Loraine James’ Reflection stood out as one of 2021’s most inventive releases. As a self-identified IDM producer, she’s singlehandedly propelled the (somewhat musty) category into an entirely new era, swapping out dated sci-fi references for sonic blueprints drawn from drill and R&B, and substituting the genre’s implied superiority for an endearing sense of vulnerability.
James’ latest project, Whatever The Weather, further explores the cerebral, glitched-out aesthetic that marked her previous work while taking fruitful detours into vaporous textures and pensive ambience. It may be released on a new label and under a new alias, but this is more than just a side project: it’s served as an opportunity for the producer to explore improvisatory approaches and unexpected influences that didn’t feel as if they belonged to her self-titled work. We caught up with James ahead of the album’s release to find out more.
What was the thinking behind your decision to create a new alias for this album?
