In an interview with Digital Trends, Flying Lotus grapples with space exploration, explains his decision to act, and reminisces about his artistic hero.
The world lost a giant in January with the passing of David Lynch. How can you describe the career of a legend in only a few short sentences? For Grammy winner Flying Lotus, Lynch was the definition of a creative. “He was the most important artist to me,” Flying Lotus said of Lynch. Flying Lotus collaborated with Lynch on his song Fire Is Coming. Now, Flying Lotus channels his inner Lynch for his new directorial effort, Ash.
On a distant planet, astronaut Riya (Eiza González) wakes up and discovers that her entire crew has been slaughtered. When Brion (Aaron Paul) arrives at the space station after receiving a distress signal, Riya contemplates every possibility. How did this happen? Is she a killer? Is Brion lying? Whatever the answer, Riya must figure it out quickly. She doesn’t want to be around if the thing that slaughtered the crew returns.
In an interview with Digital Trends, Flying Lotus grapples with space exploration, explains his decision to act in the film, and reminisces about his artistic hero.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Digital Trends: I actually just spoke to Aaron and Eiza, and they specifically said, “Please let Flying Lotus know we love him.” That is their message to you.
Flying Lotus: Aw, they’re so sweet. I love them, too. They’re so good. They’re so good.
Eiza actually said something fascinating to me. She saw Ash and survival horrors in general as sports movies.
Oh, wow.
With how physical you have to be and the journey you go on from one point to another, I want to throw that line towards you.
That’s interesting. Yeah. I could see it. This movie was not easy on her. It took a toll — I could tell — having to go to psychological places as well as physical places. After a while, it was starting to really beat her up. But that’s what the movie is, right? When you sign up for it, you know you’re going to go home sticky. [Laughs] You know, it’s not gonna be a fun comedy ride. But man, it ain’t easy. Not at all.
I love one of the lines in the film when the team’s looking out at the planet.
