Eliot Lipp is a digital pimp - always hard at work. Since gaining prominence after teaming up with hip-hop producer Scott Herren for his first, Lipp hasn’t stopped producing music and touring across the country. His music blends personal favorite genres; electronica, techno, and hip-hop to create an electro-funk explosion for the senses. We talk to Lipp about the joys art school, living in Chicago, and loving Kraftwerk.

Pensatos: Did art school influence your style much?
Eliot Lipp: Yeah I think art school helped me gain a better understanding of my own taste and it taught me the importance of having a unique style. I started out studying painting and eventually I was taking classes in the new genres department where I was studying sound and video. I also took a couple film classes. They have a sound studio at the San Francisco Art Institute and I learned to use some of the programs there and made a lot of recordings.

I’ve never tried to make “dance” music so when I see people getting down it makes me excited.

What made you want to make the move to Chicago?
I dropped out of art school and needed to live somewhere cheap where I could really focus on my music. I came to visit Chicago and I was really feeling it. I met some really cool musicians in Chicago right when I moved there. Telephone Tel Aviv, Vyle, Earmint, Johnny Love, Beau Wanzer, Jeffrey Sfire, Atomly, DJ Autobot (Flosstrodamus) to name a few. I learned a lot from all of them and I really like the music community in Chicago.

It seems like you’ve changed locations a lot during your lifetime. Does the place you live have an impact on your songwriting?
Yes it does, all the different cities I have lived in all have their own unique vibe, music scene, record stores, and artists. Moving to different cities has been a way for me to experience new ideas in music.

Is touring as a DJ any different than the way say, a rock band would tour?
Yes. I don’t have to split the money with three other guys and the stage managers love me… just kidding. I guess it makes traveling easier, and I don’t need to worry about the band breaking up. It’s also different because it makes the visual element of the performance more of a struggle. Doing a solo performance can be tough because you don’t have other musicians to feed off of, but when the crowd is feeling it, it can be pretty special. I’m actually in the process of putting a band together. We have been rehearsing and hope to do some shows this summer. We are starting with live versions of my own music but we plan to write new material as well.

When you prepare a set for a show, do you base it off of what the DJ before you does or do you just go with whatever you feel like?
It depends. With the program I do my sets with (Abelton Live) I’m able to keep it really versatile so I can mix my set around a lot. If the guy before me plays a totally different style I might just jump into my set, but sometimes I’ll mix into what they are doing first.

Doing a solo performance can be tough because you don’t have other musicians to feed off of, but when the crowd is feeling it, it can be pretty special.

Do you do most of your composing on the road or during your time off?
I have been trying to work on the road this year because I haven’t been home much. But I get a lot more done in my studio. I can’t really do much on just my laptop because I don’t use vst’s or plug-ins, I record everything on tape in my studio these days.

Is recording in your studio overall a better experience?
Yeah I love my studio. It’s in a Soho basement and I love that neighborhood. I can’t get phone reception or Internet access down there so I am only able to focus on my music.

There seems to be a lot of hip-hop elements to your music. Have any other bands or genres molded your work?
Yes, I was really into IDM for a while and groups like Plaid, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Brothemstates etc. I love Detroit techno and electro. Juan Atkins, Carl Craig, Aux 88, Drexciya. I’ve been into jazz for a long time Herbie Hancock, Gary Burton, Chik Corea, Miles Davis, etc. And I love Kraftwerk.

What does it feel like watching people dance and connect to your music while you play a set?
It’s awesome! I’ve never tried to make “dance” music so when I see people getting down it makes me excited.