Mind Over Matter (Band)
Encyclopedia
Mind Over Matter are an Australian hip hop
outfit from Sydney
, Australia
consisting of MCs Willow and Smiles Again. The group have played alongside and toured in support of some of Australia's biggest musical exports, including Jebediah
, Bliss n Eso
, Drapht
, The Herd and Pez
.
Mind Over Matter first surfaced on the Australian hip hop scene in 2006 with a short mixtape
titled For Our Hip Hoppers. This independent release resulted in Mind Over Matter signing to Sydney Based Nurcha Records for their Debut LP Keepin' It Breezy.
The album features Dj Ilz on the majority of the tracks and although not an official member of the group DJ Ilz has been touring and performing with the group since 2006. Keepin' It Breezy was executively produced by Phatchance
and Drakezilla and recorded at Ilz studios in Sydney, the album received accolades in Australian Street Press and Media. The group appeared on the Triple J
Hip Hop show to discuss the album with Hau (of Koolism
) and the first single for the album Proud received national rotation on the station. The second single for the album "Clipped Wings" featured Vast Aire
of Cannibal Ox
fame and garnered single of the week on FBi Radio
, the group were also interviewed on the station as part of the weekly hip hop show.
In 2009 the group released a second mixtape entitled Free the Wolves. The mixtape was executively produced by Phatchance
and serves as a bridge between the first album and their next official release; it was called a departure from the happy-go-lucky sound of Keepin' It Breezy. The band launched the mixtape to a sold out crowd at Oxford Arts Factory performing with Dj Illa and Saving Grace for a youth based charity Exodus Youth Worx.
On March 18, 2011 the duo released their sophomore record Just Like Fireworks.
Australian hip hop
Australian hip hop music began in the early 1980s; originally it was primarily influenced by hip hop music and culture imported via radio and television from the United States of America. However, since the 1990s, a distinctive local style has developed. Australian hip hop is an underground music...
outfit from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
consisting of MCs Willow and Smiles Again. The group have played alongside and toured in support of some of Australia's biggest musical exports, including Jebediah
Jebediah
Jebediah is an Australian alternative rock band formed in 1994 in Perth, Western Australia. The group consists of vocalist and guitarist Kevin Mitchell, guitarist Chris Daymond, bassist Vanessa Thornton, and Kevin's brother Brett Mitchell on drums...
, Bliss n Eso
Bliss n Eso
Bliss n Eso are an ARIA Award-winning Australian hip hop band based in Sydney, and were originally known as Bliss N' Esoterikizm for their debut EP The Arrival...
, Drapht
Drapht
Drapht is an Australian hip hop singer from Perth, Western Australia. Drapht is a member of the Syllaboliks crew, which comprises fellow Australian hip hop artists from Perth.-Biography:...
, The Herd and Pez
Pez (musician)
Pez is a Hip-hop MC from Melbourne, Australia. He attended Kew High School in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. His debut album, A Mind Of My Own peaked at #19 on the ARIA Urban album charts.-Biography:...
.
Biography
The duo; Willow (Rowan Lockyer) and Smiles Again (Martin Brown) met at St Pius X College Chatswood in grade 7. By grade 9 Lockyer and Brown were practicing their freestyle skills and working together on what would become the roots of their music.Mind Over Matter first surfaced on the Australian hip hop scene in 2006 with a short mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
titled For Our Hip Hoppers. This independent release resulted in Mind Over Matter signing to Sydney Based Nurcha Records for their Debut LP Keepin' It Breezy.
The album features Dj Ilz on the majority of the tracks and although not an official member of the group DJ Ilz has been touring and performing with the group since 2006. Keepin' It Breezy was executively produced by Phatchance
Phatchance
Chance Waters , is an Australian hip hop artist and record producer from Sydney Australia. He released his debut album Inkstains in November 2009 via Obese Records Distribution....
and Drakezilla and recorded at Ilz studios in Sydney, the album received accolades in Australian Street Press and Media. The group appeared on the Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
Hip Hop show to discuss the album with Hau (of Koolism
Koolism
Koolism is an Australian hip hop duo originating from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.The members are lyricist Hau Latukefu and producer/DJ/musician Danielsan Ichiban .-History:Koolism started out in 1992 when Elleson joined a group by the name...
) and the first single for the album Proud received national rotation on the station. The second single for the album "Clipped Wings" featured Vast Aire
Vast Aire
Vast Aire is a rapper from New York City. He is one half of the New York hip hop duo Cannibal Ox, which consists of him and fellow rapper Vordul Mega. He is also a member of the rap group Atoms Family...
of Cannibal Ox
Cannibal Ox
Cannibal Ox, also known as CanOx, is an abstract hip hop duo from Harlem, New York City. Its members include Vast Aire and Vordul Mega. They are often accompanied by DJ Cip-One...
fame and garnered single of the week on FBi Radio
FBi Radio
FBi is an independent, not-for-profit community radio station in Sydney, Australia. FBi places a heavy emphasis on local alternative music: it has a policy that at least 50 per cent of its music content is to be Australian, of which at least half comes from Sydney musicians.FBi began 'test...
, the group were also interviewed on the station as part of the weekly hip hop show.
In 2009 the group released a second mixtape entitled Free the Wolves. The mixtape was executively produced by Phatchance
Phatchance
Chance Waters , is an Australian hip hop artist and record producer from Sydney Australia. He released his debut album Inkstains in November 2009 via Obese Records Distribution....
and serves as a bridge between the first album and their next official release; it was called a departure from the happy-go-lucky sound of Keepin' It Breezy. The band launched the mixtape to a sold out crowd at Oxford Arts Factory performing with Dj Illa and Saving Grace for a youth based charity Exodus Youth Worx.
On March 18, 2011 the duo released their sophomore record Just Like Fireworks.
Awards
- Keepin' It Breezy was nominated for Album of the Year 2008 in J Mag.
Discography
- For Our Hip Hoppers mixtape (2006) - Independent
- Keepin' It Breezy (2008) - Nurcha Records
- Free the Wolves mixtape (2009) - Independent
- Just Like Fireworks (2011)
Singles
- "Proud" featuring Dj Illa (2008)
- "Clipped Wings" featuring Vast Aire and Dj Illa (2008)
- "It's Not a Secret" (2009)
External links
- Official website
- Mind Over Matter on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...