What album or film or book do you always return to, and why?

I always return to Blade Runner, because it has everything that I love – beautiful music, beautiful visuals, beautiful story. And it helps me sleep. Everything’s got this crazy reverb on it and long, drawn-out sounds – it makes you drift off. It’s like a warm blanket. It also inspires me. It’s everything I need.

Your latest release, Big Mama, takes some inspiration from video games. If you could be any video game character, who would it be?

Probably Goku [from Dragon Ball Z] because he’s strong as hell, he could fly and he’s got powers. It’s fun. Only problem is, he has to fight all the time – like, monsters and shit. I don’t know if I’m cut out for all that.

Goku on holiday?

Yeah, that’s it. Shredded as hell, all year round.

If you were a shape, what shape would it be?

What shape would I be? I dunno, a rectangle came to mind.

I thought you would say a circle, or a sphere.

You know, a circle is cool. I don’t feel round, though.

A vortex?

You know, I do love that shape. I don’t know why I’m put off by being round. Maybe a triangle? I don’t know – anything but a circle. I don’t wanna be round.

What’s the best gift you ever received?

Honestly, probably a Chucky doll. It was an authentic Chucky doll from Child’s Play 2. My girlfriend at the time gave it to me for Christmas or my birthday, like two years ago? I always wanted one of those stupid things, and I got it. I don’t know how she found it. I saw those films in the 90s. I probably shouldn’t have, but my mom was a horror fan and she likes weird movies, so she always freaked me out when I was a kid. And eventually I started freaking her out.

What’s the most recent album or song you listened to?

I’ve been listening to the Thriller album, ever since the Michael Jackson movie came out. I’ll never forget seeing the dance moves when I was a kid. My mother actually taught me how to count music from watching the video – she’s counting four, and I’m seeing it, and it all clicked. That was my first real music lesson.

OK, now I have to ask you what time signature you would be.

Three-four. I definitely have my 4/4 moments, but 3/4 is sneaky because it can be a fake four sometimes. I think a lot of the things that I come up with in my head, when I go to play them on the keyboard, they’re 3/4. But then I sometimes have to change it to 4/4. I think I have a natural inclination to a three count.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

To stop using a laptop to make music. At an early point in my career people who were older and more experienced than me were telling me to stop using a computer, and saying, “You can’t make hip-hop with a laptop.” And those [comments] were my fuel for so long – they inspired me to be like, “You know what? I’m gonna prove to these people that I can actually do this, and it can be tight.” So I think sometimes the worst advice is actually the best advice.

What is the most overrated album of all time?

Oh man. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy [laughing]. To me, it’s a little bit cringe, I’m sorry. I like Yeezus. I didn’t at first, but I really like that one. I liked 808s & Heartbreak. I mean, I fell off the train a long time ago. But [My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] is one where I’m like, “Damn, that one’s regarded as a classic, huh? Interesting.”

You studied film, you’ve directed two features. What’s your favourite movie of all time?

Just to fuck things up a little bit, I’m gonna say Beetlejuice. It was a gateway horror movie; you got to see the monsters and skeletons and weird freaky stuff. But it was also funny and quirky, and I think it has an accessible charm to it – anyone can watch it. And I think it’s probably one of the most original film ideas that I’ve seen, to this day.

If you could change the size of any animal to keep as a pet, what would it be?

I would love a freaking mini panda that can hang out in the house. That’d be cool. Like, as small as a dog – a little Boston terrier dog. I’m looking at a Boston terrier right now. I have two, called Iko and Meemo, because that’s what they look like.

• Flying Lotus is performing his Layer 3 audiovisual show at Sydney Opera House on 27 May, as part of Vivid Live; at the Odeon, Hobart on 28 May; and at the Timber Yard, Melbourne on 29 May