Diplo discussed how he channels his negative emotions into creativity and praised queer artists for changing the face of music in a candid interview with Attitude Magazine.
The DJ and producer, 41, who appears on the May cover with and is interviewed alongside country singer Orville Peck, opens up about his creative process and how he deals with loneliness.
Discussing how his emotions aid his work, he said: ‘I think the more you have to deal with your emotions, like the heavier they are, you’re going to have a stronger sense of being a creator and creating.
Getting creative: Diplo discussed how he channels his negative emotions into creativity and praised queer artists for changing the face of music in a candid interview with Attitude Magazine
‘The people I meet that are the strongest creators, they’re always teetering on, like almost losing their minds… I’ve always found that, too, in myself. Of course I deal with loneliness. I deal with emotion all the time. I channel, I write lyrics as well for others.
‘Some of the songs I’ve worked on, I do find it a fine line to balance how far can you go, and how far do you have to go to seek help even for your problems. I think it’s something we could talk about as well. But I do find a level of emotional instability and a level of creativity being hand-in-hand.’
The star, real name Thomas Wesley Pentz, also praised queer artists for their influence on modern music, praising their ‘fearlessness’
He said; ‘It’s always been the queer artists that have changed the way music exists. The original guys who were creating hip-hop were queer. House music, Baltimore Club, New Orleans bounce music – every time there’s a genre that falls out of nothing, it’s always been kind of like the queer scene that created that.
Discussing how his emotions aid his work, he said: ‘I think the more you have to deal with your emotions, like the heavier they are, you’re going to have a stronger sense of being a creator and creating’
‘It’s always been in the underground. It’s like Vogue that Madonna put out, and she’s always shown respect and love, but it’s always been the queer community who have to scratch it out of nothing. I think that’s back to the fearlessness because when you have that energy — the masculine energy, the feminine — you’re taking all the risks because there’s nothing to lose.
‘I think it might be challenging for some straight men, but for queer artists it’s kind of second nature. They’re able to go wherever they want and, like I said, there’s no walls.’
Diplo and Orville revealed they had struck up a friendship ‘in the DMs’ back in January and attended the Grammys 2020 together.
Candid: The DJ and producer, 41, who appears on the May cover with and is interviewed alongside country singer Orville Peck, opens up about his creative process and how he deals with loneliness
On Orville, Diplo said: ‘When I saw him pushing the envelope, I was like, ‘Damn, I love that.’ He forced his way in. Now, everybody is paying attention. When we went to the Grammys together everybody was just pushing me out the way to get to him. I realised right then his impact was really big.’
Last week Diplo revealed he was social distancing himself from his young sons after being in contact with ‘hundreds of people’ amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The star made the difficult decision to stay away from his two sons Lockett, nine, and Lazer, five, as he can’t be certain he isn’t carrying the virus, and doesn’t want to spread it to them or their grandmother.
Taking to Instagram, the star shared a video of himself and his sons pressing their hands to either side of a glass door separating them as he wrote: ‘My sons are too young to understand the complexities of what’s happening.
Pals: Diplo and Orville revealed they had struck up a friendship ‘in the DMs’ back in January and attended the Grammys 2020 together
‘But they aren’t anxious and nervous like the rest of us. They live in a house with their grandmother who is the most vulnerable.
I have been in contact with hundreds of people in the past four weeks… And I’m staying away from the house until I am cleared of the virus.’ [sic]
Diplo has admitted it ‘hurts’ to be away from his offspring, but is making a ‘sacrifice’ to ensure those around him are ‘safe’.
In a follow-up post, the star, who shares his sons with former partner Kathryn Lockhart, insisted that the best way to combat the virus for everyone to assume they’re infected and then take the necessary precautions.