The Floozies are one of the hottest bands right now, with Kansas-based brothers Matt and Mark Hill (playing guitar and drums, respectively), producing funky electronic music. Their popular albums At Dusk We Launch, Tell Your Mother and Sunroof Cadillac, as well as hit single “Stuntin'” and other remixes like “Lemme Smang It (The Floozies Remix)” and “Lettuce-Do It Like You Do (The Floozies Remix)” have gained them large crowds and sold-old shows in some of the biggest cities in the U.S. this past year.
The Floozies graced The Underground Stage at CounterPoint Music Festival 2014 (April 25-27) this year. The duo will also rock the stage at some of the biggest music festivals in 2014, such as Wakarusa Music Festival, Purple Hatter’s Ball, Summer Camp Music Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, The Hudson Project and more. I was lucky enough to snag the guys for some words on their music and CounterPoint 2014.
Murfreesboro Pulse: I first heard of you all and began listening to you after many friends of mine came back from Wakarusa 2013 and said, “You have to listen to The Floozies!” Did you know then that funk was going to explode the way that it has, and that you would be a huge part of it? What were your musical goals at that point?
Our goal has always been to play music we loved to make and perform. Funk is our passion and I’m glad it caught on like it has.
How long have you guys been playing this style of music? Did you originally play a different style of music, or have you always been in the studio recording “funky electronic”?
We’ve both been a part of different bands growing up. We also both always had a knack for funk music, though, so of course we always came back to that. I remember being in a punk band and accidentally getting too funky for my bandmates’ liking. Ha ha. Modern tools have allowed us to dig deeper into music in general, so that’s where the electronic aspect came in. Computers have opened up endless possibilities with music and help us create the best funk possible.
I would say you guys are now a solid mold of what electronic funk means to me. Are there artists you all listened to growing up or currently that have helped inspire your style of music?
Zapp and Roger, Rick James, Amon Tobin, Pretty Lights, James Brown, to name a few. There wasn’t anyone doing this kind of thing when we first started experimenting and playing (at least that I know of). So it is kind of just a result of all sorts of music we have taken in over the years. We have been listening to every style for a very long time. It’s easy to find inspiration in good music, no matter the genre.
Are there any other styles or genres of music that you would like to explore in the future?
Movie scores.
Who has been your favorite artist you have collaborated with? Are there any artists in particular that you would love to work with?
Matt played some guitar with [Detroit-based producer] GRiZ, and the end result was very cool. He is a great producer and person. To be honest, that’s about all the collaborating we’ve done. We have some collaborations coming that I’m excited about but I can’t really reveal too much.
You guys are playing at some of the biggest festivals across the country this year such as Wakarusa, Summer Camp, The Hudson Project and more. What are your biggest goals when it comes to playing festivals and reaching the masses? What kind of atmosphere are you hoping for at Counterpoint 2014?
A fun atmosphere of course. [We] just want people to listen, dance, have a good time and take care of each other. Our goal is always just to keep pushing our musical abilities and playing all over the world.
I see you all traveling across the country, and everywhere you visit, your performance seems to have tons of energy and excitement. I know my friends and I loved you in Nashville and Chattanooga recently (as well as at Fly Free Fest, and we keep hoping for Bear Creek!). What has been your favorite city and or/venue you have played?
Comparing things is not something we like to do. Each show/venue/festival is a unique experience for us as well as the crowd. No point in taking away from that. We are pumped that everywhere we go seems to have a great energy and a crowd that makes us happy to be making the music we do.
What’s the biggest thing you guys do to stay grounded and focused when playing so many shows a week?
We have a great family behind us and always have. Coming home to them and our friends always helps. On tour we try and be healthy when possible and sleep plenty when possible. Staying focused on music is easy for us because it is what we love to do. We spend a lot of time working on tunes and we are constantly discussing new performance and production ideas because it excites us!
What do you hope your music means to people and do you have any particular musical aspirations in the future? Do you think your sound will stay on the same route or that your music will continue to change?
Our music means different things to different people. Making people dance is huge because dancing is good for the soul. I always want people leaving the show knowing they had a great time and got to let loose for a bit. I’ve had people tell me our music is great for the gym or for getting work done etc. All of that is good to me! As long as the music is helping people positively you can’t really ask for more than that. Our music will always be changing. You always need to be trying new things and pushing yourself to explore fresh ideas. That is what good art is all about.
What do you hope music can do for the people that swarm in masses to these festivals and shows? How do you see this type of music changing the world?
Our music is about having fun and being your funky self. Bringing people together is always a good thing.
What are you most excited about this year? Are there any hints, artist remixes or anything you would like to share regarding new and upcoming music?
We are really pumped to be playing so many festivals this summer. It is going to be an amazing summer for us! Also we are working on a new album again and we are very excited to share the new music when the time is right. Not going to reveal much more than that, but there will be some collaboration and we have some big ideas for production coming throughout the year that will be awesome.
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The Floozies music can be downloaded for free from flooziesduo.com. For more information, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/flooziesduo, Twitter @flooziesduo and Instagram @flooziesduo.
