Formed in 1992 Koolism have become one of Australia’s most original and talented hip hop acts. The Canberran group consists of two performers, Hau on vocals and Danielsan producing and scratching beats. Koolism are recognized throughout the country and the world for their unique brand of hip hop best described as “drawing heavily on reggae, soul and jungle sound principles to create a thick funk, laced with drums that demand all listeners get off the wall and dance”. There is no doubt that if you have heard any of their work you would have to agree.



2002 has been a big year for the group, playing alongside the likes of the Black Eyed Peas, Blackalicious, Latyrx and touring the country with the best Australian hip hop acts. Koolism have also been recognized for their work when they were nominated for the “Best Hip Hop Act” award at the Australian Dance Music Awards. Their album titled

“Pt. 1” was released earlier in the year and if you listen to Triple J I am sure that you will have heard one of their tracks. I managed to catch up with the group when they weren’t out at the local food court with their girlfriends (listen to their ALBUM and you will understand) to ask them how they are going and what they have been up to.





So guys what have you been up to recently?



Dan – Live shows, we have been doing shows all year but things really got busy around July with our shows at the DMC DJ comps and straight after that a tour around the country with the Resin Dogs. Since then it just hasn’t stopped so really all we’ve been doing is traveling and performing. However, along the way we’ve had a lot of ideas, seen, heard and experienced some very inspiring stuff so next year we’re going to take a big break and do a lot of recording. We have some big projects on the drawing board.



Hau – I’ve just been finding myself. Recently went to Tibet in order to discover true meditation. It was amazing. I really got in touch with myself. I found myself, you may say. I also found myself in the spiritual mountains of Jamaica. Someone said they found me in Nigeria, but I haven’t been there before…





How is the Diverse EP coming along and what can fans expect?



Dan – The Diverse EP is a collection of works that people have been trying to get their hands on, such as ‘Koolism is’, which has been getting a lot of love from Triple J and listeners. We compiled it a few weeks ago so some of the material is completely fresh and new. You’ll be able to buy the EP in December.



Hau – Yeah, just expect good music. That ol’ nasty funk Koolism is known to always bring. There’s a little of everything on there for everyone.





Are you happy with the amount of exposure the album “Pt. 1” has gotten over the radio through Triple J?



Dan – We’re more than happy with every response to the ‘Pt 1’ album. But to be honest, the material on that release was so old by the time we got to releasing it many of the tracks were at least 4 years old. We’re way ahead of that now. I want people to hear where we’re at right now, so I’m happy everybody was feeling ‘Pt 1’ but we’re ready to move on immediately. I’ll be most happy if people react well to our next album in 2003.



How do you feel your music is progressing from your early work to the work that you are producing now? Also where would you like to take Koolism’s music from here?



Dan – I think musically we’re starting to get our balance. In the past we’ve been with a band, then back lashed and gone totally raw purist traditional Hip Hop style. As time goes by you learn from life. You see and hear more music and you develop skills. Now after we’ve done this and that already, we can start to break our boundaries, we can do a bit of everything, diversify, and finally having not rushed it like so many kids do now, we have the ability. In future, I see us reaching higher and higher and hopefully soon making a real contribution to our music and culture.



Which groups internationally give you inspiration to write lyrics/music?



Hau – My friends, family and surroundings are the real inspiration behind my lyrics. I’m feeling a lot of MCs though. Hip hop MCs, garage MCs, jungle MCs and ragga MCs. I’ve always preferred flows over lyrics though, but I guess you just gotta have that good balance to really standout.



Dan – I’m really feeling what people in UK are doing, people of all kinds. The UK has started to look within for their own sound and started to really love their own culture which they’ve developed and can call their own (Breakbeat and Rave culture), it’s evident even in UK R’n’B. As much as I love that music, and music from USA etc.. I’m self inspired now, I won’t write a book about it, I’ll just say that after 14 years I’ve learned this is the only way for me to work. If I’m inspired by anyone else then it’s by crap hopeless non talents that motivate me to put some real music out there.



In your music there are influences from several different genres of music. Which other genres aside from hip hop would you say most influence your music?



Hau – Man, we listen to all sorts of music. From whatevers on the radio to underground shit of any genre. But if I gotta really name some genres, I gotta say reggae, dancehall, garage, jungle…nah, fuck it. I love it all.



Dan – I’m personally not conscious of the way other music influences our sound. Everything we hear does that. Even popular average mainstream rock makes me hate guitars so much, even though I grew up on Santana, I’ll probably start eliminating any guitar from our mix. But it’s not a conscious effort.



Which album is currently on your turntable/CD player?



Hau – Raph Boogie’s forthcoming 12” is crazy. People are gonna flip when it comes out. Im also listening to Dillinja & LemonD, Sean Paul, Jodeci, NERD…what a funny list, eh?



Dan – Right now we’re at BVA’s (Mnemonic Ascent) studio in Adelaide. Black Moon’s first LP is playing as I write this. At home I’ve been playing soul albums like ‘who is Jill Scott’ or Ragga Twins “Reggae owes me money” is on heavy rotation plus anything new, I don’t want to really single anything out.





How did the group get together?



Dan – We’ve told the story a few times but here it is from my side. I had my own little rap group called United Nations of Hip Hop, we had a crew called UNP. I hope there’s no tapes of that shit anywhere. Anywayz, in 1992 I signed my name on this list of music talent in Canberra, then like a month later got a call asking if I’d produce beats for a group called Tribe Ledda L (L as in Latukefu) this was Hau’s group with with his cousins Hounga and Sione. I’d seen Tribe Ledda L around before, actually they beat my group at a prohibition rap comp. Well I was invited to submit a tape. I got the job, as time went by my other group dissolved and I became a part of the tribe, part of the family. By 1995 only me and Hau remained in the group, everyone else is still doing things too, we’re all heavily involved in music. Anyway that’s how Koolism and a tight friendship evolved. This year is Kooilsm’s 10th anniversary.



Aussie hip hop has developed its own style. In which direction do you believe Aussie hip hop is progressing towards and which groups or MCs are leading the way in Oz in your opinion?



Hau – Like I said just before, Raph Boogie will be killing people when his 12” comes out. Ive also heard the new Funkwig and De Northwode… Niiice. The boys of Mnemonic Ascent are on some other shit. The new Downsyde is heavy. Solomon Kleptoe from Melbourne will be making a lot of waves too, when his shit drops. The Hilltop Hoods are always killing it. There are many crews out there that are constantly raising the standard of Australian hip hop. We just hope we can help continue that.



Your music is very positive unlike a lot of other hip hop. Do you think that people respond differently to your music than other negative hip hop around Australia?



Hau – Yeah, for sure. I think our music is very inviting. People feel the positive vibes that we’re on and enjoy it. Unlike a lot shit out there that’s too aggressive and drives the listener away, excluding them with all that hip hop purist bullshit.



How has your music been received internationally and are there any plans for an overseas tour?



Hau – From what I hear from a lot people, people really seem to get into our music. I dunno…maybe it comes down to the positive music we make, again. It’s not just made for the Australian audience, its international music. We keep that in mind when we create it.



Did you enjoy being nominated for best hip hop group recently at the DMAs?



Dan – We’ve been honored to receive nominations every year. It’s good to get noticed, a lot of people are left out who are very deserving also. You can’t nominate everybody I suppose so it’s good to be one of the lucky few.



Coming from Canberra what is the hip hop scene like there?



Hau – It’s still growing. Growing well, I might add. People are now realizing Australian artists can make quality hip hop, so they really appreciate it. Crowds are getting bigger at most of the hip hop shows, also. There’s still really only a handful of people that know the real go with hip hop, but the others aren’t too far behind.





Koolism will be playing at Beatbox (Lounge) on Saturday 30th of November. I strongly recommend everyone to go and check out one of Australia’s best hip hop crews. Koolism will also be supporting DJ Shadow in all three Melbourne shows on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of December at the Forum theatre as well as numerous performances throughout Australia. And Sydneysiders can catch Koolism at Summer Break on Boxing Day at Bondi Pavilion. Buy tickets here