CREATE NOT DESTROY: GRIFFIN JAMES

Griffin James AKA Francis Inferno Orchestra is the mind behind this seasons artist series. Traditionally a music guy, we were interested to know how a music guy puts pictures on t-shirts.

Photos by Renee Parkhurst @renee_parkhurst

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF & YOUR WORK?

Hello! My name is Griff, I’m a musician / producer / sometimes in-person appearance maker from Melbourne (naarm) but currently based in the wild west of the U-S-A.

TALK US THROUGH YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS FOR THIS CAPSULE - WHERE DID YOU START?

I’m not a designer (although I try my hand at the odd project here and there) so my process is a bit of a shit show. I am still in the ultra naive phase with it, so it was very much throwing whatever at the wall and seeing what sticks. Thankfully our favourite George (who asked me to contribute this capsule) was a good friend and picked through my ideas a bit.

YOU’VE LIVED IN LONDON/AMSTERDAM AND NOW YOU’RE IN L.A, DO YOU FIND THOSE SURROUNDINGS HELP SHAPE YOUR ART?

Yes they definitely held an influence and shaped my output, but I will say - it is in ways that aren’t always obvious. Lived experiences and perceptions influence my music over something you might assume, like - the local music scene in those cities. They all have subjectively great music scenes but it was everything else that shaped my work; experiences like, doing psychedelics with my friends on a random wednesday afternoon in De Bos park or being a young broke shithead in a pub going through love life woes in East London - for example.

With L.A. it's an entirely different thing. Los Angeles is a really insane place, it’s chaotic like you would never see in Australia. But it’s so absurd you can’t not love it. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I’ve never experienced such a vast array of confrontational experiences and sensations within a day (good or bad) like I have in this place and I find that quite inspiring at the moment.

YOU HAVE A FEW PROJECTS ON THE GO, TALK US THROUGH THEM?

I’m probably most known for my work as Francis Inferno Orchestra, which is a dance music project I’ve been producing and Dj-ing under for 15 years, it’s been changing and evolving over the years and it’s still very alive. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve put out proper release.. the last one was a collaborative EP with Yu Su which came out in 2021, but a new record is on the way, FIO isn’t dead ! As I’ve gotten older I’ve become ultra conservative and picky with the work I want to present to the world/ internet. The same goes with Superconscious Records, we have a couple of things on the burner. All good things… you will see in due time.

Another thing is my Sans Merit project, it’s my outlet for more rockier, pop, fuzzy synth stuff that’s more band leaning. Last year I put an LP called Early Grave which got a bit more reception than I was anticipating so I’ve been pretty inspired & recording a lot for that. I’m about to drop a collection of old demo’s and recorded oddities in the form of a cassette shortly so

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING PROJECT YOU’VE WORKED ON?

I couldn’t tell you what the most exciting ever was, but at the moment I’m working with Death Bells on their next album which is sounding really great so I’m having a hell of a time with that.

YOU’RE MOST KNOWN FOR YOUR MUSIC AS FRANCIS INFERNO ORCHESTRA, BUT YOU ALSO PRODUCE FOR FILM, FASHION AND COMMERCIAL, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

Hell yeah, so a couple of years ago, alongside some old friends Angus Gruzman (Dreems, Bang Gang) & Jack Freeman (Jagwa Ma, Foals) we launched an agency called SAATU where we do compositions, sound design, music supervision and sync for fashion, commercial, films etc. We are all music dogs so outside of touring, recording and producing for our own ventures, we spend all of our time working on this thing of ours. We’ve been lucky enough to work on some really memorable projects for a lot of the major fashion houses alongside some great directors and film makers, so I’m quite proud of that. You can check us at www.saatu.co.uk

WHAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF CREATING THIS CAPSULE WITH AFENDS?

George and I have been chopping it up forever through a shared music and art interest, I’ve also played a bunch Afends parties over the years and gotten to know some of the team so putting this capsule together is a full circle family moment for sure and I love that.

Shopping Cart

You qualify for a Free Tote

CREATE NOT DESTROY: GRIFFIN JAMES

Hey! It looks like you are from

We Ship Worldwide