Ford Models Fashion

Fashion and music are inseparable. They’ve been playing off each other well before David Bowie recorded the tune “Fashion” or Duran Duran sang “Girls on Film.” With this in mind we will occasionally feature interviews with people in music that embody the qualities that we so admire. – Ford Models News Editor

Since the runway season ended it has been a minute since I have written about editorials on the regular. It has been even longer still since this page has featured a musician interview. Some six months ago I had the privilege of spending an hour with William Bensussen also more widely known by his recording and stage name as The Gaslamp Killer or simply GLK. The Los Angeles DJ and producer at the time was in town with A-Trak for the Magic 8-Ball Tour and was kind enough to pay a visit to the agency on Fifth Avenue. The preceding year and a half for GLK was nothing short of extraordinary what with him having collaborated with vocalist Gonjasufi and fellow producer Flying Lotus to create the critically acclaimed LP A Sufi and a Killer, an album hailed by The Wire as one of the top 50 records of 2010. GLK has since gone on to release the Death Gate EP, tour, and hold down his residency for the weekly Los Angeles party known as Low End Theory. Held at the Air Liner in Lincoln Heights, Low End Theory is a weekly showcase of experimental hip hop and electronic music that five years ago was cofounded by GLK, along with Alphapup label head Daddy Kev, DJ Nobody, MC Nocando, and D-Styles. The no-frills party (GLK was quick to highlight the its no-VIP, no-backstage policy) is in many ways evocative of GLK’s approach to music, which puts an emphasis on hard beats, psychedelia, and raw soundtrack-style arrangements. This approach extends into GLK’s stage presence, where he cuts a figure that is far closer to late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton than any cerebral “knob-twister,” that much-maligned figure of electronic music. The sight of GLK headbanging to his own set could not provide a more compelling endorsement of the appropriately designated “dirt wave” mix rattling the stage speakers not to mention a striking counterpoint to the courtly DJ toiling behind a phalanx of Macbooks. Los Angeles has been popping musically for a few years now and GLK is one of the reasons why. With all this in mind, The Gaslamp Killer was invited to the agency for this interview special.

Please watch the below video interview with The Gaslamp Killer and also click through the slide show underneath it. You can also keep up with The Gaslamp Killer by following him on Twitter.

The Gaslamp Killer visits Ford Models (Video: Damien Neva)