NBW

GRANDFATHER.

BEHIND THE NAME

GRANDFATHER., the enigmatic producer repping Altadena, CA is continuing to create on the tails of his latest album, All For You. With his next performance coming up at the Salon party this Saturday, we wanted to let him speak on the album, where it came from, and give a little insight into what goes into the 2092 Funk Radio Records founder's spacey brand of loop-heavy house.

Salon Recordings: How are you doing?

Grandfather.: I’m doing well today. Every day is different but optimism seems to be my general sentiment.

Salon Recordings: You just released All, can you give some background on how this album came together?

Grandfather.: Salon reached out to me early 2024 to make a contribution to the label. I was spending a lot of time in Brooklyn at the time; so a majority of the tracks came together in NYC. They are all a product of being inspired by the city and digging for records there.

Salon Recordings: What's your history with Salon?

Grandfather.: Damar Davis and I go back before the inception of Salon. We forged a friendship and both started our DJ journey in tandem, so the connection is deep to say the least.

Salon Recordings: What's the background behind your name, Grandfather.?

Grandfather.: The name first came about when I was seventeen; I  moved out of my folks house and got a crib where I let all my friends come, stay and have a place to create. All the homies would call me “Pops,” for that reason. When I started to get deeper into my artistry I took on the name “Grandfather.” partly because of that and also because of my own grandfather. He was a musician and producer, mostly producing jazz records in the 1970’s. He passed away when I was 3 years old and I feel like his whole vibe and legacy is living on through me. Hence “Grandfather.”

Salon Recordings: Where does your inspiration come from? How does a typical Grandfather. track get made?

Grandfather.: I typically work on a project by project basis. I’ll experiment with different techniques until I find a sweet spot. After that, I repeat the same technique until I have a body of work. So all of the tracks on “All For You,”  are made with an almost identical approach. I come from a visual arts background so I approach the music more like a painter; leaning more into the process than what the final composition ends up being. 

Salon Recordings: Sonically, where do you pull from?

Grandfather.: Everything funky.

Rapid fire questions:

Album/Mix you could listen to forever?

Badu’s New Amerykah, Pt. 1 (4th World War)

Album/Mix to start the day with?

I like silence in the mornings but if I have to choose, maybe Feelings by Stefano Torossi or Dot and Loops by Stereolab.

Album/Mix to start the night with?

Depends on the night but let’s go with Parliament’s Mothership Connection.

Artist you'd most like to collaborate with?

Kendrick, Sugafree, Moodymann, Latoiya Williams, anyone I can catch a vibe with really.

Artist we need to tap-in with?

TWIIN, Tairiq Bright and Garfield Bright III.

Favorite piece of studio equipment?

Records, Turntable, Laptop, Korg EM-1, whatever is available.

Non-music essentials for the studio?

Incense, female energy. 

Sesh-killer?

Too much talking, not enough creating. 

Reason for creating?

I have to. It’s my gift and responsibility. 

Something everyone needs in their wardrobe?

Undershirts, we on our grown man over here.

All For You can be streamed on all major platforms.

Make sure to catch Grandfather. the next time he’s spinning in LA. You can find him on IG @dinnerplatesofperfection