Flowers in the Pavement is the latest offering from Sydneysiders Bliss n Eso with DJ Izm. A mixture of nonsensical & childish yet comical and witty lyricism, some fresh beats from Weapon X, Suffa and BNA Productions has proven a surefire recipe for success and acclaim in the ever conquering Australian Hip Hop scene. Add a mixtape that intertwines Kelis, Mobb Deep and Dr Dre beats with Bliss N Eso lyrics and you have one of the most promotional power tools seen so far, I caught up with Bliss to discuss the concepts behind Flowers in the Pavement. Similar to their album this interview reads with comical, juvenile and obvious answers occasionally littered with some coherent thought and a big pinch of arrogance.
How would you describe yourselves and your style?
They aren’t words to describe a vision so dirty and beautiful at the same time. To get the full description you’d have to jump into our minds and I’d say that quite impossible without using the music.
How does the multicultural aspect of your members affect you musically?
Several of the tracks in the album contain middle eastern influences… this hasn’t come from Dj Izm being half Moroccan, but rather just musicians appreciating music from other genres and parts of the world.
What do you feel you have achieved since ‘The Arrival’ and how has your style grown?
We’ve spent time experimenting how far we can go with expression. The four years in between has let us develop allot.
How did the 2003 Music Oz award affect your motivation and your career, particularly when you hadn’t released since 2000?
It was cool at the time, but really didn’t do anything in terms of us gaining higher stature or recognition. I will say however, the head A&R from island/defjam emailed me saying that he had received the “music oz winner compilation” and loved our track and wanted to hear more. So that was definitely cool.
You have been painted in a similar light to the Hoods, in terms of being able to break a commercial market not because you have tailored your music to the mainstream but it is simply of an accessible style. How would you feel about hearing your tracks played in the Top 40? How would you feel being well known in the mainstream?
If the mainstream was about talent and heart we would be number 1. Obviously we want as many people to hear out work as possible. If Jessica Simpson has a show, why can’t we!
Do you think radio attention on the commercial networks is positive for our scene?
Hell ya! Even if its wack artists getting the play…. It all helps develop the awareness of local hip hop and helps the scene grow.
What do you make of the sell-out crowds at the block party?
It was amazing to see the turnout and the crowd response. We started the show off and were welcoming with nothing less than Melbourne’s punters going nuts. We really didn’t know how the response would be towards us… but it was amazing.
What’s your take on major label involvement in our scene?
As before…Even if a wack artist blows up, it still directly helps the scene grow, because people will always dig deeper for other artists.
In terms of Australian hip hop we are starting to see state trends, Melbourne has the raw, grimy, dirty type sounds with an emphasis on word play and intellect, Adelaide bring the funk but Sydney are definitely the nations leaders in imagination and punch lines. Why do you think each state is producing such differing styles?
It seems that everyone’s just trying to be different and that s a great start.
How would you describe Flowers in the Pavement?
A ringing alarm clock ducked taped to a sleepers head.
Where did the concept for the title stem from? What are your flowers in the pavement?
Jeez… common… its not that hard to work out… I’m mean obviously we are flowers breaking the bleak musical monotony which we call the pavement.
How do two creative minds work through the creative process to create one track/album?
A lot of the tracks where based on freestyles. We would sit down with a couple of lagers and a beat and just freestyle back and forth. Then we’d stop and go though what we’d put down and pick out parts that we thought where fresh… we’d compile those parts and then write verses from them.
Mixtapes are seldom seen these days, and yours has been a great success, where did the idea come from and how do you think it has affected the LP release?
Putting a pre album mixtape out is hardly a new idea. The states in particular are doing it non stop at the moment. Australia as usual is behind, so we have been the first crew to do it in the country as a promotional tool for the album. Its been the most effective marketing and publicity tool we’ve had so far… everyone loves it. They are hearing bliss n eso rhyming familiar beats which makes them give us a chance… then they realise its dope. It’s also great because it’s free and it gets our music into cats hands that might not normally no who we are… and they don’t have to fork out anything for it. They have a listen and then they are hooked and go get the album.
What do you think makes good hip hop?
Being original and also being yourself, and delivering it in an engaging and interesting way that sounds good.
What do you think encapsulates bad/fake hip hop?
Just dudes not being honest with who they are.
In Australia’s current political climate we are seeing more and more opinionated and politically orientated rhymes. Do you think music is an appropriate platform for political expression?
For sure… what ever floats your boat.
What is the most bizarre thing that happened in the studio during the recording of your upcoming Flowers In The Pavement album?
I (bliss) was in the booth recording this two minute verse in one take. half way through it, I felt this huge burp coming and I had to let it out… so I waited until I had a breathing point between phrases. I burped and then just kept on going till the end. when I finished no one said anything through the headphones, so I walked out of the booth and eso was just staring at me in complete silence… and so I said “what?” and he just shook his head and said “bro that was incredible, we are keeping that burp in there! thats history right there! what other rapper can just burp like that and keep on going for two minutes of straight spitting” I cracked up and was like “ya sure – as if we won’t delete it” . but eso ended up convincing me to keep it in there…. so we did. and if you don’t believe me… pick up flowers in the pavement and try and find it… its like some where’s Wally shit…. where’s bliss’s burp! haha
Bliss, Eso & DJ Izm are touring nationally throughout October. Check out the dates below.
Fri 1 Oct - Canberra, Church Bar
Sun 3 Oct - Adelaide, Jimmy Rowes
Fri 8 Oct - Geelong, The National Hotel
Sat 9 Oct - Melbourne, Revolver
Wed 13 Oct - Byron Bay, C-Moog
Thu 14 Oct - Gold Coast, Quest
Sat 16 Oct - Brisbane, Mary St Nightclub
Wed 20 Oct - Hobart, Mobius
‘Flowers in the Pavement’ is out now through Obese Records.
