One of the hottest topics in dance music in recent years has been about the lack of bona-fide anthems; those certified, unifying tracks that transcend genres, audiences and even the artist who made them to take on a life and energy of their own. Undeniably bucking that trend in 2024 is Joy Orbison’s ‘flight fm’. Originally written while waiting for a ride to the Lost Village Festival in August 2023, and debuted that same night to a huge response, it was described by Resident Advisor as “the latest Joy O world-conquering anthem” among a host of accolades on its release. Since that big bang moment, ‘flight fm’ has become bigger than its creator ever expected, it’s now a song of the people.
Ubiquitous at clubs and festivals around the world in 2024 and even soundtracking the new Chelsea kit launch, ‘flight fm’ has spawned dozens – if not hundreds – of unofficial edits from the likes of Dom Dolla, Charli xcx, and Disclosure, alongside a host of Soundcloud producers and DJs in a prime example of 2024 bootleg culture. Today, Fred again.. steps up to crown them all with the official release of flex fm (freddit) featuring Playboi Carti, Future and Lil Yachty, as London and Atlanta unite on the track which melds ‘Flight FM’ with Lil Yachty’s ‘Flex Up’. Described by Yachty himself as “like a thousand bees swarming”, ‘flex fm’ (coincidentally also the name of Joy Orbison’s favourite London radio station) was originally created by Fred to play at his The Lot Radio and Knockdown Center shows with Little Yachty and Overmono in New York to celebrate the release of their ‘stayinit’ collaboration in February. Since then, it’s become a highlight moment of Fred’s sets around the world, most recently at his sold-out debut stadium show at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in July.
Speaking about the track, Joy Orbison says: “I was thinking about dj narrows & mampi swift records when I made flight. Also, thinking about listening to flight and flex fm from my bedroom, back when you had to have that annoying plastic chord thing half way up the wall to listen to any radio station, let alone a pirate. I love that this track has reached so many people outside of any cultural or sonic ideas I had about it, that’s one of the most enjoyable things about making music. Basic channel’s ‘phylyps trak ii’ was garage to my ears, oizo’s ‘flat beat’ too. Flex was flight but now it’s something new, now atlanta’s involved :-)”
LISTEN TO ‘FLEX FM FEAT. PLAYBOI CARTI, FUTURE AND LIL YACHTY’
Joy Orbison INSTAGRAM
