The Russ Liquid Test fuses Crescent City-inspired funk and jazz with modern electronic dance music on their new EP, 1984. Released earlier this month, the effort finds the band teaming up with guests like Ivan Neville, Erica Falls and Mr. Lif for a collection of tracks that capture the improvisational nature of their live output.

Led by New Orleans-based producer and multi-instrumentalist Russell Scott (aka Russ Liquid), the group brings together a forward-thinking array of local talent that includes guitarist Andrew Block, as well as drummers Alvin Ford Jr. and A.J. Hall. Despite the myriad technological extremities at work on 1984, Scott and Block dug deep into New Orleans’ rich musical history for inspiration.

“As people who have immense respect for all the great music and culture that New Orleans has contributed to the world, we just want to make sure what we are doing is respectful to all those that came before us,” Scott explains. “One thing that has always drawn us to the legendary New Orleans musicians, whether it’s Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Ernie K-Doe, Allen Toussaint, The Meters, Willie Tee, or even James Booker, they were all very innovative and doing something new that was influential to everyone who came after them. That’s the New Orleans tradition that we would like to be a part of.”

1984 was recorded at Scott and Block’s house/studio in New Orleans, where much of the process was captured on camera. Today we’re excited to premiere a behind-the-scenes at the making of the record, which is now available via iTunes.