music influence explorer
Music discovery · Influence explorer

Artists like Flying Lotus — and the music that made them

Electronic/Beat Music · 2006-present
Electronic jazz fusion pioneer blending beats with cosmic consciousness
Steven Ellison, aka Flying Lotus, is a Los Angeles producer who revolutionized electronic music by weaving together jazz, hip-hop, and experimental soundscapes into a uniquely cinematic experience. As Alice Coltrane's great-nephew, he carries forward a spiritual jazz legacy while pushing boundaries through his Brainfeeder label and collaborations with artists like Kendrick Lamar and Thundercat.
Essential tracks
Do the Astral Plane
Never Catch Me
Zodiac Shit
Did you know
He's the great-nephew of jazz legend Alice Coltrane and grandnephew of John Coltrane
Created the Adult Swim bumpers that became iconic parts of late-night TV culture
Directed the surreal horror film 'Kuso' starring Hannibal Buress and George Clinton
“Jazz-fusion meets glitchy electronics in kaleidoscopic, genre-defying sonic collages.”
2
generations
of influence
Influence tree
Trace Flying Lotus's roots back through history
Every sound has a source. Click any node to hear the connection.
Flying Lotus
2006-present
J Dilla
1996-2006
cited
Aphex Twin
1991-present
cited
Alice Coltrane
1967-2004
cited
John Coltrane
1955-1967
cited
Sun Ra
1952-1993
sonic
Miles Davis
1944-1991
sonic
Herbie Hancock
1961-present
sonic
Pierre Schaeffer
1940s-1980s
movement
↑ Click any influence node to see the connection and where to start listening.
What makes the sound
Sonic elements
Complex polyrhythmic programming
Jazz fusion harmonies and improvisation
Glitchy digital manipulation
Cinematic atmospheric textures
Start with these tracks
Do the Astral Plane
Zodiac Shit
Never Catch Me
Parisian Goldfish
If you like Flying Lotus, try these
Thundercat
Fellow Brainfeeder artist blending jazz fusion with electronic textures.
2010s · Jazz-Fusion
Aphex Twin
Complex rhythmic programming and experimental electronic sound design.
1990s · IDM
Squarepusher
Jazz-influenced drum programming with intricate electronic composition.
1990s · IDM
Madlib
Sample-based production with jazz influences and abstract hip-hop sensibilities.
2000s · Hip-Hop
Boards of Canada
Nostalgic sampling techniques and atmospheric electronic soundscapes.
1990s · IDM
BadBadNotGood
Jazz instrumentation with hip-hop rhythms and electronic production elements.
2010s · Jazz-Hip-Hop
About this page

Music like Flying Lotus — Steven Ellison, aka Flying Lotus, is a Los Angeles producer who revolutionized electronic music by weaving together jazz, hip-hop, and experimental soundscapes into a uniquely cinematic experience. As Alice Coltrane's great-nephew, he carries forward a spiritual jazz legacy while pushing boundaries through his Brainfeeder label and collaborations with artists like Kendrick Lamar and Thundercat.

Artists like Flying Lotus today include Thundercat, Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Madlib. If you enjoy Flying Lotus, these artists share similar sonic qualities, influences, and emotional range.

Bands like Flying Lotus and songs like Flying Lotus are among the most searched music discovery queries — rootz.guru goes deeper by tracing the roots of the sound itself, not just surface-level similarity.