G-FORCE 006: Elissa Suckdog (Singapore)
Oh, how we have missed you! And yet, we’ve been sure not to miss the action-packed season we’ve all been treated to this year! So much has happened since our last race mix back in Canada, and we are in need of a major catch-up. In the past 8 races, we’ve had 6 different race winners. Our personal highlights notably include Lewis’ masterclass win at Silverstone and Charles’ stylish run of form in Monza. But—Papaya Rules 🤟!! And although Max is still top of the class in the Drivers' Championship battle (for now?), we now have a new top dog in McLaren, leading the way in the Constructors' Championship.
In the driver market, we have so much incoming (rookie) spice as well. Prodigy Kimi Antonelli will be replacing LH44’s seat at Mercedes next season. Young Brit Ollie Bearman has signed with Haas alongside Esteban Ocon. Jack Doohan will join Pierre Gasly at Alpine. We cannot wait to see how these rookies will fare next year, and we wait with bated breath to see if Liam Lawson gets his much-deserved chance in that RB seat.
More drama – Mattia Binotto joins Audi, and F1 icon Adrian Newey will be moving to Aston Martin.
Up next on G-FORCE, we have Berlin-based artist Elissa Suckdog who, in her own words,‘tried to subvert what felt like the obvious interpretation of “high speed” in music’ in this sleazy mix. In this session, Elissa implemented a 125PM speed limit, dedicating it to those teams who struggle all season to get only a little bit faster.
Introduce yourself
I'm Elissa Suckdog. I am winning in my F1 fantasy league and I work at Bitwig.
Who's your favorite driver?
Gonna limit my answer to current drivers to make this easier.
Serious answer: They all kind of rank on a scale from “least dislikable” (Piastri or Albon) to “most hateable” (Max). And even when it comes to Max — I’ve come to appreciate the way he’s resisted or criticized some of the controversial developments in the sport since Liberty Media took over. For example, I like that he was the only one who actually said what everyone was thinking about the Vegas GP in 2023 and that he declined to participate in the Netflix show one year. But he still seems like a you-know-what, and I love watching him lose.
Semi-serious answer: I kind of love George. Those eyelashes! He exemplifies the sport and the archetype of a Professional Race Car Driver perfectly: He’s a repulsively posh, overly media-trained brown-noser, a la-di-da himbo, and an annoying striver. This isn’t Rugby League or football (US or UK). Formula 1 is in the same category of sport as tennis, yachting, skiing or polo, and George doesn't let you forget it. Loving F1 but hating George Russell is like loving French food but hating stinky cheese.
What’s your favourite race? And if you had to pick a track to sum up that race what would it be?
I don't have a favorite race/circuit... I’m into F1, but I am still a girl!!! 🙅♀️🙅♀️🙅♀️
What is it that draws you to Formula 1? Do you find yourself drawing influence from the sport?
I don't think I am influenced by F1 in a creative sense. But I did use F1 as a thematic guide for this mix. I open with a sample from Valtteri Bottas’s radio at the start of the 2021 Hungarian GP, when he crashed out a bunch of drivers right at the start of the race, thereby opening the door for a completely different result. I like those races when something unexpected happens and unusual outcomes are possible. I also tried to subvert what felt like the obvious interpretation of “high speed” in music by implementing a 125 BPM speed limit, so this is kind of a “backmarkers” mix. It’s about those teams who struggle all season to get only a little bit faster. Pace changes throughout the season or in the course of one race at different rates, thanks to pit stops or upgrades. So I tried to constantly push the pace, sometimes gradually and sometimes in spurts.
As for what draws me to Formula 1, there are two major factors that converged to make me capable of appreciating the sport. The first is formative life experiences that predisposed me to like racing: From age 7-13 I raced bicycles (velodromes and criteriums) on a national level. My stepdad was an Australian bicycle frame builder, and he watched cycling and motorsport. So racing has a nostalgic appeal to me, and I’m familiar with the strategy and the drama of a race.
The second factor is the circumstances that brought racing back into my life. I met a special guy who loves Cars. (That’s what I call F1.) He was hootin’ and hollerin’ at Cars every weekend, and after a few years of consistent exposure, I got into it. Now we enjoy together.
What are some of your favorite memories watching Formula 1?
I hang onto the details of a race for like, three weekends, and then they get overwritten by a new race. So most of my favorite F1-watching memories are less about the race itself and more about the experience and the ritual: Summer pandemic days when we would crack some beers just in time to watch a 3 PM lights-out on a shitty streaming site.
We went to the Hungarian GP in 2022, and of course that is a standout memory. It was important to see — and hear — the cars IRL at least once. We will do it again someday, but to be honest, we are not in a rush. The broadcast provides a better and more comfortable viewing experience — and we don't have to wait in line for FOUR HOURS to get transport home when it's over. We prefer to have a little watch party at home with the mates in our F1 Fantasy league.
As we’re putting you in the driver’s seat for this series, what would be your go to hype track or mix to listen to before a race?
Wired: “Man-Size” by P.J. Harvey
Inspired: “Valentine” by Snail Mail 🐌💌
When you are about to head to a gig or to the studio, what helps you get in the headspace for the environment you are about to enter?
Before a gig...sleep. For the studio, I have to write down what I intend to do beforehand so that I don't get lost or distracted and then lead myself into a rut where I don't know what to do. I make an outline or a checklist for the parts I need to make a track, or I write out the idea for a patch or track before I get started.
During intense touring periods or dealing with creative blocks, what is your favourite way to disconnect? Do you usually have a go-to solution for when you’re feeling creatively tired?
I have a lot of interests and hobbies outside music, not to mention plenty of chores and life admin to do, so it's easy to disconnect. What's hard is coming back before my creative subconscious decides it's ready. Writer's block is like seasonal affective disorder; When you're in it, it seems like a real and untreatable problem rather than a part of a natural cycle that resolves itself. During these episodes it’s hard to hear reassurance that these feelings are normal, unavoidable, and even an important part of the creative process. I’m like, "No, you just don't get it. I'm broken, and it's not coming back. I'm just over making music forever. :( "
So I could tell you guys about these solutions or reassurances, but when you're in that mindset, it doesn't do much. Here's my advice anyway: Go on a walk. Listen to music. Try not to feel guilty about not-making music. Read a book. Cultivate non-music-related interests. Don't force it.