As the summer months approach and Australian music goers get ready for the onslaught of outdoor festivals, national tours and feature release, Blue Mountains trio Thundamentals are preparing to battle all three, with barely a day in between in the lead up to 2014.
Not only that, the east coast hip-hop group have had to juggle this with side projects along the way, leaving punters anxious to hear a taste of the latest Thundamentals instalment fast approaching, whether it be live, or in the form of their newly announced, but untitled third LP.
Thundamentals’ co-lyricist Tuka (AKA Brenden Tuckerman) revealed the details of a busy pre-album release lead up, as well as the awaiting tour frenzy about to absorb the three-piece.
Coming fresh off the recent FBi Radio 10th anniversary tour, it’s clear to see the Blue Mountains group are enthusiastic about returning to the circuit, especially after a welcoming return to stage for the event.
“Oh it was incredible, we’re really proud of them (FBi), they really put on a good production. We played around 6PM for about 45 mins and the first time we played in about 10 months”.
“We’re just the same guys you know, we’re no different, but seeing how people have been reacting to us lately has been a bit…funny.”The nerves however were shaken off after a welcoming crowd applauded the hip-hop act, according to the MC. “We were all pretty nervous about it, but we got a really strong reception from the crowd, so that in itself was a bit of a morale booster”.
The event marked the beginning of a hectic concluding half of 2013, with tour dates taking up a large portion of the coming months. Highlighting this period, Australian hip-hop festival Sprung sticks out, with the Emcee explaining his connection with the relatively new Australian music festival.
“The Sprung dates are always really special. These shows really remind me of how far the hip-hop movement has come along.” Energetically adding, “It’s crazy, if 10 years ago you told me this type of event could happen, it would’ve blown me away.”
It’s not only Sprung Festival that has the trio excited either. The recent announcement of the Falls Festival line up has provided another opportunity to showcase their distinctive style of hip-hop over the New Year period, but also their own headline tour has the excitement levels protruding.
“Jumping on the Falls Festival is going to be great. Not only that, the headline shows I’m quite interested in because last time we played we sold out our last tour.” Masses of loyal fans are again expected to flock to these shows, much to the satisfaction of the lyricists.
“We’ve had some loyal fans from previous albums, but if feels like theirs a wave of new people, and we don’t quite know what to expect at these shows. It’s going to be interesting”.
The new wave of fans has no doubt come about due to the success of ‘Smiles Don’t Lie’, the first track to be released from the upcoming, and so far untitled, third LP. “Since the Like A Version we did last year, and the release of ‘Smiles Don’t Lie’ just recently, things have gotten a bit more active in that people are interested in hearing us”.
Keeping a modest head about the resurgence of attention, Tuka added “We’re just the same guys you know, we’re no different, but seeing how people have been reacting to us lately has been a bit…funny.” The headline tour will see the group touch base all over the country, including Sprung dates in Brisbane, as well as debutant Sprung city in Melbourne.
Prior to their revisiting of Thundamental tagged projects, all three members have dabbled in side projects, with Tuka releasing solo album Feedback Loop late last year, fellow lyricist MC Jeswon working with experimental electro heads Suburban Dark and DJ Morgs connecting with the soulful Jones Jnr in the time between the second Thunda LP Foreverlution and now.
This makes for some creative connection when heading back to record as a threesome. “Every project you get a little better. Especially when you collaborate with new people, you just pick up so much, and these little things add up.”
Whilst not a lot is known about the release of the up and coming album, Tuka has ensured the content has been formulated with a true identity of the group in mind. Their first release, Sleeping On Your Style, and follow up Foreverlution have been used as creative stepping stones in order to perfect their new content it seems.
“This time around, I think our identity is being set, and we feel like we know what we’re doing. We feel we have the platform of listeners this time around.”“This time around, I think our identity is being set, and we feel like we know what we’re doing. We feel we have the platform of listeners this time around. Looking back the second record I feel we may have made a few compromises with the song writing, because we didn’t feel like we could experiment, to an extent.” However, the latest instalment is a freeform affair. “With this album, we can do exactly what we wanna do.”
A common feature of the content is number of tracks featuring collaborations with fellow hip-hop identities. This time around, the collaborations have been focussed away from strictly rap guest verses, and more conventional vocalist and musicians.
“We’ve collaborated with a couple of Sydney musicians and singers. I’d like to do something out of the box, but I don’t want to force. I want to collaborate with someone who I write the song for, and if they don’t want to do it, they break my heart” mentioned the heartfelt rapper.
The inception of the new album came about after the completion of the newly constructed studio, which celebrated the return of the hip-hop triangle.
“This time we waited ‘til April until we got our own space, and then started putting it all together. That was the main reason we held off, it was more a matter of practicality than anything else. When you finish your day, it doesn’t feel like you’ve finished work, it feels good.”
Admitting about his previous workspace, Tuka confirmed the group needed their own sanctuary, and relocation from bedrooms studios to professional sound space was in order.
Hip-hop punters and Aussie music fans alike can expect to see Thundamentals pop up all over the country as the lead up to summer knocks on the door of the colder months, much to the delight of both the trio themselves, and fans, whether they be recently hooked or religiously devoted. Whichever it may be, Thundamentals are sure to leave a lasting hip-hop impression on all who witness.
Thundamentals 2013 Australian Tour
Wednesday 25th September – Beach Road Hotel – Bondi, NSW
Free Entry
Thursday 3rd October – Small Ballroom – Newcastle, NSW
www.oztix.com.au
Friday 4th October – Carmens – Miranda, NSW
www.oztix.com.au
Sunday 6th October – Splashes – Wollongong, NSW
Thursday 10th October – Flyrite – Perth, WA
www.oztix.com.au
Friday 11th October – Mojo’s – Fremantle, WA
www.mojosbar.com.au
Saturday 12th October – Studio 146 – Albany, WA
Saturday 19th October – Sprung Festival – Melbourne, VIC
www.sprunghiphop.com.au
Saturday 26th October – Rocket – Adelaide, SA
www.oztix.com.au
Thursday 31st October – Entrance Leagues Club – Gosford, NSW
www.oztix.com.au
Friday 1st November – Baroque Room – Katoomba, NSW
www.oztix.com.au
