You could forgive Horrorshow the temptation to return as if in triumph with their new single Unfair Lottery. Their consistent outshining of expectations to date suggests something special in the chemistry between lyricist Solo and producer Adit.
Where others may be swept up in delusions of grandeur, Horrorshow dig deeper into our collective psyche, looking for pre-polished signs of life. Unfair Lottery finds them with a renewed sense of purpose, crafting a thoughtful song tackling the idea of privilege—a theme often overlooked in local hip hop culture. This is not a song of guilt, it’s a refreshingly honest play on being “male, middle class and white”.
Adit acts as a conductor employing glissando-laced strings and operatic sopranos with a cinematic array of samples and live instrumentation. He’s a producer inspired, credited with the bulk of Spit Syndicate’s recent album and truly a studio fiend in great form. This is the first taste of the highly anticipated third album from Horrorshow.
Need we remind you?
• ARIA Award-nominated debut The Grey Space (2008) • Critically adored triple j feature album Inside Story (2009). • Sellout national tours • Main support on Bliss n Eso and Hilltop Hoods record breaking national tours • Big Day Out, Splendour, Groovin the Moo, Splash Festival (Germany), Sydney Opera House (Dr Seuss Meets Elefant Traks), Spiegeltent.
Horrorshow Unfair Lottery Launch Shows: Friday June 21 – Annandale Hotel SYD with Dialectrix Saturday June 22 – Northcote Social Club – MELB with Remi
Sydney hip hop duo Spit Syndicate return in 2013 with third album Sunday Gentlemen. After the success of previous releases Towards The Light and Exile, a hungry fan base have been waiting anxiously for the next instalment from Spit Syndicate. We catch up with emcee Jimmy Nice of the Double S, on the eve of the Sunday Gentleman release, here’s what he had to say.
aahh: What’s the first thing you guys plan to do on release day? Jimmy Nice: I’m actually working on release day. Release night will be a different story. I may hold off on full celebrations untill the 24th. The One Day Crew are putting on the first in a series of monthly parties called One Day Sunday. Sunday will be our best opportunity to get loose.
aahh: Sunday Gentlemen is quite an interesting title. Can you explain the concept behind the title and how it ties in with the overall themes of the album? Jimmy Nice: The name Sunday Gentlemen came about one night when we were coming home from the studio. We had stumbled across a bunch of books and random things people had thrown out. I saw a bunch of books sitting there and this hard cover book jumped right out at me. It was really nice, I usually like taking things like that home. When we got home, we had a read through and realised the book was Sunday Gentleman by Irving Wallace. Irving was a writer of his own choice, working six days of the week to keep the lights on. Sunday was the only day he kept for his own works. That screamed out at us. We find ourselves in a very similar situation, in how we make our music. It’s the 9-5 all week and then we write and perform on the weekends. We don’t yet have the luxury of making music as our job to keep the lights on.
aahh: Beauty In The Bricks was the first single released from Sunday Gentlemen and was produced by fellow One Dayer, Adit. What was it about this track, that attracted you guys to release it as the first single? Jimmy Nice: This was a song we finished really on, actually it was the first beat we worked on with Adit for the whole project. We never really started writing it as the lead single. As with other tracks, it was going to find it own place on the album. It’s a personal song, about two different views on relationships, mine and Nicks. We didn’t really write it with that hook in mind (…hums beauty in the bricks), it was just a bridge between the first verse and second verse. While we were in the studio recording we couldn’t figure out a chorus, we were honestly stumped. So we went with the bridge and it turned out really cool. It was the right song for us to come back with, we’ve been away now for 2-3 years. This track is a really good way to welcome new fans to our music and it’s a good indication on what the rest of the album sounds like.
aahh: The clip for Beauty in The Bricks was filmed in and around Sydney. Would you agree that the imagery of the clip reinforces the main themes of the track? Jimmy Nice: Along with being personal and emotional, the track was also a little ode to the city. As Sydney siders ourselves, we don’t usually get the opportunity to see or explore the rest of the city. We all get comfortable, with where we live, usually going to the same places without really getting out to new places. We went to these little pockets in Sydney, spots of beauty and took full advantage of it. The clip was shot over two days and it was painless.
aahh: The second single titled Folly, has a bit of a different vibe to Beauty In The Bricks, and is produced by Stylez Fuego. What was it like working with that guy? Jimmy Nice: That was new for us, we spent two weeks in Melbourne linking with various producers. We usually contact producers and spend the time with them. We’d be spending days on end in the studio. The session with Sylez was an inspiring experience and was great to see. Stylez Fuego is a gun and he works really quickly. On the first day, he did a quick mock-up of a beat and I wrote my verse in the studio to that. On the last day of our time with Stylez, the beat you hear on the track came to be. It was a nice new experience and really placed an emphasis on how far we’ve developed..
aahh: How would you describe the differences between Sunday Gentleman and say your last release Exile? Jimmy Nice: Yeah, I don’t think we’ve steered to far away with what we’ve presented with Exile. Both releases have similar themes, both are very honest and high energy, a lot of light and shade, the whole creative process really has matured. Adit’s production is a lot more experimental now. We’ve been a lot more experimental in our vocal delivery, trying to incorporate new things and push it further. It’s not a ridiculously different approach to Exile but people will see the progression.
aahh: There’s been some amazing artwork released in association with Sunday Gentlemen. Both singles have had some killer covers done and of course the album cover is quite different to what we would usually see. Who’s been handling the design and how does these designs tie back to your music? Jimmy Nice: We had an idea, and a vision of what we wanted for the artwork. We really wanted it to tie in with the themes of the album. April77 Creative handled both single artworks and the album cover. We’ve worked with him previously on Exile, and Towards The Light. He knows what we are like. The main challenge was how to properly convey the themes within our music, how do we translate that to the visual. It’s hard to tell how people will respond to it. I really like the finished design, it’s something new and different. Again, I’m not sure how some people will respond to it. I think cover design is highly important. That artwork and imagery ties to your identity, you should take it as seriously as the music inside the cover.
aahh: I want to ask you about ObeseTV, you guys featured in Episode 1 of the new show and have been with Obese Records for quite sometime now. We’ve seen a lot of artist in the past start their owns labels etc. Do you plan to stay with Obese for the foreseeable future? Jimmy Nice: Obese was our start and it was for a lot of other artists, for now our focus is solely on this record. Not where we will be one year or even five years from now. We’ve been working on this record for two-three years now and we just want to get the most out of this release. Who really knows what the future holds.
aahh: You have a huge national tour coming up soon with Jackie Onassis, what’s some of your favourite things to do while on tour? Jimmy Nice: Eat… dumplings are always a favourite. We like to check out new spots, enjoy the time away. A lot of us are leaving jobs and mundane shit like that. Any chance to get away with a great group of friends is always enjoyable, and with these guys it’s a real privilege. The songs you spend two-three years recording, writing and polishing, the real reward is when you take them on the road and see the people enjoying them.
aahh: The One Dayer crew recently unleashed a brand new podcast titled One Day Radio? And I believe that you guys are also holding a monthly event in Sydney. Is this the first steps in seeing more content coming out from the One Dayer Crew as a whole? Jimmy Nice: Definitely, that’s been our little banner we’ve been riding under and it includes Spit Syndicate, Horrorshow, Joyride and Jackie Onassis. We all grew up together, went to school together and make music together. We really want to strengthen that connection, and have it more as a collective as appeased to four different acts. These guys are family and people we see on the reg, it’s not just different acts coming together, we all share a strong bond. Anything we can do to strength that brand is a positive.
aahh: We have all heard that the legendary Nas is hitting our shores for the movement festival and Spit Syndicate have been lucky enough to be named on the bill. Nas has been pretty influential in a lot of artists careers here in Australia. Are you the same? Jimmy Nice: Definitely, Nas is one artist we’ve looked up too and who has had a big role in influencing our music. It’s hard to tell how it will go. Obviously with festivals like this we’re not at the top of bill, buts it’s good to get up and do your thing. It’s also a great opportunity to expose your music to people who might not have seen it otherwise. It’s a great opportunity and we jumped at. It’s inspiring to see artists like Nas and Bliss N Eso on the bill, people who you look up to. It’s a great privilege to share estate with the real kings.
Spit Syndicate – Sunday Gentlemen is available now through Obese Records.
Sydney duo Jackie Onassis are surely the best kept secret in Australian hip-hop. Comprised of vocalist Kai and producer Raph, Jackie Onassis are the newest members of the One Day crew, a collective comprised of Horrorshow, Spit Syndicate and Joyride.
Kai belongs to a rare breed of MCs who have a masterful command of their voice, combining sharp delivery with rich, catchy melodies. Raph’s beats blend lush synths and electronica, warm samples, 808 drums and live instruments to create a distinct and truly unique style of production. Jackie Onassis’ explosive live show have already caught the attention of many. Melbourne MC Illy hand-picked the duo to support him on his Bring it Back tour, and recently wowed audiences on Spit Syndicate’s Beauty in the Bricks tour.
Jackie Onassis’ recent single Crystal Balling is currently on rotation on triple j and serves as the lead single from their debut EP: Holiday. This 8-track offering showcases the duo’s knack for weaving dense storytelling, Gen-Y commentary and energetic, catchy choruses, amongst textured, contemporary production.
Holiday is available for free download; check it out today and see why the hype is so deserved – because Jackie Onassis are a secret that won’t be kept for much longer.
In the lead up to his appearance at the sold out Come Together Festival this weekend in Sydney, Purpose teams up with fellow PE member and Soulmate Records latest, MC Prime for an exclusive track titled Get Em High.
To all the lucky folk quick enough to snap up a ticket, get ready as Luna Park will become host to one of the biggest events on the local hip hop calendar. Headlined by undoubtedly one of the biggest names. A man who needs no introduction, multi award winning, 360 will close the day in the only way he knows how – absolute chaos.
Not to say the roof won’t be raised from opening doors, with Bam Bam kicking off the ceremonies, shortly followed by Purpose, with some very special guest performers. We’ve been sworn to secrecy – but organisers suggest you get there early, as this is one performance not to miss! The rest of the day and night will unfold with the cream of local hip hop, Skryptcha, Thundamentals, Koolism, Seth Sentry, plus Elefant Trak madness with Hermitude and Horrorshow.
To all the lucky folk quick enough to snap up a ticket to this year’s sold out Come Together Festival, get ready as we announce the stage times and countdown to the June long weekend. On June 9, Luna Park will host one of the biggest events on the local hip hop calendar, headlined by undoubtedly one of the biggest names.
A man who needs no introduction, multi award winning, 360 will close the day in the only way he knows how – absolute chaos. Not to say the roof won’t be raised from opening doors, with Bam Bam kicking off the ceremonies, shortly followed by Purpose, with some very special guest performers. We’ve been sworn to secrecy – but organisers suggest you get there early, as this is one performance not to miss!
The rest of the day and night will unfold with the cream of local hip hop, Skryptcha, Thundamentals, Koolism, Seth Sentry, Hermitude and Horrorshow. And for any adrenaline junkies, Luna Park will be offering unlimited free rides to all Come Together ticket holders. Just show your Come Together ticket to the Box Office between 1pm – 4pm. Now in its eighth year, Come Together is once again all Aussie hip hop as it was meant to be: loud, proud, and made in Australia!
The 2012 Come Together Festival, to be held at the Big Top Luna Park on Saturday June 9, has sold out in record time! It’s no surprise, really, given the kingpins and rising cream of local hip hop on this year’s line-up.
Featuring its second all-Aussie hip hop line-up, Come Together is led by none-other than Melbourne’s multi platinum selling rapper, 360 in his next Sydney performance on his upcoming national tour, The Flying Tour which is setting ticket sales records around the country! Joining 360 are ARIA award nominees, Horrorshow, as well as beat giants Hermitude, Seth Sentry, Koolism, Thundamentals, Skryptcha, Purpose and Bam Bam.
Come Together has always featured the best home grown talent and has introduced and given our brand new talent the opportunity to perform on the big stage to an all ages audience. Hip hop fans who have secured their Come Together tickets will witness the sensational 360 ‘live show’ in what is going to be one of the best hip hop events this country has ever seen! This is local hip hop as it was meant to be: loud, proud, and custom made to raise the roof!
Spit Syndicate began the year with a very special, sold-out acoustic show with Horrorshow and Joyride at The Basement in Sydney, followed by a handful of shows.
Nick Lupi and Jimmy Nice then took some much-needed time-out , during which Nick snuck away overseas to travel through Mexico and the USA– looking for inspiration for the next record. Upon Nick’s return to Australia, the Double S hit the studio straight away to work on new music. The boys played the Obese Winter Block Party in Jindabyne before releasing part one of a new mixtape. Best Intentions: Part One, a free mixtape, was released on the 30th September, the same day Illy’s tour kicked off, on which SS and Sietta were supporting .
The year rounded off with a few shows in Sydney (including Newtown Festival) and most importantly, more time in the studio working on the next Spit Syndicate album, as well as Best Intentions: Part Two – both of which are due out next year.
Did You Hear? marks the return of Horrorshow, one of the most exciting young hip hop groups in the country. Did You Hear? sees MC Solo paying tribute to some of hip hop’s greats whilst making some irreverent and humorous observations on the local scene.The production sizzles and sparkles under the careful direction of Adit with a little help from a blazing horn section.
It’s been another incredible year for the duo – they’ve programmed Rage, sold out countless shows, and rocked festivals nationwide – culminating in their main support slot for arguably the most successful local hip hop tour on record – Bliss N Eso’s Running on Air Tour. Horrorshow are well within the sights & ears of eager punters and starting to create some serious buzz amongst industry folk worldwide.
This is the first taste of things to come from their third and much anticipated new album, set to drop in the second half of 2012.
Your favourite label is leading the way with a new system of album sales through the Elefant Traks online store called CD + MPfree. Get a CD or vinyl sent to your letterbox; receive the same album as high quality MP3s in your inbox, free and Immediately!
Downloads and cloud-based consumption is undoubtedly the future, but labels still sell more CDs than digital albums. This is about rewarding those who feel the liner note love and value lyric booklets or signed copies, or the joy of a parcel in the mail. It’s two for the price of one, without devaluing either. Not only are they free, but the MP3s are high quality (320kbps).
This is a permanent feature of the store, from our wonderful new signing The Last Kinection and their record Next of Kin to our Darwin stars Sietta. And yes, The Herd , Horrorshow, Hermitude, The Tongue, Urthboy, Joelistics, Ozi Batla, Unkle Ho, Astronomy Class and more.
HQ’s celebration of the local hip hop scene returns with a line up featuring some of Australia’s finest. The event will also see the return to Adelaide for hip hop legends Def Wish Cast.
Def Wish Cast return with the banger Dun Proppa, the first single from their upcoming album Evolution Machine. Also featuring on the night are Sydney’s Horrorshow, and Adelaide’s Dialect & Despair. The Tongue, who is currently on his national The Sextape tour will also be in Adelaide to share his sexual secrets on stage. Jjoining this already massive line up is none other than your rappers favourite rapper Mantra, who just released his Speaking Volumes LP, and prepares to drop a massive video clip for his second single Voodoo Music.
Another two hip hop giants set to grace the stage at Homegrown 2 is Adelaide’s very own Delta & Staen 1. Delta’s third LP Pyramid Schemes is due very soon, stay tuned for more details on that one. Also on the bill are the talented Grifters Inc along with DJ Dyems (Terra Firma Crew) and DJ Sanchez. You do not want to miss out on this one, be sure to get your tickets quick. Full line up and link for tickets below.
Homegrown 2 – Friday October 21st – HQ Complex Lineup: Horrorshow Def Wish Cast The Tongue Mantra Delta & Staen 1 Dialect & Despair Grifters Inc DJ Dyems (Terra Firma Crew) DJ Sanchez
Tickets on sale now from Venuetix, Clinic 116 & Da Klinic.
