Flying Lotus’ 1983 Returns with Remastered Reissue for Record Store Day

REMASTERED AUDIO RELEASING ON STREAMING PLATFORMS OFFICIALLY ON 4/17

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DELUXE PACKAGE VINYL AS PART OF RECORD STORE DAY 4/18

Flying Lotus’s debut album, 1983, will be remastered and released on streaming platforms on April 17, with a limited vinyl edition following on April 18 as part of Record Store Day.

Released via Brainfeeder Records, the reissue marks a full-circle moment for Steve Ellison, revisiting the project that first introduced his distinctive sound.

Originally released in 2006, 1983 captures the earliest stage of Ellison’s creative development, recorded in the intimate setting of his grandmother’s home. Even in its initial form, the album reflects a layered approach to production, blending influences from J Dilla, jazz traditions, and Brazilian rhythmic structures.

A key moment in shaping that rhythmic sensibility came during a trip to Brazil. As Ellison recalls:

“It flipped my whole wig,”

While 1983 marks the beginning of Flying Lotus’s discography, its approach to sound collage and genre-blending laid the groundwork for later projects such as Cosmogramma, Until the Quiet Comes, and You’re Dead!.

Encouraged early on by collaborators and label support, Ellison was pushed toward experimentation.

“Give us the weird shit,” He recalls being told.

That ethos would go on to define a body of work that continues to influence contemporary electronic and experimental music.

The remastered edition of 1983 will be released digitally on April 17. The vinyl version will follow on April 18 for Record Store Day, available as a limited-edition gold splatter LP in an iridescent metallic sleeve with embossing, featuring artwork by Brandy Flower and design by Adam Stover.

Over the past two decades, Flying Lotus has remained a central figure in shaping the development of electronic, jazz, and experimental music.

In addition to his solo work, Ellison founded Brainfeeder Records, supporting artists such as Thundercat, George Clinton, and Kamasi Washington, and contributing to projects including Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly.

Beyond his well-known musical work, Ellison co-wrote, directed, and scored a segment for the acclaimed found footage horror anthology V/H/S 99. His film Ash, which stars Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) and Eiza González (3 Body Problem), and for which he served as both director and composer, was released earlier this year. He also composed music, served as an executive producer on the Netflix anime series Yasuke, and created the theme for Apple's documentary about Magic Johnson, They Call Me Magic.

In fall 2024, he delighted fans with the lively, house-inspired Spirit Box EP featuring Dawn Richard and Sid Sriram. This transition highlights Ellison’s ability to transcend expectations, genres, and mediums, showcasing his unpredictable creativity.

Preorder/Save 1983 HERE

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