Big Gigantic sat down with us to discuss their latest album, Fluorescence, their evolution, and the impact of their Rowdytown event.
Dominic Lalli and Jeremy Salken, better known as Big Gigantic, have been lighting up dancefloors with their infectious electronic dance tracks for nearly two decades. Seamlessly blending dance music elements with percussion and Lalli’s signature saxophone serenades, the duo have created a zealous fan base through their unique production style.
Throughout their evolution as a duo, the genre-defying pair have explored their sound throughout sub genres, while creating uplifting and dance-forward tunes. Their latest addition to their substantial discography, Fluorescence, marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Big Gigantic project. Headed by singles “Free Spirits” and “Move Around,” the full-length studio album incorporates Big Gigantic’s beloved funk elements while digging deeper into their aptitude for creating emotive soundscapes.
In an exclusive interview, EDM Identity sat down with Big Gigantic to chat about the production process of Fluorescence, collaborations, and their upcoming US tour. Keep reading along for a glimpse into the minds of this dynamic duo.
Stream Big Gigantic – Fluorescence on Spotify:
Fluorescence, your tenth studio project, seems to usher in a new era for the Big Gigantic project. What themes or emotions were you aiming to express through the album, and how do you see it evolving your sound?
Dominic Lalli: One of our most popular albums is Brighter Future, and that was released several years ago. I was looking for what happens after Brighter Future, and what I came to was the word fluorescence. Fluorescence is the light that happened after the Brighter Future, so that was kind of the theme for the album.
All of these tracks feel like some of my best work in terms of production and songs. It’s just a really great, feel-good album. I think all 12 tracks really seamlessly fit together from front to back and hit a lot of our original sound, along with some of the funkier stuff that we’ve gotten into over the past few years. It feels like a real full-circle album for us.
The album features two fresh tracks with ProbCause, an artist you’ve collaborated with before. What draws you to continue working with certain collaborators, and what inspires you to build upon those creative relationships?
DL: ProbCause is not only super talented, he’s also easy to work with. Last year, around when we did Red Rocks in September, the song “Hyperreal” was already in the works. We ended up having Prob out for the show to be one of the featured special guests. He came out, did a bunch of our old songs with us, and some of the new stuff.
After the weekend was over, he ended up sticking around town. He’s like, “Hey, I’m around if you want to jump in the studio.” I had the “Highway” beat that I was sitting on, so he came over and we got to make that track and flesh out the way the whole song was going to come about.
Fluorescence showcases a wide range of genres, from electro-soul to the stutter house vibes of “Free Spirits” and the funky dubstep energy on “Woohaa.” How do you craft a cohesive album from such a plethora of sounds?
DL: All of our albums hit a lot of different genres. I think when we play live, we also do the same thing, where we’re not just playing bass music or house music or funky electro soul. We kind of hit it all. Maybe that wasn’t the norm back in the day, but now that’s just what we do. I think some of the bass sounds kind of connect the whole album. A lot of the toplines and vocals meld into these drops, keeping everything flowing together.
The album strikes a great balance between festival-ready bangers and introspective tracks like “Show Me” that offer a deeper listening experience. Do you prioritize one style over the other? Or do you simply follow what feels right in the moment?
DL: I think I follow what feels right and makes me feel the best, you know? There could have been more listenable songs, but it just kind of turned out the way it did. I took the tracks that felt the best to me and put them on the album.
What began as a sold-out headline show at Red Rocks has evolved into an annual tradition drawing thousands of fans. How does it feel to be gearing up for your 13th edition of Rowdytown this September?
Jeremy Salken: Red Rocks is the best venue in the world, and we love playing there. It feels like we’re coming home. The fact that we’re on the 13th year is pretty crazy. We’ve gotten to play there so many times, and it’s really fun seeing familiar faces. A lot of people have been to all of them. A handful have met their significant other there and now they’re married. It’s cool when we do it, and seeing fans and hearing stories about the lineage of Rowdytown.
We’re super stoked for this year, and we’re going to put on a crazy show. Maddy O’Neal is opening. We’re doing two sets: a bring back the funk set and then a classic Big G rager.
DL: A Lot of special guests and surprises coming, so it’s going to be a good one.
Rowdytown is just one stop on your upcoming Florescence Tour. What can fans expect from this run of shows as you promote your new album?
DL: We’re obviously going to be playing all the music from our new album, along with the classics and the hits. We always really go above and beyond when we do go out on tour and do our live show. It’s going to be a super fun show, and we have some great openers we haven’t announced yet who are going to be coming along.
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