Erick the Architect talks Apple cameo, new single and old gadgets
The Flatbush Zombies producer told The Verge he is exploring a lighter sound while still missing BlackBerry keyboards and offline music players.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Erick the Architect is putting a new spotlight on his solo work after an unexpected Apple appearance and the release of a new single. In an interview with The Verge published July 4, the Flatbush Zombies producer described a creative stretch that pairs new musical experiments with a strong pull toward older, less distracting tech.
The Verge identifies Erick as a founding member and primary producer of Flatbush Zombies. The outlet noted that his career has included global touring, performances on Jimmy Kimmel’s and Jimmy Fallon’s shows, a Coachella set and collaborations with Joey Bada$$, RZA, James Blake and hardcore punk band Trash Talk.
His most recent high-profile collaboration came with Apple, The Verge reported. Erick appeared after Tim Cook’s final WWDC presentation and performed a rap about apps, a moment that preceded the release of his new single, “No Doubt (I’m In Love).”
A brighter turn in sound
The new track was produced by Yeti Beats and Federico Vindver, according to The Verge. The outlet described the song as drawing on disco and reggae, a shift from the darker and more boom-bap-rooted production style Erick is often associated with.
Erick told The Verge that one of the projects he remains proudest of is “Almost Remembered,” which he released in 2011. He said that project pushed him toward the music he later learned to make and gave him the confidence to keep working as both a producer and artist.
He also pointed to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” when asked what he wished he had created, telling The Verge he admired how unusual the song is and how hard it is to compare to a single other work.
Old devices still have a hold
The Verge’s interview also showed Erick’s attachment to tactile and offline tools. Asked about his most indispensable tool, he named a Moleskine notebook and a pen, and he said Dropbox is usually the first app he installs on a new phone or computer because of the large number of files he stores online.
Erick told The Verge he wishes modern phones still offered the physical typing experience he had on a BlackBerry. He named the fourth-generation iPod as his favorite gadget and the Nokia N-Gage gaming phone as his biggest tech disappointment.
For games, Erick singled out “Resident Evil 4” on GameCube, according to The Verge. He associated the game with long sessions on a large tube television and said he believes he became especially good at it.
He was less enthusiastic about virtual reality, telling The Verge he is not a fan of wearing devices over his eyes to alter what he sees. His tab bar, according to the interview, includes ESPN, Behance, MyFonts, Fanatics, Topps, eBay, Discord, UPS, FedEx, Whatnot and Plex, and he had 15 tabs open at the time.
Turning the phone off
Erick told The Verge that when he needs to focus, or when he feels stuck, he turns off his phone or acts as if he no longer has one. He said he regularly takes walks without it and uses a digital audio player that has no internet connection so he can listen to music without texts, emails or social media interruptions.
His current interests include comic books, The Verge reported. He said he recently bought records at VinylCon and has been collecting “Absolute Batman” and “Invincible” comics, while also saying food and collectibles are worth spending extra money on.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.