Jimmy Edgar is a modern Renaissance artist. Music, fashion, photography, film, even packaging — he has made a name for himself internationally on many a creative medium. But he is probably best known as an exquisite sound architect, shaping layers of beats and bass that are as sinister as they are seductive. A little soul, a little synth, his sound can be best described as retro electro. We’ll have to wait until June for his highly anticipated full length, which follows the acclaimed Colorstrip LP released in 2006 on Warp Records. But if you are fortunate enough to be in LA this Saturday, you can catch Jimmy live, courtesy of hometown heroes DROID BEHAVIOR, at the next installment of Interface at Temporary Spaces along with technoweight Richard Devine. Always leave it to the DROIDS to bring the musical freshness.

In commemoration of his visit, we asked Jimmy to relay more than just music from his hometown of Detroit to LIAS readers in the next episode to our COORDINATES series. As a Motown native and resident, he has a distinct take on what makes Detroit rock…or not. Hit the Jump to read the full Q&A, see the “LBLB Detroit” video, and download a free Jimmy Edgar remix of “Billie Jean”…

Jimmy Edgar’s “18th Sheet Reflections”

“One time I saw GANGSQUAD riding out the window shooting uzi’s… literally they are ex-gang members serving as cops for some kind of parole exchange. Crooked motherfuckers, criminals…”

Name, and nicknames:
Jimmy Edgar, sometimes referred to as a Colorstripper

Currently living:
Detroit, Michigan, USA

Occupation:
Dancefloor designer for Warp Records, Hypercolor, Citinite, Hefty records, No19, Semantica and many more. Flash color coordinator for international fashion magazines

My favorite local hangout:
Bakers Jazz  Club on Livernois & 8 mile

Top 3 Restaurants for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Late Night:
Cafe Muse – I love the colors and good service
Cadieux Cafe – there is at least art hanging
Little Tree Sushi – some of my favorite sushi in Detroit, central location in the suburbs in a nice downtown area
I’m a sucker for Thai food – Bangkok is a great place for decent Detroit Thai

The Cadieux Cafe

I love my city because:
The murder capital has so much character out of its wretched dirty style. Seedy motels and tranny hookers give it a nice tone.

I hate my city because:
Probably the same reasons why I love it.

The last thing I saw that made me shake my head in wonderment about my hometown is (good or bad):
A schizo bum transvestite dressed like Carol Burnette getting arrested the other day on my block. At first I thought it was a Golden Girl (thats why I shook my head).

“LBLB Detroit” video

Favorite activity or place to kill time without spending any money:
Filming downtown, endless exploration through the streets.

Best place to people watch:
Highland Park where all the drugs and crime goes down

Top 3 favorite places to get drunk :
Vain – there’s a new disco night there where we get to play the good shit
Oslo – it’s an old favorite where all the best acts perform and DJ. Slice wood panel 3-D walls, dark with only a single red light and the best soundsystem. They also serve sushi
Biggs Bar – Eastside’s hottest eastsider bar, haha. Cheap drinks and we play David Lynch films on the projector. Essential biker milf in attendance

Best bookstore:
Easy… John King Books, even though John King is a total dickhead.  Some nice used books, anything you could think of from dusty to paperback.

Best boutique:
The one my friend, and personal makeup artist for my fashion photography, Andrea works at. In Birmingham, I forgot the name. The hot girls work there.

Best coffeeshop:
There really aren’t any.. Starbucks took over so I make my own now.

Favorite place to take a girl out:
My bedroom… but before that La Dolce Vita.  Hands down the best environment in Detroit, near the strip clubs between 7 and 8 mile.  They let me play their piano.

Favorite place to take out a visiting buddy:
Goodnight Gracies, very cool jazzy hip martini bar. Nice blue neon inside.

The best place to see the sun come up:
This is Detroit, not Tijuana.

Best club night:
Lots of people would scold me because of the politics, but I’ll have to say Oslo… Panacea used to be great when it was around.  They all have this dark sexy fashion vibe going on… Detroit is good like that.  Also…. City Club.  Probably the most anxiety-ridden goth club in existence. It used to be good years ago… that’s a whole interview in itself.

One place you’d never catch me at:
BLEU or BLUE however you spell it. Famous for douchebaggery.

My favorite hometown hero is…
DOPPLEREFFEKT.  He shaped the sound of Detroit.

One place I wish they would fire bomb :
These questions are redundant…. isn’t that the same as somewhere you wouldn’t catch me at?  I would have to say the Labrynthe.  It used to be cool and we would go to goth fetish parties there but now it’s disgusting and flooded.

Favorite local band/DJ/artist:
I only usually go out when Dr Disko Dust or myself is DJing/performing. But, my ultimate would be Aux 88 or Ectomorph.

The local cops are: LAPD, Mayberry, Hazzard County or Law & Order?
One time I saw GANGSQUAD riding out the window shooting uzi’s… literally they are ex-gang members serving as cops for some kind of parole exchange. Crooked motherfuckers, criminals.

Best night of the week to go out:
Every night

Favorite secret walk or spot:
Not in Detroit… maybe Birmingham or Royal Oak or Ferndale. Those are the suburbs that you can actually walk down without getting shot.

Best way to get around town:
Only way is CAR.  It’s the Motor City, it was designed that way

If you were Lost In a Supermarket, what aisle would we find you in?
VITAMINS!

BONUS: click HERE to download a free Jimmy Edgar remix of “Billy Jean”