In the last few months, 22 year old Australian writer/singer Vanessa Elisha, has gone from self proclaimed “unlikely R&B star” to 2013’s one to watch. Her debut release, Blur found its way onto playlists and iPhones across the world, with the self-edited video teaser amassing over 40,000 views.
Reuniting with production partner GXVXNS, Vanessa quickly followed up with the video for Home To Me, and attracted the attention of a whole new legion of supporters. After spending the following months fine-tuning the project, Vanessa released her EP Don’t Go.
The 5 Track offering premiered on the front page of Jermaine Dupri’s Global14, and began spreading across the internet like a Kanye West rumour. Within hours of it’s release, Don’t Go was seen across some of the world’s most influential music sites. The 17-Minute offering showcases Vanessa’s unique ear for melodies, set to the haunting noir-esque production of GXVXNS and CVIRO. Vanessa Elisha – Don’t Go is available now for free download, through the player below.
Periscope Pictures Pty Ltd is delighted to announce that its feature-length music documentary Hunter: For The Record, will make its festival debut at the 2013 Revelation International Film Festival (RevFilmFest13) – in its hometown of Perth, Western Australia.
Hunter: For The Record is a music documentary like no other. It is a raw tale of redemption and fatherhood, musical fanaticism and courage in the face of adversity. The film was made possible by the Australian Hip Hop community who got behind the team’s crowdfunding campaign, with additional funds provided by ScreenWest and Lotterywest.
This documentary tells the tale of Hunter who was known as the hard man of Australian Hip Hop. Like rock stars of the past, he was surrounded by a culture of excesses and hard living.
When diagnosed with terminal cancer at just age 34, Hunter began to tell his fans his own story: through YouTube, philosophical daily tweets, in powerful self-shot video diaries, and in the lyrics of his songs. In a new era of entwining communication technologies, Hunter’s public fight for redemption before time runs out, is an intriguing tale of a native digital storyteller publicly narrating his own struggles.
The film was directed by Sam Bodhi Field, written by Stefan A. Radanovich, produced by Alice Ross, associate produced by Kai McGuinness and executive produced by Karin Lutz. According to Field, whose first short documentary ‘Consume This!’ won Best Short Film at RevFilmFest06, this festival provides the perfect synergy for ‘Hunter: For The Record’
It all just happened so quick! Everything was normal, then BANG! My whole life is changed. Gonna stop whinging now.
“Making this film over the last three years has been such an incredible journey; we are really thrilled to be able to share it with Hunter’s home town at a festival of Revelation’s calibre,” said Field. RevFilmFest13 has released its full program. For tickets and session times, visit here.
Triple j recently held a “Hottest 100 Countdown” that allowed voters to choose their favourites from songs from the past 20 years of JJJ airplay. Held over two days the national countdown included artists such as Beastie Boys and more.
With such a diverse list of national and international talent competing for placement in the 100 the Hilltop Hoods are incredibly proud that The Nosebleed Section secured the #4 place making them the highest placed Australian artist in the entire countdown.
Hilltop Hoods would like to thank everyone for voting and for their continual support of a song that opened a lot of doors for them early on in their career. This is an amazing way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the track!
#4 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of all time! Thank you so much guys! Love!
The 2013 Annual APRA Music Awards are being held in Melbourne on the 17th June and the Hoods have been nominated for the following awards: Most Played Australian Work – ‘I Love It’ Feat. SIA Urban Work of The Year – ‘I Love It’ Feat. SIA Urban Work of The Year – ‘Speaking In Tongues’ Feat. Chali 2na
Kanye recently rained hellfire on late night audiences – he debuted New Slaves and Black Skinhead on Saturday Night Live on May 18 with the force of a bomb, performing the two songs from his forthcoming album with the sort of aplomb and production value that the show hasn’t felt since … well, probably the last time West visited.
In a typically innovative move, Kanye West has projected full-length visuals of New Slaves and Black Skinhead on over 66 buildings scattered around the globe. Both songs denote a stark creative shift for the superstar rapper: marked by corrosive drums, a frantic flow and primal screams. You can check out the much discussed New York Times interview right here.
Yeezus promises to be more twisted and dark. See below for a brand new teaser trailer for the upcoming album with Kanye singing I Am A God. The mystery that is Yeezus continues to unfold.
Yeezus Tracklisting: 1. On Site (Prod. Daft Punk) 2. Black Skin Head (Prod. Daft Punk) 3. I Am A God (Prod. Daft Punk) 4. New Slaves feat. Frank Ocean (samples “Gyöngyhajú lány” by Omega) 5. Can’t Hold My Liquor feat. Chief Keef & Justin Vernon 6. I’m In It feat. Justin Vernon 7. Blood On The Leaves (samples “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday) (Prod. Hudson Mohawke) 8. Guilt Trip feat. Travis Scott 9. Send It Up feat. King L 10. Bound feat. Charlie Wilson (samples “Bound” contains samples of “Bound” by Ponderosa Twins Plus One and “Sweet Nothin’s” by Brenda Lee)
Here is the debut, LP release from producer, Kid Tsunami, with DJ Bless: The Chase. Featuring 16 tracks of the most hard hitting hip hop you have ever heard, this will be the quintessential hip hop album to grab in 2013.
Hailing from Perth, Australia Kid Tsunami is a beast on his MPC2000XL, the kid is a wax fiend, sampling ‘70s jazz, soul and funk to formulate his ‘boom bap’ style concoctions. The Chase features some massive names including Yesh, KRS One, Kool G Rap, Thirstin Howl III with Sadat X, El Da Sensei, Craig G, Masta Ace, Prince Po, J-Live, Percee P, OC, Bahamadia, Sean Price, MF Doom, Kool Keith, Buckshot, Chubb Rock, Action Bronson and Jeru Da Damaja.
The Chase will be released digitally everywhere on June 18th 2013 with CD and Double Vinyl LP to shortly follow. Distributed by The Orchard, Fat Beats New York and Obese Records Australia. Out on Brooklyn’s Headbop Music. The double LP 12″ vinyl art design for The Chase will feature an exclusive flip by Fred Whyte.
Tracklist – The Chase 1. AR Toxic feat. Kool Keith with Chuck Chilla 2. Bang Exclusive feat. Sean Price with Chuck Chilla 3. Get It feat. Prince Po 4. Catch Wreck feat. O.C. 5. Twothousand40 feat. Masta Ace 6. On Course feat. Thirstin’ Howl the 3rd & Sadat X 7. What It Was feat. J-Live 8. No Guarantees feat. Yesh 9. Worldwide Connex feat. Craig G 10. Take It Back feat. El Da Sensei 11. Down Pat feat. Percee P 12. Authentic feat. Bahamadia 13. The First Letter feat. AG 14. Art Of War feat. Kool G Rap 15. These Are The Facts feat. KRS-One 26. The Chase feat. Buckshot, Chubb Rock, Pharoahe Monche & Jeru The Damaja
One of the more impressive organisms to have emerged from the primordial soup is the KadusRuckmanopolis, an intimidating and cumbersome species of Australian rapper who has evolved a higher form of lyricism.
He can be found either shattering his opponents self-worth, as well as future prospects of mating, or fertilising recording studios with rhymes more potent then a red kangaroos penis. His purposes can be as noble as the telling of a story, to as narcissistic as promoting his own insanity, if he has not already dissolved into delusions of grandeur about his average-sized genitalia.
Emerging triumphantly from where his debut signed off, The Born-Again Humanist shows a ‘re-born’ artist expressing new and developed ideas and values. ‘Born-Again’ not in the tradition religious sense, but infact the contrary, with evolution and humanism being the underlying theme throughout. Mr. Ruckman presents lyrics of a profound nature and skilful caliber, complimenting the raw production of local musicians to acclaimed hip-hop producers Simplex and Jacob Giles.
From writing eloquently on controversial subjects to exploring human nature, Mr. Ruckman breaks free of conventional hip-hop topics and speaks on the importance of knowledge, freedom of speech, secularism, reason and forward thinking.
The Born-Again Humanist includes his circulating singles Adam & Eve; a rock-infused comedic number fuelled by a dynamic live band, and Mammoth; a sharp-tongued, double-time flow with a monster backing by Austrian-born producer Jacob Giles. Both singles are available on iTunes with Adam & Eve currently seeing airplay on Triple J Unearthed.
The record also features a unique hip-hop re-working of Crucify Your Mind by underground folk legend Rodriguez, featured in the recent award-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man. Sampled and co-produced by Mr. Ruckman himself, the song has re-invented a cult classic and seen praise from die-hard Rodriguez. Ladies and gentleman of the educated world, we present to you, the born-again… Mr.Ruckman.
Dylan Joel continues his meteoric rise this year following the success of his 2012 EP Kid Illin‘ which saw his breakthrough single Leveled receive solid rotation on triple j and won him triple j’s “Pyramid Rock” Unearthed competition.
His new mixtape That’s Good is scheduled for release on Friday 5th of July, 2013 and promises to be his best work to date showcasing Dylan’s progression as a burgeoning Australian MC. Head over to dylanjoel.com and register to receive a free copy of “That’s Good” 24 hours before it’s scheduled release date! That’s Good is entirely produced by Canadian producer Otis Grey.
The 2nd single from the upcoming That’s Good release, has just dropped and is titled The Cool Kids. The Cool Kids video was shot & directed by Justin Singer.
Cam Gilmour is a musician and writer based in Melbourne. Growing up in country Victoria, he moved to Melbourne in 2006 and joined alternative band Behind Crimson Eyes – as their drummer.
The band was signed to Roadrunner Records and went on to release two albums (A Revelation for Despair and Behind Crimson Eyes – Self-Titled), which sold over 25,000 copies nation wide. The band toured extensively during this period, playing festivals including triple j’s One Night Stand, Big Day Out, Homebake and Soundwave. In 2009, Cam parted ways with the band to pursue a solo project, which evolved into his current role as a songwriter. He has since produced tracks for Australian artists Justice, Seven, and Crotchet Crooks.
In 2010, he teamed up with Illy. Touring with him as his live drummer he has played on numerous sold-out tours and festivals including Splendour in the Grass, Pyramid Rock and Groovin’ the Moo. The transition from the punk and hardcore scene to hip hop is not only a reflection of his wide musical tastes and influences, but of his determination to grow and mature as an artist.
In 2012, he began writing songs for his first release, A Bellyful Of Classics. The self-produced debut EP is a burst of melodic hip-hop instrumental tracks, written in the gasps between tours and uni semesters. Inspired from a love of literature and poetry, two songs on the EP feature readings from the work of Henry Rollins“Relentless” and Charles Bukowski “The Laughing Heart”.
Valuing a strong DIY ethic, Cam is self-managed and believes that being less dependent on other people ultimately creates for a richer experience of all endeavours driven by passion. Aside from music, Cam has a great love for writing (a tendency to scribble – as he calls it) running his own written website, as well as contributing to Groupie Magazine, We Are Not Obscene and Junkee Magazine.
A short film introducing Cam Gilmour features tour and studio footage, and a teaser of The Last Romantic track. Cam Gilmour’s – ‘A Bellyful of Classics’ EP is available digitally now.
Track Listing: 1: Introduction 2: The Last Romantic 3: Relentless 4: Smoker Guy 5: From Behind the Tree Line 6: The Laughing Heart
Feels Like Now is the forthcoming debut EP from rapper, Savilian. The lead track Blinded is available here as a free download. This latest release is the natural progression from his 2012 Mixtape Kid or Koncept that showcased his style and ability astride several massive cuts from some of the worlds hip-hop giants.
Feels Like Now has six super-funky, sweaty, soul songs in an electro/hip-hop style. Featuring massive, heart-bursting choruses and even smoldering intimate jazz poetry, that gives an insight into the man behind the flow. He’s bright, shiny, eternally optimistic, and ludicrously happy, irrepressibly on the bleeding edge of the positive. His infectious disposition melts even the coldest hearts, tap’s even the stiffest foot, moves even the most resistant body.
Savilian is slowly building a strong reputation and interest from the hip-hop community. Throughout April and May he performed in his vitally energetic style the latest tracks from his Feels Like Now EP supporting Pez, Spit Syndicate and Diafrix on the Central Coast leg of their national tours.
If Feist and Ratatat had a son who ate John Lennon’s corpse to gain immortality, then you might be able to imagine a bit of the sounds coming off of rising beat hustler, indie rapper and singer, Sapient’s new album, Slump.
Born out of frustration of the current sounds of hip hop, he likens the listening experience to “a more musical sibling to indie hip hop. You could think of it as a more functional little brother, who learned from his elder brother’s mistakes.” Not that he considers any of his past 11 solo albums that he’s been cranking out since 2004 as mistakes, but you know, it’s a long road to self-discovery.
The at-times ethereal, often lyrical sounds on Slump were born out of childhood memories and family influences. While his mum, a concert violinist, kept mostly to her classical music his “always wanting to be a rock star” dad kept a steady stream of Beatles, Paul Simon, and Crosby, Stills and Nash records playing in the house. Tracks like Seeking New Skin feature glittery arpeggiated beats contrasted with melodic guitar and piano pop choruses, evoking dark thoughts in the best of times. Meanwhile, Shotgun In My Spaceship is a whimsical piano-based love song expounding on government cover-ups and aliens on the moon conspiracies.
Sapient had dabbled in multiple instruments for as far back as he can remember, but after being busted for graffiti charges at 18, he took to rapping over his own beats made with a drum machine, a guitar and an 8-track. The early training flourished into a distinctive sound of multi-textured arrangements structured with the sense of a songwriter. Sapient’s beats have re-defined the sound of Northwest hip hop and carried luminary voices from the likes of Aesop Rock, Slug (Atmosphere), Freestyle Fellowship and more.
As a vocalist and producer, Sapient has been a member of The Prime, a duo with Living Legends’ front man Luckyiam as well as Portland’s Debaser, a two-man off-shoot to their nine person collective, Sandpeople. He has also collaborated with other indie hip hop cats like Macklemore, The Grouch, Eyedea, and Pigeon John. Consistently touring, he has shared the stage with a number of his own influences including Wu-Tang Clan, Living Legends, Eyedea, Talib Kweli, Cage and Aesop Rock. As an independent artist, Sapient is hands on, mixing and mastering, designing his visual art and directing videos, developing his brand with an insatiable work ethic. Committed to care for his young family and cultivate his creative vision, Sapient is pushing boundaries and claiming his own space in our musical lexicon with Slump.
