Korean-American hip-hop artist FLANNEL ALBERT has created a special event to celebrate his birthday. Aptly called FLANNEL DAY, the event takes place in New York and showcases local and independent talent, allowing them a chance to perform for a local audience and possibly make connections with other artists and interested industry folk. This is the festival’s second year, and with an impressive roster that includes Filthy the Kid (Albert’s partner in duo DIRTY LAUNDRY) and Kendyle Paige (former contestant on popular survival show “The Four”), it’s already shaping up to be even more memorable than the inaugural event.
Albert took time out of a recent trip to India to answer some questions for us about the event’s origins and its future possibilities.
What
What was the impetus to starting FLANNEL DAY?
FLANNEL ALBERT: I had been doing a few shows here and there in the city—and it was fun and all, but I never got a chance to really make it my own and call all the shots. Even when I first started making music, I just had this vision of a show/festival where I’d get to put in as much as I wanted creatively. Tyler (the Creator) has Camp Flog Gnaw, Chance (the Rapper) had Magnificent Coloring Day. I want to make my own thing that’ll one day turn into the event of the summer. And for these things to grow, you gotta start somewhere.
And if we’re being completely honest, I wanted to have a show around my birthday to get more people to come out. I’m pretty sure it’s a tactic used by many artists that are just starting out—guilting your friends into coming out because it’s your birthday is the way to go!
Your description is very concise and really focused on giving artists exposure and the chance to make critical industry connections. Did you always have this clear concept of what you wanted to accomplish with FLANNEL DAY?
Hmmm, I wouldn’t say the show is really a way to gain exposure per se .. maybe in the future when it’s a little bit more established and widespread. For now, it’s more of a central location where creatives can meet and enjoy performances from some of my favorite local artists. The New York creative scene has been mad generous, and I want to connect all the people I’ve met in my time here—I want my different worlds to collide.
This is probably a dumb question, but why did you name it after yourself?
Because “Albert Day” didn’t have the same ring to it.
Where
Do you want to keep it local to New York, or do you plan to expand FLANNEL DAY nationally (or even worldwide)?
That’s a good question. I think there will always only be one FLANNEL DAY a year, and I think I’d like to keep it in New York. Portland is home, I’ve lived in Korea, and I might be somewhere else in the future, but New York is really where I started taking the artist thing seriously. It’ll always be special because of that, and I think having FLANNEL DAY here helps commemorate that. Hopefully we can get Randall’s Island one day.
Who
Your roster is made up of all independent artists, which you know I absolutely love, the exception maybe this year with Kendyle Paige. Do you want to keep this as a venue for independent artists, or do you plan to showcase more widely known artists?
In the future, I don’t want the signed/unsigned artist thing to matter. Sure, I’d like big names on there (and hopefully I’ll be a big name myself), but no matter what happens, I always want to be on the lookout for up-and-coming artists and showcase them. Festivals these days have huuuuge lineups, ranging from mid-size independent acts to your superstars, but I’d like FLANNEL DAY to have some more cohesion. My ultimate dream is to really curate the setlists—perhaps have some of the headliners collaborate with some of the smaller acts on a song beforehand so different artists can share the stage.
Okay, so thank you for introducing me to NanaBcool (DAMN!). Could you briefly explain how you met all your guests? And for a weird twist on the question, how did you meet FLANNEL ALBERT? (You know I had to throw in the existential/Freudian question just for you.)
I met Filthy the Kid through a mutual friend, and he really plugged me in to the whole Korean hip-hop community in New York. He seriously knows everyone. We’ve collaborated on a lot of shit together, the most notable being ‘Asian Glow.’ One of my fondest memories with him is trying to do Korean BBQ INSIDE my old apartment and setting all the smoke detectors off. I had to whack the alarms off the ceiling with my Swiffer—it took like 15 minutes.
NoCoast is a group of artists that go to my alma mater (Amherst College). The hip-hop scene really grew after I graduated, and it was really cool to see them lead the charge. They mix live instruments in with their performances and have a really unique sound—nothing is off limits to them.
I met Kendyle Paige through Majorstage, which is a booking company I work closely with. They had this idea to release a collaborative tape with some of their more prominent artists, and Kendyle and I got paired up. It turns out she was on that show, ‘The Four.’ I remember her coming into the studio to record her verse for ‘Centerfold.’ My jaw dropped. She basically did it in one take.
I’d heard a lot about NanaBCool. He’s pretty well known in the NY music scene and rightfully so. We formally met at the Alumni store opening in Flushing, and I let him know I was a fan. His whole R&B/rap fusion is right up my alley, so I asked him to be a part of FLANNEL DAY and he was down. I think we ended up going out later that night and someone puked on his shoes.
I met DJ Poon through a friend. Actually, I haven’t met him in person yet, but I’m sure he’s cool. Apparently his real name is Lawrence.
Regarding your existential question—as much as I would love to sit down and examine it, I am jetlagged from my trip to India, so maybe we should save that for a phone interview, so that you have to transcribe the inevitable tangent I go off on (muhahahaha).
You say that the artists you’ve invited are those you have worked with or are currently working with. Does that mean that we can expect more collaborations in the future? Can you tell us anything about that?
Filthy the Kid and I have obviously collaborated before and will continue to do so. Look out for more Dirty Laundry stuff in the future. NoCoast and I have a surprise in the works for Saturday. Kendyle and I have ‘Centerfold,’ which is #3 on the Beats and Rhymes Spotify playlist (as of this interview). Nana and I don’t have anything planned yet, but our sounds fit too perfectly together not to, so I will be hitting him up about something soon.
Any more information you want to add about the day?
If you don’t come you’re an L7 Weenie!
As a special promo for the event, DM Albert on Instagram with proof of your ticket purchase (and birthday wishes) and you’ll get $2 off your ticket! FLANNEL DAY takes place on August 4 from 8 pm to 11 pm. It’s a 21 and over event, so be sure to have your ID handy.
Line-Up:
FLANNEL ALBERT, Filthy the Kid, Kendyle Paige, NanaBcool, Nocoast, DJ Poon
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