The Left Field Experiment turns three

Without an audience, the artist does not exist. Talent becomes stagnate when there is no stage, no venue, and no bridge between isolated creativity and fans yearning to rally around new sounds. For three years, Brannon Boyle and the Difference Machine’s Dr. Conspiracy have risked failure and financial loss to support the Left Field Experiment, one of Atlanta’s only showcases for experimental electronic music and psychedelic hip-hop. But what’s even more crucial than providing consistently stellar shows, Left Field’s greatest achievement has been summoning producers and rappers out of the woodwork to craft a new community. Traveling artists typically headline, but Left Field uses the local talents of the Morkestra, Divine Interface, Obeah, Knumbskull, and Conspiracy as resident DJs, with dub effects courtesy of Saude and hosting duties led by DT of the Difference Machine. Boyle and Dr. Conspiracy, who also co-run Psych Army Intergalactic Records, sat down to talk about Left Field’s inspirations, hardships, and most notable moments.

Why did you feel that Left Field was necessary?

Brannon Boyle: Originally there wasn’t really a scene for instrumental hip-hop in Atlanta. We were throwing Free Acid, which was a psychedelic showcase at 529, but we were both more into hip-hop so it seemed like the natural thing to do.

Dr. Conspiracy: We wanted to give a place for producers in Atlanta to actually perform beat sets, which didn’t really exist in a lot of spaces. We wanted to book artists that we liked, and our friends liked too, but they weren’t really getting booked anywhere else in Atlanta.

BB: We had a lot of brainstorming sessions beforehand, and then we flew out to L.A. to check out the Low End Theory, which is a weekly electronic showcase that’s been going on for years, and we took some ideas and inspiration from that and incorporated them into Left Field.

What hurdles have you faced trying to promote Left Field?

BB: Our first four shows were completely free, and we just wanted to bring people out and spread the word around at first.

DC: Time Wharp headlined our first show, and we had a pretty good crowd come out, especially when people like HeRobust started getting more popular.

BB: It can get really expensive flying people out from L.A. and the West Coast.

You guys also started incorporating rappers and MCs into Left Field. Have you seen Atlanta’s electronic and hip-hop scenes start to unify?

BB: There are some shows where a certain crowd will come out for a more electronic show, and then you have shows like Supa Dave West where it’s a totally different crowd coming out. I could draw a time line of Left Field shows and point to which shows a particular crowd came out to.

DC: I remember we talked about that problem initially. We wanted to try and bring some of the ravers into Left Field, but they only seemed to want to come out if 20 of their friends were going to a show.

BB: One time the QUAD actually invited some Psych Army DJs to come out and play for an hour on a Saturday night, and everyone in there seemed to actually enjoy it.

It seems strange that people who are into experimental electronic and instrumental hip-hop wouldn’t come to hear hip-hop live.

BB: And vice versa. Especially since a lot of these hip-hop producers like Black Milk and Supa Dave West perform live beat sets as opposed to more straightforward rap shows.

Why have you kept Left Field at 529?

BB: It’s perfect. No other place in Atlanta has such a good sound system with the level of intimacy 529 has.

What were some of the most memorable Left Field performances?

BB: The Teebs show where it was sold out was awesome. We had just toured Left Field around to Athens and Asheville with Sonnymoon and Time Wharp and his Atlanta show was his homecoming performance.

DC: Yeah, that show was crazy. The KutMasta Kurt show didn’t have a lot of people come out, but his performance was really dope.

What do you look for in your ideal Left Field headliner?

BB: Psychedelic hip-hop.

DC: Anyone who’s dope, really. We encourage anyone to send their music to us, and there’s no guarantee we’ll put you on the bill, but if we like your music we’ll book you regardless of your popularity or following.

What goals do you have for Left Field in the future?

BB: Honestly, we just want to keep doing what we’re doing. I mean we’ve already booked so many talented people that we’re huge fans of.

DC: We want to take it to the moon!

4 Left Field MVPs weigh in

Over the last three years the Left Field Experiment has hosted a diverse cast of producers, MCs, rappers, and visual artists. The MVPs reflect on how the monthly psychedelic hip-hop institution has shaped their music.

HeRobust: “Simply put, Left Field gave us all a place to go. Downtempo beat music has always had passionate supporters, but the style of music suffers from a lack of organized events. Without events to unite like-minded people, no scene develops and no cultural movement occurs.”

10th Letter: “Left Field for me is like a monthly dose of inspiration. More than just the performances, the crowd makes Left Field so inspiring. I’ve had some unforgettable conversations outside 529. Conversations that you go home and write music about for days.”

Deku: “Before Left Field existed, a lot of us produced in our bedrooms and stayed there. It wasn’t until Left Field that we had a true home and a place to share our stuff with each other. It was actually Left Field that was the catalyst for me to finally put out my first EP, Beginner’s Luck, because I felt like it would find an audience after seeing all of the love in the room the first handful of Left Fields.”

DT of the Difference Machine: “Left Field is always dope and different. The Supa Dave West show stands out because there was an electric vibe that night and lots of fam were there. Posdnuos from De La Soul came out and rocked, Count Bass D was there, Andre 3000 was there. It was amazing to see so much talent and spirit in that little room.”