Pez is not like other hip-hop artists. With his laid-back nature and ever-present smile, the Melburnian instantly distinguishes himself from others of the genre with his lack of pretence and genuine demeanour. But once his music – rich with soul-searching honesty, gritty melody and traditional hip-hop ethics – is heard, the distinction is even clearer.
Pez rose from obscurity late in 2008 with his debut single The Festival Song. This ode to the Aussie summer music festival was ubiquitous across Australian radio all summer, achieving constant rotation on triple j and Nova and charting prominently on the Austereo Hot 30 Countdown. In early 2009 The Festival Song reached an unprecedented #7 in triple j Hottest 100 – the highest placing hip-hop track on the countdown, and the strongest showing by any independent artist.
After racking up accolades throughout early 2009 – gaining heavy triple j rotation with the frenetic Ain’t Got Time, launching a popular music video for The Festival Song; reaching #1 on the AIR singles chart and hitting #11 on the ARIA Urban singles chart; and selling out iconic Melbourne rock venue The Hi-Fi – Pez hit the road for his first national tour with Drapht and Downsyde. This 18-date tour was swiftly followed up with festival dates, high-profile support slots for The Streets and Lupe Fiasco, and high praise from media outlets as diverse as MTV, Channel 9 and FHM before culminating in a national sold-out tour with Aussie hip-hop icons Bliss N Eso.
Pez then cemented his reputation as one of Australia’s premier live hip-hop acts in the last half of 2009, playing to packed houses in more than 30 locations across the country on his first national headlining tour.
After a massive year, 2010 has seen Pez hard at work on his sophomore release, crafting an album that stays true to his distinct style but still effortlessly captures the ear of many, striking a chord beyond the hip-hop terrain. Pez’s second album is due for release in early 2013 through EMI / Soulmate Records. Pez’s first single from his upcoming album is titled The Game, and is available on iTunes now.
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