Pioneering Aussie rapper and Elefant Traks main man Urthboy, AKA Tim Levinson, loves a good mixtape. Like many of us, he grew up in the days of winding back the cassette tape to grab just the right songs from the radio that captured how we felt or what we wanted to say. Urthboy is bringing his all-starMake Me A Mixtapeshow to Sydney this week, in which he celebrates the not-so-forgotten art of mixtape-making – so we asked him to make us a special BRAG mixtape of music we need to hear.
Mau Power feat. Archie Roach – ‘Freedom’
Mau Power hails from the Torres Strait and is an artist more people need to hear. He’s doing great things and has a clear sense of purpose about what he’s doing. And Archie Roach comes through with one of the most moving choruses I’ve heard this year. When he sings the word “freedom”, it cuts through to the bone. Spine-tingling. Brilliant. I’d love to hear this on triple j.
Jacob Quest (produced by Mr Zux) – ‘Oasis’
I remember a few songs from Mr Zux circulating over a decade ago – I think they came through Nuffsaid, and they were way ahead of what was happening here. He’s a producer and rapper and this is one of his newer productions. He has a new album called AfricanSpearacy Theory coming out soon.
Fishing – ‘Recoup’
Great tune from these left-field Sydney producers. This year saw them drop an exciting album that some people compared to The Avalanches cause everyone is trying hard to hear it, but Fishing are in their own lane.
Airling – ‘Wasted Pilots’
Produced by Tom (Big Scary), this is hard to deny. A great introduction to Airling and in a period where there’s no shortage of female vocalists working with electronic music, this indicates she’s got something special going on.
Son Little – ‘Your Love Will Blow Me Away When My Heart Aches’
Beautiful blues with a bit of a hip hop vibe in the rhythms. Son Little’s voice is so dope – perfectly raspy and worn in a way that does justice to the pain in the song.
Make Me A MixtapewithNgaiire, Joyride, Jane Tyrrell, Ev Jones and Rival MC is going down atThe Basement onSaturday November 8, tickets online.
