Previous Launching Pad Artists | SBA Music - Solutions in Sound and Vision

Since 1995, Terra Firma have been a driving force in Australian hip hop. As members of Adelaide’s legendary Certified Wise collective, MC/producer Simplex, MC Raph A.L, MC Mic Lez and DJ Dyems have delivered a body of work that is one of the most distinguished in the Antipodes. With razor sharp, socially conscious lyricism delivered over Simplex’s melodic and detailed beats, they’ve been a guiding light in the local movement during its gradual growth to maturity over the last decade.

Following a spate of compilation and guest appearances, the group released their debut album Waking the Past in 2003. A watershed release for Australian hip hop, it arrived in the same year as fellow crew members Hilltop Hoods broke boundaries with The Calling, which also featured Terra Firma on the Certified Wise posse cut “Certificate”. Waking’s poignant lead track “The Night the Heavens Cried” became the most requested track on Adelaide’s Fresh FM for ten straight weeks when it was revived as a single in 2007 and is now considered a local classic. Other album and compilation tracks, notably “The Good Life”, “Now I’m Somewhere” and “Over It” have found homes on radio playlists across the country.

As the curator of the Culture of Kings series of CDs, DJ Dyems has been pivotal in broadening the audience for Australian hip hop. Culture of Kings Vol 2 was the first ever Australian hip hop album to receive feature album honours on Triple J, and marked the beginning of the genre’s rise to legitimacy in the eyes of the general public. Terra Firma also contributed stand out tracks to all three volumes of the series.

Simplex retains a reputation as a hardworking community activist, with eight years of involvement with various workshops and community projects which have taken him to numerous regional areas to work in indigenous communities, youth correction facilities, canteen workshops, in which he has tutored and recorded budding young artists.

In 2007, Simplex set up his label, Simbiotic Audio, as a home for aspiring South Australian talent and Terra Firma’s own recordings. The label launched with the ferocious and controversial debut from Adelaide battle MC Damo, who continues to stir the Aussie hip hop pot with his unapologetic lyrical jabs at anyone who comes within spitting distance.

Live, Terra Firma flesh out Simplex’s nuanced production with a four-piece band that includes guitar, bass, drums and a multitasking saxaphone/flautist/keyboardist. Terra Firma have been performing live extensively since 1999, and have shared the stage with some of the biggest names in hip hop including: Cypress Hill, Digital Underground, Kool Keith, The Beatnuts, Redman and Method Man, Lord Finesse, Jungle Brothers, People under the Stairs, Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, Rocksteady Crew and the Sugar Hill Gang to name a few. They have toured nationally with the Culture of Kings tours, the Obesecity tour and perform annually during the snow season at Mt Hotham and Falls Creek.
Terra Firma’s much anticipated sophomore LP Music To Live By is ready for an August 2008 release. Sonically polished and lyrically astute, the album is entirely produced by Simplex, and boasts guest appearances from the entire Certified Wise crew (Hilltop Hoods, Funkoars, After Hours, Cross Bred Mongrels), Stones Throw recording artist Percee P and Michigan-based MC Kassolo. The album will be accompanied by a set of live dates throughout spring and summer.

Be sure to check Terra Firma out at the below gig:
THURSDAY 1 JANUARY - Groove on New Year's Day Festival, Adelaide

“We likes to party” was featured in Club Beats 0810 (available in VCD/DVD format) and “Music To Live By” was featured in Urban 0810 (available on CD & Digital).

While most bands these days tend to wait a couple of years in-between albums, Birds of Tokyo’s methodology is more in keeping with the greats of rock’n’roll than keeping up with the Joneses.

So, less than 12-months after their stunning independent debut, Day One, Birds of Tokyo are about to present Universes – their breathtaking and still proudly independent follow-up album.

And right he is. Though some things have changed over the years, Birds of Tokyo have been smart enough to avoid trends, instead focusing on what seems to be a long-lost strategy: write great songs, then put them out. Seems simple really.

So, striking while the iron is hot, Birds of Tokyo have wasted no time in writing great songs and putting them out… and if you thought their debut turned some heads, then Universes will just about break necks.

Darker than its older brother, but no less focused on razor sharp pop hooks, Universes is Birds of Tokyo in full flight. Inspired by the runaway success the past year has blessed them with, the band are energised to an unbelievable level. Hell, according to Spark, they’ve already started writing their third album!

Recorded in a remote location in Western Australia’s renowned Margaret River region, Universes is an absolute flex of creative muscle. Though it builds upon the strengths already laid out in Day One, Universes is all about songs. The production might be bigger, heavier and more bombastic, but at the heart of the album is the band’s unarguable ability to write tunes that have an almost universal appeal.

To add the finishing touches, Birds of Tokyo enlisted Tim Palmer – one of the few men whose mixing skills command the right blend of crunching fidelity and day-dreamy minimalism to make Universes come to life the way the band envisioned from the beginning. The man behind the more beautiful mixes of U2, The Cure and Pearl Jam – Palmer was an essential addition to the Birds of Tokyo team.

Indicative of the album’s energetic feel (but by no means a template in itself), Silhouettic sees a band full of confidence. A more detailed trip through Universes, however, reveals much more than just a knack for writing singles.

Without spoiling anything for you, Universes is Birds of Tokyo’s creative pinnacle.
At least thus far. Flowing like a well-written book, the album travels in many directions and heads down many paths, from the up-beat and immediate Broken Bones – set to become Universes’ second single, to the delicate and tender The Baker’s Son…
Birds of Tokyo’s most innovative and capturing musical epic to date.

So kick back, pop Universes in your CD player, and see where it takes you…who knows, you might not want to leave once you get there.

The Hands

August 2008

The Hands are certainly one of the best live acts to come on to the scene in a very long time. Combining the talents of brothers Clayton & Lachlan Doley on keyboards, where you have Clayton on Hammond organ and Lachlan on the Hohner clavinet, these young guys are redefining keyboard playing as we know it.

Their debut release “live and breathe” was received to critical acclaim and features guest vocalists Jade MacRae, Kara Grainger and Mahalia Barnes whose careers have sky rocketed since. They have developed a roots inspired sound with energy and sophistication that when combined with their catchy songs makes them instantly recognizable.

The brothers Clayton and Lachlan started playing together on the family piano as children in their hometown of Adelaide and soon were working as professional musicians while still at school. Clayton moved to Sydney and joined The Mighty Reapers all by the time he was 18. He also began playing with the legendary Jackie Orszaczky when he was 19 and he continued to play with him for the next 10 years. Clayton also went on to play and record with Renee Geyer, Billy Thorpe, Kasey Chambers, The Whitlams and many other major acts in Australia before moving to New York.
Lachlan then, having moved to Sydney began playing with the Mighty Reapers and started to make his own way up very quickly. Likewise playing and recording with Powderfinger, Jimmy Barnes, Billy Thorpe and others.

Armed with many new songs, Clayton returned from New York and the brothers decided to form their own band. As a consequence, The Hands launched on to the Sydney scene in 2003 and have consistently built a reputation as a ‘must see’ live act as they work their way around Australia.

It has been 4 years since the release of the first Hands album and the brothers have been busy. Clayton has most recently been touring as the keyboard player for the Divinyls. He is one of Sydney’s most in demand session players and has played on over 100 different albums for some of Australia’s biggest names. He has also built up a reputation as a songwriter and producer, having written tracks that are on albums by artists such as The Whitlams and Jade MacRae as well as many others, and producing a track on Jimmy Barnes’ platinum selling Double Happiness album. Clayton also spent part of 2007 as the musical director and band leader of the house band for Paul McDermott’s The Sideshow on ABC, which The Hands also appeared on. He has been playing with artists such as Jon Stevens, Jade MacRae, Guy Sebastian, Harry Manx (Canada), Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges (USA), Richard Clapton as well as many more, and played with Silverchair at the 2006 ARIA’s in their tribute to Midnight Oil.

Lachlan won the Hip Hop artist of the year in 2005 MUSICOZ as his alter ego Lucky Dollar for his collaboration with Good Buddha. He has most recently been playing keyboards for Powderfinger on the Across the Great Divide tour and traveled around Australia and Europe with them throughout 2007. He has also toured and played with The Beautiful Girls, Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia Barnes and many more.

The brothers have once again joined forces to give us ‘Everything Is Wonderful’ a superb recording of vintage instruments through vintage microphones, and the glorious sound of tape that recreates the fat retro sounds popularized by artists such as Amy Winehouse and Sharon Jones. For this album The Hands have brought together some of the finest musical talents in Australia, culminating in a collection of soul originals performed with the cool restraint and explosive energy for which The Hands are renowned.

The first single ‘More and More and More’ was an Itunes Single of the Week and the album is currently an Itunes staff pick. Clayton and Lachlan were also invited to perform at the ARIA’s Hall of Fame Ceremony as part of The Russell Morriss Supergroup.

“The next time The Hands are playing locally, I’m over there in a New York minute – they’re that good!” Rhythms Magazine

“Dueling keyboards, soul originals with swagger and the spirit of Donny Hathaway.” Tim Freedman, The Whitlams

The first single from their album, Everything Is Wonderful - “More And More And More” will be featured in Contemporary Grooves 0808 (available in CD & digital formats) and Home Grown 0808 (available in digital format only)

The Herd

July 2008

The Herd formed in 2000 when the collective behind the independent Sydney-based record label Elefant Traks decided to collaborate on a release rather than work as individual producers and MCs. The result was a wildly diverse 18-track self-titled album that featured the triple j hit ‘Scallops’. With the success of that song The Herd toured extensively and developed into a cohesive unit – a big change given that, pre-Herd, they were a completely freestyle/improv group called Dase Team 5000.

February 2003 saw their follow-up album ‘An Elefant Never Forgets’ released amidst the invasion of Iraq by coalition forces and, closer to home, the devastating bushfires in Canberra. These were uncertain times – especially as the band had just released their first single: the controversially titled “Burn Down The Parliament”.

Fortunately the song struck a chord with their audience – fans turned up to the launches in droves, and The Herd found themselves on the road more than ever. The second single, ‘77%’, immediately sparked controversy with print, electronic media and talkback radio hosts alarmed at both its use of language and the forthright nature of its message. Maybe it was a sign of the times as it became the first of many Herd songs to get voted into the triple j Hottest 100.

For their next release The Herd set up a studio in inner west Sydney, creating their most coherent release so far in ‘The Sun Never Sets’. They also welcomed Jane Tyrrell into the group. Featuring radio hits like “We Can’t Hear You” and “Unpredictable” amongst a diverse range of tracks which displayed much refined song-writing and production, the album included a version of the Redgum classic “I Was Only 19” (originally recorded as a one-off for a radio show).

In winter 2007 The Herd focused on their most ambitious album to date, returning to the Central Coast A-frame house – where they’d written much of their previous albums – for an extended period of writing. The resulting album, Summerland, was completed in early 2008, and features the first single ‘The King is Dead'.

The lead track from their album, Summerland - “The King Is Dead” was featured in Urban 0807 (available in CD & digital formats) and Indie 0807 (available in digital format).

For further information on this artist go to:
www.elefanttraks.com
www.myspace.com/runningwiththeherd
www.inertia-music.com

Meem (Michael Moebus) is a respected and prolific music producer, DJ and radio host - whose inimitable style of funk, disco, soul & electro-boogie has kept dancefloors shaking for over 10 years.

In the late 90’s Meem began performing live at underground dance parties in Canberra (illegal forest parties, art galleries and aquariums) and soon catapulted from a shy art-school raver to a highly sought after live electronic act – performing at The Big Day Out, Sydney Festival, Peats Ridge Festival, Triple J Groove Train, Parklife, and Field Day. A recent tour of Europe also showcased his live and DJ performances in London, Manchester, island beach parties in Croatia, and summer festivals throughout Eastern Europe.

As a sought after DJ, Meem has supported international acts including Thievery Corporation, Tom Findlay (Groove Armada) and Jamie Lidell. Lugging a diverse and expansive music collection to each gig, Meem blends a broad range of styles and genres including funk, disco, hip-hop, afrobeat, dancehall, reggae, dub, latin, jazz, gypsy, electrobeat, jump blues and boogie.

Meem has also achieved design notoriety by releasing almost every release in limited edition, and often handmade, packaging. Destined to become collector’s items, covers have been crafted from wood, cotton, felt and vinyl upholstery. Meem’s CD design has been featured in the UK publication ‘CD - Art: Innovation in CD Packaging Design’ by Charlotte Rivers, alongside cover art for The Pet Shop Boys and design by Andy Warhol.

Meem also hosts Back to Funk, a weekly excursion into quality funk music - and good music from all other related styles. Also featuring interviews & new releases! (ON 2SER RADIO 107.3FM - BACK TO FUNK - EVERY MONDAY 12:00 - 1:30PM)

Meem was featured in Groove Sessions & Lounge'n 0806 (both available on CD & digital formats).

For further information on this artist go to:
http://www.meem.org
http://www.myspace.com/mymeemspace

When you express yourself by writing better than you could ever speak, becoming a songwriter is the perfect way to communicate. For 20 year-old Claire Clarke, the release of her debut album UNHINGED is the birth of an Australian artist confident and ready to stride onto the international stage. While Claire’s sound has a rocky commercial edge, don’t think for one moment artistic integrity has been sacrificed for bland cookie cutter lyrics. Insightful writing is something Claire prides herself on. When you see her live, it’s those lyrics which will stand out. 'Everything you say, Pierces me to my core, What lies behind your eyes, Is what I’m fearing more and more.’

Honest and heartfelt, Claire’s lyrics come straight from the heart without the editor ever taking over. Keep an ear out for her phrasing too, which adds yet another dimension to her writing. “It’s exactly how I feel,” she says of songs like ‘Smell the Roses’ and ‘Rush’. “The songs are my emotions, right there at that moment. If I am feeling really angry or overwhelmed that is what will end up on the page. “Writing helps me deal with things. And it takes me to different points. I might be writing about an experience and three songs later I have come to the resolution and I might even end up being quite sentimental in a song about that same experience.” It’s an ever-evolving journey for an uncompromising, stridently independent and confident songwriter who uses a pen and paper as an organic way of channelling her feelings. While she had played gigs as a younger teen, when Claire finally stepped on stage in her hometown of Perth (Western Australia) to play her own songs, it was like coming home. Instantly she knew. “That one performance solidified my belief in my music. I knew I was going to get out on stage and sing these songs and they were really going to mean something.”

UNHINGED takes a more edgy approach than Claire’s debut EP Alter Ego, think the spunk (and punk) of Avril Lavigne and Perth’s own Suze DeMarchi meets the intellectual intercourse of Alanis Morissette. “When I write I'm completely consumed by how I feel. It's as if I'm examining each facet of my emotions from every different angle." Claire chose UNHINGED as an ode to her somewhat wacky sense of humour. “I’m pretty crazy,” she admits. “I’m always running on this energy and am pretty extreme. Highs are high and the lows are way down. I’m also very analytical so I think I balance it all out by writing."

“Survive You” was featured in Rock 0805 (digital program only) and was also featured on VCD - Loaded 0805.

Launching Pad artists previously featured:

The Hands
August 2008

The Herd
July 2008

Launching Pad artists previously featured:

The HandsAugust 2008

The HerdJuly 2008

The Hands
August 2008

The Herd
July 2008