām very excited for, because I shot it in the cornfields behind my grandfatherās farm house.
In one yearās time Iāll either have just finished a tour for my album or starting to tour with the album. I plan on having 3 new music videos under my belt.
If that doesnāt happen Iāll probably just win the lottery and start a college for alchemy.
What makes you happy?
Lasagna, baby pandas, flamingos, hammocks.
Any closing comments?
Buy my album. Or Steal my album.
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