Hi, hello! If you’re here right now, you fall into one of two categories. You’re either very aware of the fact that I’ve been a massive fan of Major Lazer since 2012, or you don’t know me that well and you’re curious to learn more about my personality. Actually, the word “massive” doesn’t even quite encompass just how much I love Diplo, Walshy Fire, and Ape Drums… but I couldn’t think of a better word to use right now. *shrug*
On July 21, Major Lazer held a panel at Comic-Con in San Diego to premiere their graphic novel Year Negative One. The group was joined by Ferry Gouw, who has been Major Lazer’s longtime art director. Fans old and new had an opportunity to learn about the origins of Major Lazer as a character and group, the development of Year Negative One, and plenty of other tea the four had in store!
Sharing is caring, so I’m here to bring you up to speed on everything that was said at the panel.
(Okay, and perhaps I DID actually wake up at 5AM to do my makeup while blasting Music Is The Weapon, got to the convention center as soon as the doors opened, and hung out in room 5AB all morning long so I could secure a front row center seat. Let’s consider that the con-version of “rail riding.”)
How It Started
If you’re just entering the world of Major Lazer, here’s an intro: Diplo started the Major Lazer project roughly 15 years ago with fellow DJ/producer Switch. Both Diplo and Switch had been producing tons of songs, and they felt an urge to launch a side project. After throwing random words into a hat, the name Major Lazer was born.
Diplo elaborated, “There was something like ‘Major,’ ‘Admiral,’ there were a lot of names used in Jamaica back in the ’80s for artists, and we just picked those two random names out of the hat and connected them. That’s how we created this comic, this idea, this character. We sat on the idea for a while. We had this love for dancehall in the ’80s, the way it sounded, the digital rhythms they were making out of keyboards, and how rough it was. In the ’80s, there was this obsession in Jamaica with comics and heroes and westerns. When you look at the artwork from those 12-inches and albums, it was amazingly drawn. It’s like really crazy comic art… and we kinda wanted to recreate that in a modern way.”
Diplo also mentioned he was obsessed with G.I. Joe, He-Man, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when he was young. He envisioned Major Lazer being able to live in that world, but some vampires and zombies needed to be thrown in as well.
Setting The Story
Of course, Diplo and Switch needed someone to help bring the artistic vision for the project to life. That person was no other than Ferry Gouw! Over the years, Ferry has worked on everything from Major Lazer’s cover art to the animated series on FXX. When it came time to create Year Negative One, Ferry had an idea to take things in a slightly different direction than usual.
“For the comic, I think we came up with this idea of… we’ve kinda traveled down this really goofy, stupid version of Major Lazer,” Ferry says. “Why don’t we try something kinda more serious and darker? Is there any place for this character in a world that is darker, where the colors are also neon bright? That was kind of the birth of the comic in itself.”
Ferry recalled the brief of the story line that he was sent at the beginning of Major Lazer. Bacially, Major Lazer had a side job, which was being a club owner. He also thought about the world around it falling apart, and a drug running free on the streets making everything a *whole* lot worse.
The Music Goes Hand in Hand
It’s honestly remarkable that a Major Lazer comic exists, but let it be known… Year Negative One is simply a part of the bigger picture. The Major Lazer universe exists on stage whenever you see the group perform, the visuals, cover art, and in the music itself.
“I think the music actually went hand in hand,” Diplo mentioned. “We are the inspiration.”
Walshy Fire said, “The comic book is definitely a cherry on top to what we’re already doing. How we were always living is very true to the band. There was no, ‘oh let’s just go do a comic book.’ It all makes sense.”
Like a character evolves in a story, Major Lazer’s stage show has evolved dearly over the years. A decade ago, you’d likely see giant speaker boxes in the back, taking up almost the entire stage. Five years ago, you’d probably find Diplo rolling around the crowd in a giant hamster ball. Now, vibrant, intriguing visuals help fans become their own character in the Major Lazer universe whenever they attend a show. There’s obviously been some lineup modifications, too. Switch departed the group in 2011, but Walshy Fire and Jillionaire made their entrance. Jillionaire then left the group in 2019, with Ape Drums joining in afterwards. Despite the changes that came along the way, the project has persevered.
Diplo spilled, “We’ve toured everywhere in the world… we went to Havana, Cuba to perform. We had the first independent #1 record in America with Lean On. We’ve been on this crazy journey that we’re still on. We were in the studio last week working on new ideas. Music scenes change and fluctuate all the time, but we’ve always been really good at staying afloat.”
Season Two?
Fans have been asking for another season of the animated series for quite a while, and there’s finally an update! Diplo said, “We’re working on doing a season two of the cartoon. It took us a long time to buy back the rights from FXX. The television station folded after we released our first season, so I’d love to do more.”
The guys are also open to introducing the Major Lazer project to new mediums. “It’s a possibility to do something in film – we’d love to,” Diplo mentioned. “This is our first graphic novel, properly, but now we’ve established the rules in the story, and I feel now we’re down to do whatever.”
Impromptu Character Development
When it came time for the Q&A, my brain completely went offline. I got (more than a little nervous) and then Diplo leaned over and whispered to me, “you better ask something.” When it was my turn, I asked the guys if they would be able to come up with a character. If they loved it enough, they could include it in the Major Lazer universe.
Walshy Fire’s response (without hesitation) was, “What if I made up a character called pink wifi?” I then asked how it would look like, and he said, “She would have on pink, she would wear a captain’s hat or a rasta hat… I’m not sure what it is… and her powers would be love, she would glow, and anywhere she went where there was bad energy, she would eradicate it.”
(It’s a captain’s hat, and Ferry said “I’m on it.”)
I don’t know how else to say this… but it was the best day of my life. As you can imagine, and as I hope you imagine.
This was the first time I ever got to meet Major Lazer together as three. While I’ve met Diplo a handful of times, I had yet to meet Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. Being able to thank them all together (in person) for having such a huge impact on my life over the past ten years was way overdue. The moment this panel was announced, I knew I had to get my hands on a badge to be able to go support my favorite group! I was SO determined, highkey stressed, and highkey put this blog on pause for a minute to focus on getting what I wanted. I won a radio station contest for a single day badge, and while Comic-Con always has so much to offer, let’s face it – I think it’s obvious who I was truly there for.
After Comic-Con, Major Lazer played a glorious set at Bloom Nightclub, where I was… you guessed it… front row. I was just about tearful when the guys used “Get Free” as an encore song. I had never heard it live until now, and as with many Major Lazer fans, the song has a deep personal meaning for me. In fact, it’s the song that made me stan immediately.
Diplo also put my hat for a brief moment, and I vow to be completely insufferable showing everyone the video when I see him at the iHeartRadio Music Festival and at ACL Fest this fall.
The entire day was a dream come true. Thank you so much to Z2 comics, the entire Major Lazer crew, and Comic-Con International for an amazing time!
This was such a beautiful experience and I’m so happy that you shared this with us. Your article is so well written and emotion felt. I can’t wait to see you in September!