Last week G-Shock Australia kicked off its 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Prince Ballroom in Melbourne’s St Kilda. Bliss N Eso, DJ Krush, Yo Mafia & N’fa Jones hit the stage in a private concert for VIP guests.
The venue was decked out with limited G-Shock watches and a collection of watches dating back to 1983. G-Shock also announced its first collaboration for the Australian market with local Hip-hop artists Bliss N Eso. You can find out more about this upcoming limited edition project by checking out our recent interview with the Marketing Manager of Casio Timepiece here.
*Photos are shot exclusively for allaussiehiphop.com by Michelle Grace Hunder. Check out more of her fantastic work here.
Last week G-Shock Australia kicked off its 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Prince Ballroom in Melbourne’s St Kilda. Bliss N Eso, DJ Krush and Yo Mafia hit the stage in a private concert for VIP guests. The venue was decked out with limited G-Shock watches and a collection of watches dating back to 1983. G-Shock also announced its first collaboration for the Australian market with local Hip-hop artists Bliss N Eso.
We catch up with Bruno, Marketing Manager for Casio Timepiece, as we discuss 30 successful years in the industry.
aahh: What does an anniversary such as this, 30 years in the market, mean to brand G-Shock?
Bruno: To put it simply – 30 years for a fashion brand not only means longevity – it also means credibility. You can’t be around for three decades without doing something right.
The anniversary party gave us a chance to reflect on the past and look towards the future. Walking around the room it was incredible to be reminded of G-Shock’s knack for innovation. There was a G-Shock that took your blood-pressure … there was one with a built-in pokie machine … there was also one that did Morse code! This year G-Shock just came out with their Bluetooth model … it basically hooks up to your iPhone and lets you know when people are calling you, emailing you and hitting you up on social media. If that isn’t innovation – I don’t know what is!
aahh: To celebrate the 30th anniversary, there have been numerous parties worldwide. Australia’s launch went down in Melbourne. Why was it important to celebrate this event worldwide? Bruno: Although G-Shock’s are designed by Japanese-based engineers – it’s always been important to make G-Shock a global brand rather than a region-specific brand. The guys at our head-office in Tokyo are good when it comes to giving every country creative control. They basically say – “you understand your own market better than we do – so go nuts.” A G-Shock party in Italy – for example – is a lot different from a G-Shock party in Australia. I was watching some of the footage from the Italian party – people were sitting down at tables and politely eating dinner with knives and forks … good on them – that’s there scene. Here in Australia – though – our party was about live-music, scoffing down food and having (quite a few) drinks.
aahh: G-Shock have constantly been a leader in fashion for men’s watches. What is it about the brand that you think has led to its success over the past 30 years?
Bruno: I reckon that G-Shock’s success over the past 30-years can be put down to innovation. I don’t know any other brand that’s constantly coming up with new models and taking risks when it comes to danger. It seems that every month G-Shock is announcing new concepts and collaborations. Last week I did the maths – since ’83, G-Shock have released a watch every 6.7 days … crazy, right?
aahh: A number of special releases are being brought out in celebration of this milestone. One that caught our eye was a collaboration with Shoe maker Supra. Can you tell us a bit about this? Bruno: A month ago I was in Japan and they showed me the GA200SPR (which is the fancy technical way of referring to the G-Shock x Supra model). It’s one of the most stunning watches I’ve ever seen. Those designers at Supra and G-Shock came up with a winner of watch. Here in Australia we’ll be getting about 70 of them next month.
aahh: There are a number of musical performances announced to play in Melbourne at the 30th anniversary bash?What relationship does the brand share with musical creatives?
Bruno: G-Shock has always had a very close relationship with music. In the US – G-Shock enjoys a close relationship with Eminem and the Wu-Tang Clan. In the UK it’s with Coldplay. Here in Australia – we’re pumped to be aligned with Bliss n Eso. Whether designing a watch or putting an album together – you’re using the same creative-side of your brain – that’s why G-Shock shares a special bond with artists.
aahh: What other ways are G-Shock marking this historic event for the label, we hear possible news of the first ever Australian Collaboration?
Bruno: Absolutely. We’ll soon be taking the boys from Bliss n Eso to Japan … they’ll be sitting down with our top engineers and designing their very own watch. This has never been done in Australia before – so we’re all extremely pumped about finally being able to do this. The watch will come up in early 2014 and will be limited to 1,000 pieces. I grew up as a huge fan of Bliss n Eso. I remember sitting under the Indooroopilly bridge in Brisbane, listening to the Culture of Kings compilation on my minidisc player and having this light bulb moment where I was like “these boys get it.” Fast-forward a few years, when it came time for G-Shock to formally align itself with a group – it was a no-brainer. These boys are innovators and creatively brilliant.
*Photos are shot exclusively for allaussiehiphop.com by Michelle Grace Hunder. Check out more of her fantastic work here.
N’fa Jones, still highly regarded for his work in his first outfit 1200 Techniques, is back in action. Having moved back to Australia just over a year ago following a few years journeying and writing music abroad, N’fa has already released his Babylondon EP with the stop-motion video for March On. Featured on 360′s Hope You Dont Mind,Drapht’s triple j hit singles Bali Party & 1990′s, as well as Nick Thayer’s OWSLA release Like Boom which charted for 10 weeks at #1 on beatport.
Having just wrapped from the 22 date Uni-Verse Australian tour with Drapht, N’fa has returned home with a new song and video from his forthcoming LP set to be released later this year on Draphts imprint label The Ayems. Live On was written with Melbourne beatsmith Sensible J Smith, and mixed by Dave Dogg Atkins of The Resin Doggs. The video, directed by Nic Mcrobbie, was shot around midnight after a tour show in Sydney. With a full album in mixing stages, N’fa refers to Live On as a teaser, and not an official single, we are excited to see what atomic bomb like introspective retrospective soul N’fa will bring to Hip Hop this year.
“I was chillin’ in Smiddys lounge room.. The music took me to a place that I hadn’t visited in a long time, and needed to go to. Its a place I had been afraid to visit, as I had never found resolution there, until now. For me, “Live On” is a reflective self realisation piece that I really do love, which resulted as a sensitive and true song that I hope you will appreciate. Making the video was amazing ,in that it happened in a split decision after a show. What you see was pieced together from a one shot, filmed in the wee hours on Sydney’s beautiful coastline, and a series of short clips Nic captured in and around the city over the same weekend. Goes to show what you can do with a little know-how and a lot of heart”. – N’Fa
Music: Written and Arranged by N’fa Jones. Produced by Sensible J Smith. Mixed and Mastered by Dave Dogg Atkins Video: Directed, Shot and Edited by Nic McRobbie.
New to the game but old to its’ ways, 21-year-old Melbourne lyricist Remi ‘REMi’ Kolawole exudes a unique style, rhythmic flow and an honest delivery. His semi tongue-in-cheek braggadocios style, by no means overshadows his lyrical abilities. Remi’s rapping persona is comfortable sitting amongst varying musical backdrops and tempos, and his singing voice is as smooth and catchy as the hooks he sings.
Expertly balancing singing and rapping, Remi’s content is highly self referential, littered with pop-cultural tid bits and tales of a life equally footed in fantasy as it is reality. On the back of releasing two EP’s in 2011 (Childish and Five Beats I Love) his debut 2012 album Regular People Sh#%t not only cements his previous forte’s, but also displays a confidence in showing several new ones.
The album (produced in full by local duo J Smith & Dutch) covers a varying subject matter and has equal nods (lyrically) to everyone from Slum Village to Drake as it does Black Thought and early Kanye West. Remi’s 1st single of the album, APE caused a bit of a commotion down at triple j. As a result, Remi was made an Unearthed feature artist, and his debut LP Regular People Shit, dubbed the Hip-Hop Show’s feature album.
Since then he has supported XXL freshman Danny Brown, MED, N’fa Jones, M.A.F.I.A, Jade McRae, and played at the 2012 song summit held in Sydney, along side fellow RunForYourLife members. REMi present’s his brand new film clip, entitled Get Some (tribute to Tariq Trotter). The track, (consisting of 62 bars of raw rap, a huge drum break and 808’s) is dedicated to The Roots front man Black Thought, and not unlike BT, the tune oozes attitude. If you combine this with super fine ballet dancer’s and a live band, you have yourself one hell of a film clip. Get Some is lifted from REMi’s debut LP, Regular People Shit.
It has been a big week for the young MC/producer who is 3 weeks away from delivering his beyond anticipated debut album Where It Starts. Wednesday saw his most recent single Comin Home feat. Illy, Jimmy Nice & Joyride get added to rotation on triple j, a huge feat for an entirely independant artist without label support.
Perhaps the most fascinating and defining detail of Purpose’s recent newfound light is that he has established it by working at a level that has allowed him to keep pace with his peers despite having no backing at all.
The following day triple j Unearthed released their Top 50 Most Played artists of 2012, announcing Purpose as the #1 Highest Played artist of 2012 across all genres! With a long and strong history in the underground and the doors to the industry slowly opening 2013 is set to be an eventful and successful year for Purpose.
Whispers had gotten around on Wednesday that Nova had announced Purpose and Vents as being added to the monster Clipsal 500 line up, and he closed out the week today by taking to social media to confirm this. The event on March 1st will see him perform alongside Hilltop Hoods, Drapht, Illy, Pez & Vents in what is sure to be one of the biggest nights in Adelaide entertainment for the year.
Where It Start’s will be available in stores nationally February 8th, 2013.
Drapht has released another new track with fellow Perth product Ta-Ku. The track titles 1990′s, is set to feature alongside last month’s track Tasty on a brand new EP from the West Coast emcee, due sometime in the first half of 2013.
As well as references to Jennifer Aniston, MacGyver and Axl Rose’s hair, the track features the vocal talents of N’Fa Jones and Joyride. The track made it’s debut on the triple j website here. You can pick it up for free download below. For lyrics to the track and more, be sure to head over to Drapht’s official website here.
Australian rapper Knowledge Bones has been in the music scene for a while now, but it has been over the past twelve months that he has been working on building a buzz into a boom with the release of his debut solo album titled Eyes on the Prize.
Musically Knowledge has been on a journey to fine tune his style and sound with tracks like Listen Closely featuring N’fa Jones and A Man’s Courage showcasing his creative writing skills and flow abilities. Knowledge’s song titled Eyes on the Prize demonstrates that he never lost his hunger for the crown teaming up with Melbourne’s Surreal to collaborate on an impressive track. Knowledge shows his charming side with Spend A Little Time featuring Che’Nelle sure to appeal to the ladies.
Knowledge has teamed up with some stellar producers including DJ Complex, Weapon X and rAIZ to name a few. The collaboration with quality producers and catchy lyrics makes for a good listen and is sure to give some of the big players a run for their money.
This release has not been an easy one for Knowledge who had to jump a few hurdles to complete the project, through this time Knowledge stayed focused and continued to turn his album from a ‘hard drive project’ into reality and Eyes on the Prize was born. A man who’s will to succeed is just as strong as his impressive rapping style, Knowledge Bones is a rapper destined for great things, if his achievements are anything to go by, it won’t take him long to reach the hip hop summit.
Front man of genre bending loca Hip Hop collaboration 1200 Techniques, N’fa Jones is set to launch his brand new solo EP Babylondon with four very special performances. The Babylondon EP will be available through Rubber Records April 6th.
Six years in the making, get set to wrap your ears around the full force of Babylondon, offering four solid mixes of hip hop driven beats and cool melodies including recent single Wayooy feat. Roots Manuva and M-Phazes and follow up new single March On. The EP also features 7 Seconds feat. Tyson McVey (Daughter of Neneh Cherry) – with production by First Man (UK) and an unexpected deep soul cut named Deeper Love that will be sure to have you dancing in the sand – with production by Jimmy Napes (UK).
N’fa’s recent travels have seen him living in London and performing in London’s underground haunts. Playing everywhere from Cargo, Notting Hill Arts Club across to 93FT East, Strawberry Fields Festival and a guest spot on the illustrious Glastonbury. Smashing rooms and festivals under the guise of his UK project aptly titled No Fixed Abode they were awarded ‘Best Live Impact Band’ at the Camden Crawl Emerging Artists Festival.
Returning home late last year in preparation for the release of Babylondon, N’fa attributes his time in London as a major inspiration for this latest offering, jokingly referring to London as “Babylondon” after the fallen biblical city of Babylon, in modern times.
Babylondon coincides with the release of new single March On co-written in London with Australia’s production ace Bass Kleph. Accompanied by a spectacle of a video shot in Leeds, UK with production team The Grizzly Brothers.March On features a stop motion all action video including moving artwork, flying post-it notes and frame by frame fun which took weeks to complete.
Catch the N’Fa Jones Babylondon EP Tour taking over venues in WA, NSW and VIC this March and April. Babylondon will be available April 6th.
Tour dates March 30, N’fa Jones EP Launch @ The Manor Leederville, WA April 12, N’fa Jones EP Launch The Factory Floor Merrickville, NSW April 13, N’fa Jones EP Launch The Cambridge Side Bar Newcastle NSW April 19, N’fa Jones EP Launch The Grace Darling Collingwood, VIC
Tom Showtime is a man of many guises. Although appearing to the overt eye as a DJ, this talent brimming character is also labeled producer, café owner, saxophonist and gramophone enthusiast. Tom’s music career truly blossomed in 2011 with Tom’s saying “2011 was better than Watermelon…“.
It proved to be a thriving year for Tom with the highlight and turning point of Tom’s career being signed to 100% PHAT Agency. 2011 saw Tom produce and release his first EP, EP3013 which is ‘jam‘ packed with 6 beat driven, jazz flavored, funk infused tracks of Tom at his best which includes the hit and lead off single The Bullet Train featuring N’Fa Jones. EP3013 has given listeners a taste of what’s to come as it is a prelude to his debut album The Jam Theif which was picked up by Obese Records and is set for release in April 2012.
With Showtime’s career already snowballing, 2012 also sees a series of reworked classics released on 45’s for UK label Second Hand Funk, flawlessly demonstrating his flare for remixing. This project observes Tom collaborating with artists such as Agent 86, The Captain, Dancefloor Outlaws and The Ghetto Funk Allstars. With a national tour in 2012 also set up, it’s going to be a successful and eventful year for Tom Showtime.
Introducing Tom Showtime, a man of many guises. Although appearing to the overt eye as a DJ, this talent brimming character is also labeled producer, café owner, saxophonist and gramophone enthusiast. From Be-Bop to Breakbeat, Tom’s passion for music is paralleled only to his tenacious enjoyment of watermelon, coffee and cricket.
Tom began collecting and spinning records in London in early 2000, indubitably motivated by the collection of English house DJ’s and producers sharing his house. After several years, he returned home to Melbourne to release The Showtime EP’; a head nodding Trip Hop odyssey showcasing original horn lines and broken beats.
With notable inspirations such as DJ Shadow, Mr. Scruff, Quantic and Bonobo as well as a fervent obsession with sampling old funk, latin and jazz – there was no doubt that Tom Showtime was soon to be heard. Tom’s earnest aspiration has seen him generate some stellar opportunities in his music career to date; supporting such acts as Urthboy, The Bamboos and posing as the warm up DJ for The Nextmen at their highly regarded ‘Friends and Family’ night at First Floor in Melbourne.
With Tom Showtime’s debut album The Jam Thief due for release in early 2012, he is proud to release the prelude to his album in the form of EP3013. The lead off single from EP3013 is The Bullet Train feat N’Fa Jones. With 6 beat driven, jazz flavored, funk infused tracks of Tom at his best, EP3013 will give listeners a taste of what’s to come.
With Showtime’s career already snowballing, 2012 also sees a series of reworked classics released on 45’s for UK label Second Hand Funk, flawlessly demonstrating his flare for remixing. This project observes Tom collaborating with artists such as Agent 86, The Captain, Dancefloor Outlaws and The Ghetto Funk Allstars.
