The Internet 'Feel Good': Odd Future Affiliates Talk New Album, Erykah Badu, & More

Odd Future Affiliates Talk New Album

Nearly two years since releasing their debut album, “Purple Naked Ladies,” Odd Future affiliates, The Internet, return to the music scene with their latest offering, “Feel Good.”

Roughly a year in the making, the 13-track opus finds the duo, consisting of singer-producer Syd tha Kyd and producer Matt Martian, honing their eclectic sound into a cohesive R&B, Jazz-Funk set. Given additional resources since their previous effort, the September 24 release also has afforded the Los Angeles-based pair to collaborate with the likes of Neptunes producer, Chad Hugo, who appears on the album’s lead single, “Dontcha.”

During a recent interview with the Huffington Post, Syd and Matt opened up about their latest experience recording the sophomore release, the possibility of working with Erykah Badu, and their current relationship with Odd Future.

What inspired you guys to record a bulk of “Feel Good” with a live band in comparison to your first album?

Matt: I think it's more so, the resources that we had on this album that we didn't have on the last album that influenced us. All the people in the band were kind of raised on the same type of old school music. We all listen to Stevie [Wonder], and Marvin Gaye religiously. I think this is the album that we all wanted to make.

Syd: To be honest, once we started playing live shows with a band, we wanted to make the next album sound like what the first album sounded like live, but with new music. And I got better at singing too…I didn't use a lot of auto tune on this one. Which I'm proud to say. The first one, to be honest, I wasn't confident in my voice so I didn't sound confident. And I think that's what you'll hear more than anything.

In recent weeks you released the album's first two singles, “Dontcha” and "Partners In Crime Part Two." What was the deciding factor in releasing the tracks?

Syd: We chose 'Partners in Crime 2" as the first song, because it's a part two to a song that's already out. So the fans that do know the first part, it's something for them to get excited about. And at the same time we weren't giving too much away, because at the time that we dropped it we were still planning the release date and making sure all of our ducks were in a row. We wanted to drop that because we didn't want to give too much away, but we knew it would let people know what the vibe of the album was going to sound like.

We picked "Dontcha" as the main single because it's the lead track that we made for the album. We made the beat first and I knew I wanted to make something inspired by Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson. It took forever for me to write so I had to call in some friends from LA... I think "Don'tCha" is an appropriate single, because it's one of the few dance tracks. It's something that we knew would be generally liked by everyone.

I noticed Odd Future is absent from the album. Was that a conscious decision?

Syd: We wanted to take full credit, basically. We didn't want it to seem like we're using their success to uplift us. We still talk to them all the time. We still see them all the time. But we wanted to do this on our own and be able to say that we did this by ourselves.

Are you guys still touring with them?

Syd: I stop touring with them when I started touring with The Internet. So it's been maybe, a year and a half ago since I last toured with them. I do DJ for Earl [Sweatshirt] for specific dates. I can't do it all the time, because I have to put my band first. But I can't always keep up with Tyler [the Creator] and them. He's traveling a little too much. I have to be home to focus and rehearse.

Moving forward, how do you see The Internet evolving as a group?

Syd: To be honest, if anything, this is more of a catalyst for us to be able to write music in the future for other people. I think this album is going to open a lot of doors for us to work with a lot of other people. Because we don't necessarily need the spotlight. We just like to make good music and want to be recognized for it.

Who are some of the artists that you would be interested in collaborating with?

Syd: Erykah Badu, Little Dragon, Esperanza Spalding …

Matt: Jamiroquai…I worked with most of the people that we wanted to work with…As I've gotten older and recorded music, the people that I look at as heroes, I don't really know if I want to work with them. I kind of just like working with my friends who are talented, and bringing them up and making them established people and people known for good shit.

Syd: I heard too many stories about people who meet their idols and get disappointed. I would rather keep my idols up there. And that goes for Erykah, too. But the only difference with Erykah is that I actually met her already and she was awesome. [Laughs]

Check out The Internet's "Feel Good," LP in the album stream below.

Before You Go

FALL MUSIC PREVIEW 2013

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot