A decade on from the release of his 2001 breakthrough album Labor Days, underground, indie hip-hop guru Aesop Rock – known for his deep tone and intelligent rhymes – has had a meandering journey since. The past few years have seen him release two studio albums and take on countless projects and collaborations that range from a picture book/record combination with illustrator Jeremy Fish, to composing 45 minute mix of shifting musical landscapes for Nike, designed to keep you motivated while you’re running.

Continuing this sequence of fascinating endeavors, Aesop has recently hooked up with Kimya Dawson, who most of you will know from her Moldy Peaches fame (or as the quirky voice from the Juno soundtrack). The pair are currently finishing up their album together and are bringing their live act to Australia, touring through October.

“Over the years we have emailed a couple of times and I’m just a big fan. I’ve been a big fan of her music for a while, ever since the Moldy Peaches. I’ve contacted her a few times over the years, most recently to ask if she wanted to contribute to the blog that I was starting up here with a couple of people: 900Bats. At that time she was working on her new record and she had a song that needed a beat so she asked me if I was interested in working together. I was super psyched because I’ve always liked her stuff a lot.

“I did a bunch of work on her solo album and then we kept writing together and decided to make a collaborated album. We really just kind of met, became friends and liked each other’s music.”

The live show itself promises to be a mixed bag – not only has Aesop got his new work with Kimya to reel through, he also has back catalogue to drop in and has even brought Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wizz along for the ride – members of his other side project and hip-hop supergroup Hail Mary Mallon.

“There’s a bunch of switching around on stage and stuff, but everyone kinda gets to do their own thing, he says. “Usually part of the set will be my solo stuff and Hail Mary Mallon stuff and then we’ll bring out Kimya and do some of her stuff and new material that we haven’t put out together yet. It’s awesome to have a mix of acoustic and beats.”

“It’s kinda cool to just rap over a guitar sometimes, there are aspects that are easier and parts that are tougher; if you fuck up it’s way more noticeable, but you also don’t have to project your voice so loud, so it’s a completely different way of using your voice that I hadn’t really been exposed to before this. I like how you can hear every word.”