As one of the biggest players in Australian hip hop, Obese Records have been throwing their notorious Block Party parties for several years now. One of the big-ticket events on the annual hip hop calendar, it’s a nationwide showcase featuring some of the best acts on their roster. And now in 2008 it’s back for its fifth installment in what will be the biggest, most far-reaching tour yet: while last year it took in sold out shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Melbourne, this year it’ll be stepping up to extending its reach to Perth, Canberra and Byron Bay.
The Obese Records will be throwing down an amazing lineup in each city, and one of the favourites will no doubt be Downsyde: since releasing their first full length LP Land of The Giants in ’03 they’ve reached out to a national audience, following it up with When The Dust Settles the following year. Consisting of three MCs and three live musicians, things have been quiet on the Downsyde front for quite a while. But that’s about to change: they’ve added a new drummer to their roster, and they’re about to drop their new release All City. ITM chats to Downsyde ahead of their appearance at the Block Party in Melbourne.
So it’s been a few years now since When The Dust Settles dropped, what have Downsyde been up to? Who makes up the crew these days do all members remain?
Just been hitting the studio hard the last couple of years, this latest record we are about to release All City, it took a lot of concentration and it’s our best shit yet, so we wanted to take our time and get musically and dynamically the best recording down possible. All the original members stand except we have a new monster behind the drum kit. Hi Hat is now on the drums for Downsyde but all is the same at the camp otherwise.
Are you still all based in Perth? Does the isolation of Australia’s western most city help or hinder the creative process? I can see benefits in being able to focus entirely on your work but also troubles perhaps with getting your music out?
Yeah we all still Perthites for real, a lot of great Australian bands have come out of Perth in the past and a lot that have dedicated that to the isolation and laidback lifestyle of Perth. It’s a dope place, we have a healthy music scene and all is well here for now and getting your music out over here doesn’t really differ from being placed anywhere else in the country. Downsyde and many Perth acts are some of the country’s hardest touring acts so all it is a couple of extra hours on the plane over.
It seems to be quite a fertile scene, names from your SBX crew seem to constantly pop up with a release, Mortar in particular doesn’t seem to sleep. But on the other hand we don’t hear of a lot of new MCs/DJs/producers out of Perth. Who is holding it down skillwise, representing the next wave of WA acts?
But yeah it must be something in the water, or something the SBX clan are on! Otherwise there are a few new cats doing their thing, but no one else seems to be putting in the hard yards and getting recognition.
Back briefly to the SBX crew, will we ever see a crew album? I know it’s a lot of acts to work together on one project, but it would be one of the most anticipated Australian releases in some time I think.
Yes it will be happening, there has been serious talks about it lately…I think everyone is just waiting for their new releases drop though, as there are a few just about to hit the streets. But then, SBX will be taking it to the next level with a collaboration joint!
Now I believe you have been hard at work in the studio with a new album set to drop soon, break down what stage you are at, what the music is sounding like and who we can expect to see and hear on the new LP.
The new album is finished and mastered and in final stages, will be dropping mid 08. Back to the roots, Downsyde bring you a funk filled fusion of party jams with a heavy live musical vibe. Beats, rhymes and straight up party shit!
One of the most poignant lines from the last LP was, “We never went mainstream it just followed us,” discussing Australian hip hop’s crossover to public ears. How do you view the public perception of Australian hip hop now? Has the crossover of some acts affected the quality of music being released? Do you approach things any differently with the changed listening landscape?
We just do what we feel at the time and if people want to get with it, cool. We try and take all of the environments into play but don’t let it influence our sound too much. We were just trying to do something different and vibrant on this album.
How do you work out making an album as a crew? Do you all sit down and pick beats? Decide who rhymes where? What will be the single?
We have a main studio set up that we get together regularly at and put things together. Everyone has set ups at their houses and then we bring all our ideas together and pick what we are going to work on next. Then put it in to the main set up and work on it from there as a whole crew or just a couple of us, basically who’s ever feeling the vibe at the time.
You’ll be playing the Melbourne leg of the Block Party tour. Will it be new material, old material, grunge rock with interpretive ballet on stage… What can the people expect to see? And is this the first time the crew has hit the road as a whole in a while?
Yes yes all new material mainly with splashes of the Downsydian classics, new drummer, new tracks, new dopeness. We ready to party ya’ll!
Finally give me one product that would be perfect for each Downsyde member to endorse?.
G strings for the ladies! With all our faces on them, and we can have contests on the road at the merchandise counter to see who sells the most… haha! Oh yeah, and I want a Nike Air Max sponsorship, Air Armee. For real.
Downsyde play the Melbourne leg of the Block Party, June 6th at the Palace Theatre. Check out the list below for details on dates and lineups…
May 3rd: Manning Bar, Sydney
Pegz
Muph & Plutonic
Bias B
Hyjak n Torcha
Drapht
Chasm
Spit Syndicate
Reason
Hosted by Reason
May 4th: Arena, Brisbane
Pegz
Muph & Plutonic
Bias B
Drapht
Spit Syndicate
Hyjak N Torcha
Tommy Ill’Figga
Hosted by Yuin Huzami
May 16th: HQ, Adelaide
Pegz
Muph & Plutonic
Chasm
Drapht
Spit Syndicate
Hyjack n Torcha
Reason
Hosted by Reason
May 17th: Hyde Park Hotel, Perth
Pegz
Muph & Plutonic
Chasm
Drapht
May 23rd: Uni Bar, Canberra
Pegz
Muph & Plutonic
Chasm
Hyjak N Torcha
Spit Syndicate
May 24th: Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
Pegz
Bias B
Chasm
Muph & Plutonic
May 30th: Uni Bar, Hobart
Pegz
Muph & Plutonic
Drapht
Hyjak n Torcha
Spit Syndicate
mdusu&dameza
June 6th: Palace Theatre, Melbourne
Downsyde
Pegz
Muph & Plutonic
Bias B
Chasm
Drapht
Spit Syndicate
Reason
Hosted by Reason
kidMC says...
great interview... check these guys out - they're great!
mattforsyth says...
yay i love downsyde!