Flume Teams Up with JPEGMAFIA on ’We Live In A Society’

Flume and JPEGMAFIA’s new effort is a 16-minute project filled with plenty of twists and surprises.

Flume has long tested the boundaries of the electronic music genre. Though his sound has evolved and taken new forms, there’s still no mistaking a Flume record — his warped synths, unexpected drops, and jagged edits.

In his latest line of experimentation, the Australian producer has teamed up with rapper and producer JPEGMAFIA on We Live In A Society, a 16-minute effort that’s filled with plenty of twists and surprises.

The four-track EP kicks off as a parody, showcasing the back-and-forth banter between the two friends in their struggle to find a beat that fits both of their styles. At one point, JPEGMAFIA jokes that Flume isn’t doing a great job and that he might “have to call Fred again…” It’s chaotic and self-aware — more sketch than song.

Through the rough cuts and off-key notes, the pair end their rhythmic pursuit in glitchy and kinetic territory, setting the stage for the three tracks that follow. The second record, “Is It Real” featuring Ravyn Lenae, struts between JPEGMAFIA’s stretched, auto-tuned vocals and Ravyn’s clean, graceful tone. Flume’s production puts the song in overdrive, as punchy and distorted synths hit with ridiculous speed, sweeping you off your feet without any warning.

“AI Girlfriend” pivots to a slower tempo to reflect the song’s somber message. Though the emo-rap number features a relatively simple drum pattern, it relies heavily on a wobbling and aggressive synths to accentuate the vocalist’s anger and discontent with his partner. JPEGMAFIA’s delivery here is especially raw. His processed voice lingers in that uncomfortable emotional space between sarcasm and sincerity.

The first three tracks, however, feel a bit like a tug of war between the two producers, one shining more than the other on one record, and then the roles being reversed on the next. The two friends finally find success in their tinkering on the final song, “The Ocean Is Fake.”

Unlike the opener, we quickly find harmony here: the bass and synths don’t overshadow JPEGMAFIA’s initial hushed, drifting vocals, and the dreamy soundscapes don’t dial up your senses. “Did you catch that?” JPEGMAFIA says halfway through the song. Flume replies with a “Yeah.” This small but powerful moment signifies a result of working through creative friction — not a compromise, but a connection.

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