Q&A: This is Ses Flow
“I think the most important goal for 2024 is to be able to continue expressing my new way of seeing Lofi with my new sound without fear, just enjoying what comes out of my new way of composing and stop thinking if what I made sounds good or if it sounds bad.” - Ses Flow
It was a pleasure to recently interview Ses Flow! We discuss his interesting musical beginnings, new music, the Chilean music scene, and his musical goals for 2024. I’m a big fan of his and I definitely learned a lot about the man behind the beats! Be sure to check out the playlist below at the end and continue to support his future work!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How did you get started making music?
I remember that I was in school and at that time I listened to a lot of reggaeton. I must say that I come from there when the album "Los Extraterrestres" by Wisin & Yandel had just come out. I remember that the sounds of that album blew my mind and that album changed my life, literally. Also, at that time was when I discovered FL Studio and music production.
This caused my life to revolve around music and where later I could study something related to music. In fact, I am a sound technician and in this way I started making music always in front of a DAW and always in front of FL Studio. It has never abandoned me; I must say I think I have always had rhythm and therefore it was not difficult for me to put together patterns.
Having studied sound also caused me to have notions of musical theory; therefore I know something about musical scales and chords. In short, these are my beginnings.
You’re actually the second Chilean lofi hip hop artist that I’ve interviewed! Do you know Ludwig del Pino or are you familiar with his work?
Yes, I know Ludwig, not personally, but I do know that he is Chilean. His music is great. I have been able to listen to it and I have saved some of his beats in my playlists, haha. I must say that I love that there are people from Chile doing Lofi; I no longer feel like I'm on an island, haha. I think it will always be good to have compatriots in this beautiful musical genre.
Your latest album “Transition” is awesome! What was the recording process like?
"Transition" literally is a transition from one way of making Lofi to another and this has to do with a sonic identity that I found which I was working on throughout 2023. Of course I had these beats, the ones that make up the album, which are a remnant of my old way of composing Lofi, and I put them together and decided to release them as an album. The truth is that the process of composing these beats was very fun for me since music has no rules or limits. Therefore I play, I venture, what the result will be, I am always expectant of the result, but a lot has to do with letting myself be led by the beat as far as it will take me.
How does Chile influence your music?
Wow, in Chile there is a lot of music and there is also a lot of hip hop that's very great. The truth is that I draw inspiration from many genres, but obviously from Chilean hip hop. It's pure fire bro. I'm serious. There is a lot of flow on the streets of Chile and in the end, they are an inspiration for me and for my art. I admire Chilean rappers; their lyrics, the rhymes, the way they look at society and its processes. It's something I learn from them every day; the way they look at life and how to make music.
Tell me about your latest single “11:11”.
"11:11" is the way I express a process in my life and it is where I find myself in these moments now. I am leaving behind one way of looking at life for another. I must say that it has not been easy, but this makes me understand that before being artists or producers we are people, human beings, and therefore this transcends my music and it will affect me at some point. This is "11:11", a different way of looking at life, with nuances and full of colors and in fact, that is why this beat has atmospheres, textures and layers, which in the end sound like nebulas because I wanted to represent "life" with its colors.
What are your musical goals for 2024?
I think the most important goal for 2024 is to be able to continue expressing my new way of seeing Lofi with my new sound without fear, just enjoying what comes out of my new way of composing and stop thinking if what I made sounds good or if it sounds bad. Just enjoy the process. Honestly, that's what I wish for this year, to just enjoy my new way of making Lofi.
Who are some lofi hip hop artists that you admire?
I think I have two great references in Lofi. The first is Tesk. This guy makes some great beats; the groove, the swing, and the flow are brutal. The sound he uses is very organic, real and dirty, and of course everything with the jazzy vibe. This guy is truly a genius.
My second reference is Nokiaa. I must say that I have not found anyone who applies stereo expansion like this guy, haha. It's crazy. When I heard it for the first time, I was like "Wow, what is this?". This guy inspired me to add elements to my beats that I thought couldn't be used. He really is a pioneer.