Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Flapjaques

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

I’m reallyyy scraping back for my earliest, I didn’t have a very musical or art focused childhood though. I think it would be sitting in the middle school band sign up room, getting to try all the different instruments to see what I’d play. I could never buzz my lips or a reed, so I ended up on the flute. I always wished I had stuck with it, that woulda been cold as hell. 

How did your passion for creating music begin?

I started dj’ing when I was a sophomore in college & picked up beatmaking right as I graduated. My passion really ignited when I started to figure out how to sample stuff & gets reignited every time I hear a loop I can’t resist. 

What’s the story behind your current music project?

My most recent tape is a bit of a part two despite it’s title; “beats to bloom to vol. 1” follows my previous tape “april nights”, which I really should’ve just included in a larger vol. 1 in hindsight. These are snappy & tight classic lofi beats that make feel like being full of flowers under the spring sun. 

My summer album, “want2luv”, is a tribute to XXYYXX’s self titled, which has stood strong as one of my all time favorite albums. I would say the beat world is a bit different than the dj’ing circuit, so I felt like I needed to make my own beats with that sound to have them in my sets. Making a lot of these tracks back in January was probably the most fun I’ve had cooking stuff up in a bit. All felt deeply inspired from within & affirming to a younger me in making some of the kinds of tracks I had imagined myself producing way back when I was starting to DJ. 

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

Like a more mellow Kaytranada, or lofi girl if she was Kanye’s daughter

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

I’ve learned so much from other talented beatmakers in Chicago, it’s hard to pick one! Each session I shared in 2025 helped me to unlock parts of the MPC (& other samplers) that made the year feel like a huge level up. Fernando Bounce helped me dive into compressors & find the right kind for the occasion, never being afraid to make shi snap. Pete Mac showed me a new way of arranging using mute tracks to just record a live performance rather than make new sequences with subtle variations. I would say it was a combination of these & a few other tricks I picked up that completed my transition in workflows & styles from 2020 to now.  

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

Lately I love Serato Studio & its companion, the slab. I cook frequently on a small family of MPC’s & still dip my toes in ableton from time to time. The SP404 or SP555, depending on the day, are essential for performing. 

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

Countless Nightz- B4lasers 

Rundown Wallet- going_sumwhere x Kilroywas3r3

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

I think in both life & music I’ve sought community for a long time & feel so blessed to have found my tribe. When I started making beats, I learned largely online & felt my catalog consequently catered to that more online, study beats audience. As I’ve found my true home in Chicago, I feel like my catalog more reflects the people around me. 

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

I hope my beats bring people the balance I try to create for myself through making them 

 What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

Never to take things personally & to always give people grace 🙂 

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

Navy Pier ballroom here in Chicago, probably Bonnaroo in terms of more broad festivals 

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Flume- I’d love to hear what kind of synths he’d layer under samples I’d chop up for him; that future soul sound would go crazy 

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

chicagolofiauthority.com is my hub for all things chicago lofi! you’ll be able to find my mixes, latest cypher sessions, beat tapes, & more.

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

I’d like to play bigger venues, bring some energy, & get the crowd moving! I’ve been a chill beats guy for quite some time & while I’ll never stop bringing cool cuts to cafes across the midwest, I’d also like people to know I can make the room shake when the night calls for it. 

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

I hope they resonate with my passion & find it in themselves while listening