Flooting Grooves

Flooting Grooves

Flooting Grooves is the solo project of Pearce Van Der Merwe, a downtempo and psychedelic artist from Italy. Born in Cape Town in 1975, he grows up in South Africa and Italy and develops an early interest in music through a varied background that includes classical, jazz, rock and related styles. He starts playing flute after hearing Jethro Tull, and later cites artists such as Ozric Tentacles and Pink Floyd as important in opening him to psychedelia.

Development and style

A party in Amsterdam in 2000 marks a turning point in his path, as it introduces him to the trance scene and its rhythmic, groove-based sound. Another key development comes through meeting Dan Symons, also known as Dymons, and Ajja Leu, one half of Yab Yum, who both work with instruments and laptops. Their early jamming leads him to move to Switzerland and join The Peaking Goddess Collective, an organic chill and psytrance band formed in 2003 by Ajja, Dymons and Master Margherita.

The Peaking Goddess Collective and solo work

Within The Peaking Goddess Collective, his flute finds a strong place in the group’s blend of laptops, synths and live instruments, including flute, guitar, percussion, bass and effects. He also becomes actively involved in producing the collective’s tracks. From that work he develops solo material under the Flooting Grooves name and performs live with a combination of flute and machine-based production.

Music and approach

His music is described as ethnic, groovy, floaty and psychedelic, moving from chillout textures to airy progressive beats. The project is associated with chillout, electronic, electronica, progressive, psychedelic and psychedelic rock, with a focus on psychedelic and downtempo sounds.