The Australian soul, R&B and hip hop scene is booming. And a new wave of artists – notably including REMI, the first hip hop act to win the Australian Music Prize in 2014 – are enjoying unprecedented international opportunities and exposure.
This month Tkay Maidza, the reigning Queen of Australian Hip Hop, will follow her trap banger Flexin' with an EP, Last Year Was Weird Vol. 1. In November, Sydney's Ruel – who's being positioned as a pop-soul prodigy like Sam Smith, Jack Garratt or Lewis Capaldi – will appear at Tyler, The Creator's Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in Los Angeles alongside KIDS SEE GHOSTS, SZA and Lauryn Hill. The 15-year-old has experienced a spectacular rise since linking with M-Phazes for 2017's Golden Years. Indeed, RCA Records' super-A&R Tunji Balogun snapped him up… Back in 2009, Melbourne's Daniel Merriweather released the now-classic Love & War via Mark Ronson's Allido Records. This year he's contributed vocals to Only Can Get Better – the much-vaunted debut single from Silk City, Ronson's intriguing disco-house vehicle with Diplo.
However, if you want to scope out tomorrow's Australian urban stars, the hub is BIGSOUND – September's four-day music industry gathering in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley. Increasingly, BIGSOUND – which originated in 2002 – really does manifest "the future of music". Last year the festival showcased those gamechanging newcomers Baker Boy, Jesswar and Miss Blanks.
Alas, the Australian urban movement is traditionally male-dominated. Yet BIGSOUND 2018 has programmed a welcome spectrum of female performers – among them KAIIT, the Egyptian-Australian soul poet Nardean, and the alt-R&B group Pink Matter. Curiously, there's even a veteran Aussie act in Brisbane's Butterfingers. The rock-hoppers emerged from a decade-long hiatus just over a year ago. Here are OG Flavas' BIGSOUND 2018 picks.
1. kaiit
If there is one 'act to watch' at BIGSOUND, it's Melbourne MC/vocalist KAIIT (aka Kaiit Waup). Jill Scott recently commended Waup on Instagram after a chance viewing of her video OG Luv Kush p.2 – playfully suggesting that she and Erykah Badu had an Aussie love child. Waup grew up moving between her country of birth, Papua New Guinea, and Melbourne. Vibing to Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse, the bohemian spirit developed her own intuitive blend of jazz, soul and hip hop. Then just 19, she initially generated buzz with 2017's Natural Woman – obliquely referencing Aretha Franklin's '60s soul staple. No wonder that the local collective Cookin' On 3 Burners lately sought Waup for their retro-funk Warning... This month she'll present her debut EP, Live From Her Room, entailing OG Luv Kush p.2 (and p.1!). Waup has already had a huge year of performances, supporting The Internet. Post-BIGSOUND, she will tour – and hit festivals.
2. kwame
A$AP Ferg has always had a loyal fanbase in Australia – and he's returned that love. We have the Trap Lord to thank for encouraging Kwame – a rapper, writer and producer from Western Sydney. In 2016, Kwame attended Listen Out as a punter only to find himself freestyling on stage with an impressed Ferg. The video went viral on Facebook. Born to Ghanian parents in New Zealand, Kwame relocated to Australia in childhood. Emulating his hero Kanye West, he began making beats. Today he's one of Australia's most auspicious hip hop talents. Last year Kwame issued the Lesson Learned EP, home to his popular, J Cole-ishFriends. He's since followed with Endless Conversations., led by WOW – hooky post-trap. Kwame wowed with his guest spots on Peking Duk's Wasted Tour. Next month, he'll open for Tkay Maidza, together with Arno Faraji.
3. clypso
Describing CLYPSO's hybrid music is a creative endeavour in itself. The Sydney vocalist, songwriter and auteur-producer connects Afro-punk, dancehall, breakbeat, grime, chiptune and synth-pop. CLYPSO could easily be playlisted with Robyn, Santigold andEcca Vandal. In fact, she's branded her style "troppo chilli flakes". CLYPSO first gained momentum with 2017's cruisy Yolo. This year she's dropped avant bops such as Middle Ground (featuring Kwame!) and Pop Roll Flow – like a trippier Shamir. CLYPSO also cameos on PACES' single Going Mad. Recently touring with PNAU, CLYPSO has proven a dynamic live performer – singing, playing instruments and raving.
4. adrian eagle
Adelaide's Adrian Eagle delivers hip hop soul with a bluesy, and rootsy, fervour. In late 2017 the singer/songwriter released 17 Again – a surprisingly jaunty number about his youthful experiences with mental health and body image concerns. This year Eagle graced Hilltop Hoods' comeback Clark Griswold– and he's accompanied the posse on a European tour, culminating in slots at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. Eagle likewise turns up on his former tour buddies Thundamentals' forthcoming fifth album, I Love Songs, with the highlight True Love. A solo EP is in the pipeline.
5. imbi the girl
Sydney's imbi the girl is on the way to becoming a star – and queer icon. Imbi, who identifies as non-binary, introduced their eloquent take on poetry, hip hop and soul with 2017's indelible acidic. Lately, they shared the expressive swell, prompting a Billboard write-up. Meanwhile, imbi surfaced on Spit Syndicate's Contraband & Conversation (with Jackie Onassis' Kai) off this year's ORBIT. Imbi also supported Sampa The Great and appeared at Queensland's Big Pineapple Music Festival. Imbi has announced that they'll issue an EP, for me, on 14 September. Catch them live at next month's A$AP Rocky-headlined Listen Out.
6. thando
Thando Sikwila first showcased at BIGSOUND in 2016. The stellar alt-R&B artist has an extensive history. Born in Zimbabwe, Sikwila grew up in Canberra, before relocating to Melbourne. Here, she joined the dub-reggae collective Echo Drama – still extant. In 2014, Sikwila was a contestant on The Voice, with Kylie Minogue, then Ricky Martin, as her coaches. Next, she portrayed Effie White in the inaugural Australian production of the musical Dreamgirls. In 2016 Sikwila premiered officially as a solo act with the modishly electronic Digital Love Letters EP – the dramatic Trouble a highlight. This year she circulated the powerful NUMB, blessed by REMI – writing about negotiating her identity as a black woman in modern Australia. It transpires that Sikwila has close ties with REMI's House Of Beige fold: she guested on REMI'sMy People. Her latest single, the quiet stormy Happy, is about conquering anxiety and self-doubt. She's currently on tour with Odette.
7. turquoise prince
Canberra's Turquoise Prince (aka Teon Lolesio) might be the most mysterious figure in the contemporary Australian urban scene. Both a rapper with flair, and a smooth R&B vocalist, Lolesio was once known as LTC (Lolesio The Courageous). He's featured prominently on Horrorshow's LP Bardo State and Spit Syndicate's ORBIT. Lolesio, now signed to Warner, recently aired Lighter – flipping Khalid's uptempo electro 'n' b with darker lyrics.
8. arno faraji
In 2017 Perth rapper/producer Arno Faraji became the first hip hopper to triumph in the Unearthed High competition, on the basis of his cult track Destiny's. As part of his prize, he received guidance from REMI and Sensible J, recording the swinging synth-hop Bless (What It's Like). Faraji's steez is to rap with a lowkey flow over wavy, KAYTRANADA-esque deep house beats. In January, he toured with Mallrat.
9. kian
You may know KIAN as the dude who sings the hook on Danzal "Baker Boy" Baker's 2017 break-out Cloud 9. Hailing from Castlemaine, KIAN met the future Fresh New Prince of Arnhem Land while travelling with his dad Dion Brownfield, who oversees the Indigenous Hip Hop Projects initiative. Baker was a mentor. Since Cloud 9, Kian has joined Baker on stage, supporting 50 Cent. In the interim, he's refined his own indie 'n' B. This year Kian disseminated the singles Too Far Gone(with Shepparton's Vince The Kid) and Waiting – the latter like a folkier ZAYN. The 16-year-old has been named the 2018 winner of triple j's Unearthed High.
10. paces
Following the US, Australia has spawned its own super-producers – like the Gold Coast's PACES (aka Mikey Perry). Early on, Perry helmed Tkay Maidza's tropical Switch Lanes. The "swagwave" pioneer also played a role in Guy Sebastian's reinvention from nostalgic Australian Idol star into hipster fave (though, truthfully, Sebastian has always had street cred because he solicited Clipse for a remix of 2004's Out With My Baby). Sebastian sang the garage Desert on Perry's 2016 debut Vacation.
Last year Perry signed to the US Republic Records on the back of his streaming mega-hit Savage. Now he's promoting a sophomore, ZAG. The album's theme is change – and Perry is aiming for an epic sound, amping up the EDM, hip hop and pop. Perry has long championed hip hop's female MCs. On Vacation, he had a cut with Baltimore's MIA-affiliated Rye Rye. ZAGencompasses the neo-moombahton Going Mad, featuring CLYPSO and Raven Felix, the Cali Latinx rapper down with Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang stable. (Besides, Perry actually penned Going Mad with Maidza.) He reunited, too, with Sebastian on the festive Siren. Plus ZAG has a fresh version of Savage, with Atlanta's MC Nessly. Perry is well established on the tour circuit. He even has a fan tribe: Pacey Peeps. Come November, he'll tour a new live show.
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