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.
Urthboy is at his peak, weaving tales of the city with his past and present; celebrating life with a collection of songs balanced by the tension of light and darkness. From the vibrancy of ‘Knee Length Socks’ to the emotional weight of ‘Hey Dianne’, Smokey’s Haunt gets under your skin; it should be experienced whole, with songs segued by the shadows and atmosphere they were created in. This is more than a rap record.
Hermitude and Countbounce co-produced the entire album together—the first time they’ve joined forces. The chemistry was electric; studio sessions were intense, sparked by limited time together and the buzz of worldwide attention (Hermitude had just signed a global deal for ‘Speak of the Devil’) humming in the background. It felt like the Aussie rap version of The Avengers was taking place in Countbounce’s Melbourne studio.
Guests on the record include Alex Burnett, soaring in ‘The Big Sleep’, local hip hop king Delta and some of the illest young MCs Solo (Horrorshow) and new Elefant Traks signing Jimblah. Jane Tyrrell not only appears but also handled all the artwork. The bold first single, ‘Naïve Bravado’ featuring Daniel Merriweather, was iTunes Single Of The Week— raking in over 30,000 downloads.
The playful second single ‘Knee Length Socks’ has gone further, becoming the most played song on Triple J and resonating across the board with a huge response at live shows.
Urthboy has kept a frenetic pace since his last release. Putting out 2011’s Future Shade album from The Herd; and bringing the house down with his rendition of ‘Stagger Lee’ at Straight To You, triple j’s Nick Cave Tribute concerts. He recently signed a global publishing deal with legendary Alberts Music— the first hip hop artist to join their ranks. Smokey’s Haunt is the follow-up album to Spitshine and The Signal, both finalists in the Australian Music Prize. Spitshine won the Australian Independent Award (AIR) for Best Urban Album; The Signal was nominated for a J Award.
Time & Space is taken from Tuka’s sophomore album Feedback Loop out Oct 26th through Big Village Records.Feedback Loop features guest vocalists: Jeswon, Jane Tyrrell, Ellesquire, Tenth Dan, Solo & Maples.
Feedback Loop will feature production by: Sleepers Awake, DJ Morgs, Roleo, Grub & Suburban Dark.Time & Space, produced by Roleo. Recorded at Two Toes Studios by Caustic. Additional vocals by Maples, recorded at Studios 301 by Simon Cohen. Stay tuned for the premier of Tuka’s next single featuring Elefant Traks beauty Jayne Tyrrell titled Die A Happy Man.
Co-produced by Hermitude and Countbounce, Smokey’s Haunt is an incredibly produced album of storytelling, flow and melody. Urthboy is at his peak, weaving tales of the city with his past and present; celebrating life with a collection of songs balanced by the tension of light and darkness.
The album should be experienced whole: Smokey’s Haunt is a meeting place of moods that are complete when connected together. The album comes with a 28 page booklet and triple panel digipack. It’s the follow-up album to Spitshine and The Signal, both finalists in the Australian Music Prize. Spitshine won the Australian Independent Award for Best Urban Album; The Signal was nominated for a J Award.
The guests on the record all bring a vitality to their songs. Alex Burnett’s soaring beauty in The Big Sleep is a showstopper; Bobby Flynn’s haunting comfort in Hey Dianne is unforgettable and long-time collaborators Jane Tyrrell and Mark Pearl (Texture Like Sun) are stunning.
There are only a few rappers guesting: the legendary Delta shows why he’s a king in the local scene; while young guns Solo and Jimblah both deliver the greats.
Smokey’s Haunt Tracklisting 1 Stories 2 Naïve Bravado ft. Daniel Merriweather 3 Cleopatra 4 Clean Slate ft. Delta 5 The Big Sleep ft. Alex Burnett 6 On Your Shoulders ft. Solo and Jimblah 7 Hey Dianne ft. Bobby Flynn 8 Empire Tags 9 Knee Length Socks 10 Glimpses ft. Jane Tyrrell and Jimblah 11 Calling Cards ft. Texture Like Sun and Ev Jones 12 Orphan Rocker
This Is How We Never Die is the refreshingly on-point third instalment from prestigious Sydney producer Chasm. Joined by local and international artists; Chasm approaches beats like a learned artist with a brush, building on classic principles to create evolutionary new music.
aahh: This Is How We Never is the title to this absolute masterpiece of a production album. Explain to us the concept behind the title of the LP and what the you wanted to accomplish with this album? Chasm: The title is taken from a Currensy line I heard on one of his latest tapes, ‘Real music lasts forever, this is how we never die’. I just really like the phrase and I have always loved that idea with music, that it’s a legacy, something you can leave behind when your gone and people can hear it twenty, fifty years later and still feel it.With this album, I was just making music that I was feeling, I was just interested in working with MC’s that I loved and respected and making good soul music, that’s it.
aahh: When did you begin developing the concept to this album and how long did it take you to complete from start to finish? Chasm: I sat down with my manager and kinda said ok let’s do this now, maybe eight months ago, something like that. Before that I just had a verse done here, a verse done there and had a bunch of beats I knew I wanted to use. But I was busy with other projects so it was just a matter of organising a timeline and making the whole thing happen, but once it got underway it came together quite quickly really. For this album I used the MPC 5000, Logic, Maschine, records, a bunch of soft synths and a Moog Source. That was the artillery.
aahh: The emcee’s featured on This Is How We Never Die reads out like a who’s who of hip hop. We’d like to ask you about all the artists involved, but can you just give us a little background on a few of your favourites and how the relationships came about. Chasm: I had a great session with Guilty Simpson and Phat Kat when they were in town, such humble good dudes and we had a dope studio session. Both were inspiring to be in the lab with. Also to collaborate with Lazy Grey, Delta and Brad Strut was for me a huge thing. All legends of the scene and crazy talents so to have them bless my joints was killer. Gappy Ranks was another highlight, he came down to my studio when he was on tour out here, he just vibed on that beat in the lab and wrote and recorded it on the spot, another inspiring session watching him work like that.
aahh: The first single from the album is titled The Truth and features The Tongue, Hau and Dazastah. Tell us a bit about the recording process with this one we hear it was knocked out pretty quickly by the MC’s? Chasm: Yeah Daz had a day booked at 301 studios here in Sydney. He was out here on tour, and had a day in the studio finishing off collabs I think. So he had invited a few people down to work on stuff and asked me to pass through. So I took my MPC down with the original of ‘The Truth’ just chopped really simply on the sampler. When I played the tune those guys were all vibing on it and the energy in the studio was ill that day, just a good creative vibe, so they all ended up writing that afternoon and recording later that night. It was dope. Hau put down the chorus a couple of months later.
aahh: Your no stranger to the music scene in Australia, you’ve released albums with Astronomy Class through Elefant Traks and also solo work through Obese Records including numerous other side projects. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep producing music? Chasm: I just love music and I love being creative so it’s just something I always will do, even if I get frustrated and sick of the industry, give myself a few days off and I’m excited again to get in the studio and make something. I guess mainly its just hearing music old or new that is inspiring that gets me pumped to make more music, and just life, things in my life motivate me to express myself through the music.
aahh: What was one of the hardest challenges you faced on producing an album like this, especially with its international artists? Chasm: It was just time-consuming organising everyone, making sure I got all the parts back when I needed them and making sure everyone recorded when they said they would.The hardest thing though was the different microphones and booths that were in the mix! For one track you could have two or three different recordings so there was no consistency with the mic and room sound for all the vocals which made it tricky when it came to mixing. Trying to make it all sound cohesive was a tough one.
aahh: You launched This Is How We Never Die at the GoodGod Small Club in Sydney earlier in the month with a host of local names plus a special guest in DJ Neil Armstrong. Tell us about that. Chasm: It was a great night, all my people’s showed up so it was a nice vibe man, I appreciated the love that was shown from the crowd and all the rappers that jumped up with me, it was a mad night, I had a ball. We busted out a bunch of Astronomy Class tunes which is always fun, having Ozi Batla and The Tongue and Sir Robbo on stage and Thundamentals fellas got up and did some older joints that we did together which was cool.
aahh: Four dates have been announced in the This Is How We Never Die tour, are there any more dates planned and do you have any details you’d like to share on that? Chasm: Through July I’ll be touring the country in support of the album. The show will be a sound system style show with Hau on the mic to hype the crowd for me, should be a lot of fun. Will be having guests jump up at certain shows too!
aahh: What’s next for Chasm? We know you have many side projects, will we see say a Dr Don Don album soon? Chasm: Yes Dr Don Don album is pretty much done so gonna drop that after a couple more singles. Astronomy Class are hopefully gonna do an EP this year too and I have some ideas for the next Chasm release so hopefully will begin that too.
This Is How We Never Die is the refreshingly on-point third instalment from prestigious Sydney producer Chasm. True to the quality displayed throughout debut album Beyond the Beat Tape (2008), and Move (with Vida Sunshyne, 2010) Chasm proves himself once more as a consummate composer.
Joined by local and international artists; This Is How We Never Die features USA underground vocal heavyweights AG (Showbiz & AG), Guilty Simpson (Stones Throw), Vast Aire (Def Jux), and Fashawn (One), New Zealand’s Dave Dallas, and Blak Twang (UK). Not to mention an assortment of Australia’s top lyricists including Solo, Lazy Grey, Mdusu, Delta, Dialectrix and Brad Strut.
Chasm approaches beats like a learned artist with a brush, building on classic principles to create evolutionary new music. The collection of beats chosen for the album vary from old to new, moving through down tempo, blunted soul, up-tempo funk, and reggae. The This Is How We Never Die Tour will consist of dates throughout July and August. Chasm will be joined by various contributors from the album in their respective states, and Hau will be onboard for the whole tour!
Tour Dates: Fri 13th July – Mojo’s – Perth Fri 27th July - The Laundry, Melbourne Sat 28th July - Republic Bar, Hobart Fri 3rd August – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane More TBA
To celebrate the launch of the Hilltop Hoods Speaking in Tongues National Australian Tour the Hilltop Hoods are giving away The Good Life In The Sun - the official Drinking From The Sun Remix EP. With all tracks remixed by Suffa, the EP features Black Thought, Lotek, Chali 2na, Classified, Solo, Briggs, Plutonic Lab & One Above.
The Good Life In The Sun Remix EP is available from the Hilltop Hoods website as a free download and can be picked up as a hard copy at the Speaking In Tongues National Australian Tour only. After being hailed as one of the major draw cards for The Groovin’ The Moo Festival already smashing Maitland, Bendigo & Townsville with Canberra & Bunbury to come, the Hilltop Hoods will then perform at Bass In The Grass held in Darwin in late May, before launching into their national Speaking In Tongues Australian National Tour in June.
Speaking In Tongues National Tour Dates: 28 June Coffs Harbour – Plantation Hotel – 18+ 29th June Brisbane – Eatons Hill Hotel – LIC/AA – Sold out 27th July Adelaide – Adelaide Entertainment Centre – LIC/AA 28th July Byron Bay – Splendour In The Grass – LIC/AA – Sold Out 4th August Sydney – Horden Pavilion – LIC/AA 9th August Ballarat – Ballarat Uni – 18+ 10th August Traralgon – Kay St Entertainment Complex – 18+ 11th August Hobart – City Hall – LIC/AA 15th August Jindabyne – Station Resort – 18+ 17th August Perth – Challenge Stadium – LIC/AA 18th August Port Headland – North West Festival– LIC/AA 24th August Mildura – The Setts – 18+ 25th August Melbourne – Festival Hall – LIC/AA 26th August Albury– New Albury Hotel – 18+
This Is How We Never Die is the refreshingly on-point third instalment from prestigious Sydney producer Chasm. True to the quality displayed throughout debut album Beyond the Beat Tape (2008), and Move (with Vida Sunshyne, 2010) Chasm proves himself once more as a consummate composer.
Joined by local and international artists; This Is How We Never Die features USA underground vocal heavyweights AG (Showbiz & AG), Guilty Simpson (Stones Throw), Vast Aire (Def Jux), and Fashawn (One), New Zealand’s Dave Dallas, and Blak Twang (UK). Not to mention an assortment of Australia’s top lyricists including Solo, Lazy Grey, Mdusu, Delta, Dialectrix and Brad Strut.
Chasm approaches beats like a learned artist with a brush, building on classic principles to create evolutionary new music. The collection of beats chosen for the album vary from old to new, moving through down tempo, blunted soul, up-tempo funk, and reggae.
The new clip for the track Smokey lifted from This Is How We Never Die and is produced & directed by Bryce Hooper & Tristan S Edouard.
This Is How We Never Die is the refreshingly on-point third instalment from prestigious Sydney producer Chasm. True to the quality displayed throughout debut album Beyond the Beat Tape (2008), and Move (with Vida Sunshyne, 2010) Chasm proves himself once more as a consummate composer.
Joined by local and international artists; This Is How We Never Die features USA underground vocal heavyweights AG (Showbiz & AG), Guilty Simpson (Stones Throw), Vast Aire (Def Jux), and Fashawn (One), New Zealand’s Dave Dallas, and Blak Twang (UK). Not to mention an assortment of Australia’s top lyricists including Solo, Lazy Grey, Mdusu, Delta, Dialectrix and Brad Strut.
Chasm approaches beats like a learned artist with a brush, building on classic principles to create evolutionary new music. The collection of beats chosen for the album vary from old to new, moving through down tempo, blunted soul, up-tempo funk, and reggae. Lead single The Truth with its eclectic sample combinations, fuses Latin piano loops with brass accents and futuristic synth solos. Bringing a new shine to the art of braggadocio, the track features emcees The Tongue, Hau, and Dazastah.
Vast Aire and Dialect team up on the sample-heavy Intergalactic. The two brilliant rappers attack the beat as it slams alongside an eerie drone, while delicate piano flourishes glint throughout. I Am Legend features the masterful AG and Delta riffing over classic boom bap teamed with driving keys. Lyrically the track is a soulful reminisce to hip hop’s greats and the legacies left and lived by. This Is How We Never Die is certain to be a historical cornerstone reflective of the unifying strength hip hop inspires. A testament to the power an accomplished producer possesses, bringing the most diverse of artists and fans together.
Track List 1. New Day 2. Rusty Griz Feat. Lazy Grey 3. I Am Legend Feat. AG & Delta 4. The Truth Feat. The Tongue, Hau & Dazastah 5. Soldier and a Thinker Feat. Hau & Blak Twang 6. Highs and Lows Feat. Fashawn, Solo & David Dallas 7. Ruthless Feat. Guilty Simpson & Brad Strut 8. Intergalactic Feat. Vast Aire & Dialect 9. Smokey 10. Dreamin Feat. Gappy Ranks & RuCL 11. I See You Feat. Marvin Priest 12. All Lovely Feat. Phat Kat & Mr. Clean 13. King Pin Shottas Feat. Guilty Simpson, Mdusu & Hau 14. We’ve Arrived Feat. Jeswon, Tuka, Skryptcha, Scott Burns, Rinse & Dialectrix
Chasm – This Is How We Never Die is available through Obese Records on April 27.
