Thomas Wesley Pentz, better known by his stage name Diplo, has spent the better part of the last decade fostering lesser-known artists, deafly unbiased to specific genres. The 33-year-old Philly DJ has worked in one way or another with a variety of popular artists, producing or collaborating on tracks with M.I.A., Snoop Dogg, No Doubt, and Kid Cudi. After meeting M.I.A. in 2004 at a London nightclub, Diplo gained notoriety for his DJ skills when he produced the Sri Lankan singer’s mega-hit “Paper Planes.”
Since then, Diplo has started his own label (Mad Decent) and has constructed a multi-faceted workhouse that includes a video studio, recording studio, record label office, gallery, and concert space. Dubbing his creative haven “The Mausoleum,” Diplo has provided a recording home for the likes of Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Santigold, Skream, and Boys Noize to name a few, all from the DJ’s Philadelphia base of operations.
It’s no surprise that Diplo’s fatherly tendencies would lead to a psychedelic pairing of wits with ex-PO PO member Jahan Lennon. The track “About That Life” incorporates the type of instruments one would expect to find in a Hare Krishna-phase Beatles album. Upon first listen, the mellowed-out hippy vibes are all encompassing, with acoustic strumming, whistling flute melodies, and percussive hand claps that contribute to the single’s surreality.
The dreamy chorus line “Got my feet on the ground, my head in the sky” sounds like something straight out of Timothy Leary’s LSD notebook. The release of “About That Life” might be a foretelling sign of what’s to come for Diplo’s next album. When asked about the direction of his next record, the DJ said he currently has a project in the works, one he describes as “psychedelic Southern gospel.” Whatever that means, it sounds enticing, especially coming from a guy who has never been hesitant in genre experimentation.