If music is the great escape, consider Adelaide's Adrian Eagle the Steve McQueen of Aussie hip hop.
Through his music, Adrian has found a soothing balm to heal the wounds of his past. “I've been singing all my life, but it wasn't until 2015 that I released my first song on the Internet,” Adrian says.
“Before that I had no self-confidence to share it, but I'd always loved music.”
Encumbered by self-doubt and second-guessing, Adrian found the wisdom and courage to follow his dreams in one of hip hop's greatest tragedies. “It was the day before my 26th birthday,” he recalls.
“I was thinking to myself and remembered growing up that Tupac was killed when he was 25, and I was a big hip hop fan and that always stuck with me since I was a kid – that I'm on extra life right here and I've got to stop being scared and get over that fear of singing for people.”
With new confidence and determination, Adrian set about making a name for himself in Adelaide's illustrious local hip hop scene, eventually getting the attention of none other than Hilltop Hoods, who featured Adrian on their track 'Clark Griswold'.
Having earned his place, Adrian followed through with a series of tracks showcasing his own brand of melodic, R&B-infused hip hop, such as '17 Again', 'AOK' and his latest single 'Housing Trust', which reflects on Adrian's tumultuous youth growing up in Adelaide.
It's in the strains of 'Housing Trust' we discover the restorative value of writing music for Adrian. “It's a healing thing for me,” he says.
“When I was feeling a bit down and out as a teenager and in my early 20s, being very lost about what I wanted to do and what my purpose was, music was always something I could channel into and get lost in and find healing in as well.
“It helped me out a lot throughout my life, other people's music. When it came to writing my own songs, I felt it bubbling up to the surface and it was a real organic, natural thing to express it, let it out of my chest. I have to be happy with it for me to put it out.”
As much as it heals his own soul, Adrian's music also offers the same solace to his listeners. “The message of my music is that a positive mindset can get us all out of the darkest of dark,” he says.
“My music is really a self-narrative about my life and it's really for the next generation; it's for my baby god daughters, that was my initial thing. If I can't be around forever, at least I can speak to them and teach them lessons from my life through my music. My music is really personal like that.”
With his 'Mama' EP due shortly, Adrian Eagle shows off his live chops with a packed schedule of shows including POINT (with DVNA, First Beige, Sycco and Dorah Jacson) as part of Horizon Festival, Caloundra Music Festival and BIGSOUND.
He also supports Tones And I on her September-October tour. “It's going to be fun,” Adrian says excitedly.
“I'm going to come out there with the whole squad – the full band, back-up singers – and put on the best show possible out there. It's amazing every time I get to go up on stage and I learn something new every single time, that's for sure. It's a really special privilege to be able to do that. I don't take anything for granted; I'm really thankful for every show.”
Adrian Eagle plays POINT at The Events Centre for Horizon Festival (Sunshine Coast) 30 August, BIGSOUND (Brisbane) 4 September and Caloundra Music Festival (Sunshine Coast) 4 October. Adrian tours with Tones & I Sep-Oct 2019.
