Illy is no stranger to reinvention. With the announcement of his seventh studio album, 'Good Life', dropping this October, the Australian rapper delves deeper into self-reflection, resilience, and the idea of success in an unpredictable industry.
Illy – real name Al Murray – opens up about the new album, the philosophy behind its titular track, and his excitement about hitting the road again. Murray's new single and the album's title track, 'Good Life', is a culmination of nearly two years of work; a song that came together in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic."I wrote it with Cam Bluff and Johnny Took from DMA'S, during the end of Covid, so 2021," Illy says. "Johnny was sort of stuck in Melbourne for a little bit of time, so we got to work together a lot.
"We worked on 'Like You' and a bunch of other songs, and this was the other one that sort of really stood out, and me and Bluff have fine-tuned it over the last year or so to get it to where it is."
This isn't just any track for Murray; it captures the essence of where he's at in life. "Every album, the title track has always been the song that sums up where I'm at in my life the most," he explains.
"You hear that phrase 'living the good life', and it's like the flashy sh.t and white picket fence and everything going perfect. You listen to the song and the time that it was written was a big time of turbulence and things not going according to plan and not being that dream postcard image, and finding the beauty in that part of life and making the situation that you are in be the good life."
For Al, this track encapsulates a deeper philosophy. "At the end of the day, everyone's going to have their ups and downs, and you've got to make the most of it because time is fleeting; and I think the album kind of represents that," he says.
"The song, definitely, it articulates the good life is backing yourself and pushing yourself to do what you want and not really taking no for an answer, not taking other people's doubts or critiques with any sort of weight."
The collaborative process behind 'Good Life' was a key aspect of its evolution. While Murray has always been open to blending his sound with different genres, working with Johnny Took brought a new dimension to the music. "Johnny is one of the most talented people I've ever worked with," Al says.
"He can pick up a guitar and play chords and the first chords that he plays, I'll be like, I can write to that. I love that. That happened at least half a dozen times when we were working together. . . I've never worked with someone that consistently I can write that quickly with."
Their synergy is evident in the single, which carries a distinct influence from Took as one of the creative forces behind DMA'S. "I think people won't be expecting it," Murray acknowledges of the track's sound, adding the fusion of Took's indie-rock sensibilities with his own hip hop style felt like a natural progression.
"Being able to merge what they do and what Johnny does so well with my sound was really cool," he says. "It's a bit of a departure, but it's done well enough that I don't think that's a negative. I think it's a really good thing."
Murray's voice also takes centre stage on the track. Known primarily for his rap delivery, Murray spent time honing his vocal skills, taking lessons to push his range.
"There were a lot of days of not smoking and not vaping before that studio session," he jokes, "but I wanted to do something that was more vocally expansive. There are actually a few tracks on this album that aren't rapped at all."
This intentional expansion of his sound speaks to Illy's growth as an artist. As he puts it: "I waited to put out an album until it was ready, and I'm really proud of the end product."
When asked if he feels pressure after his 2021 album, 'The Space Between', wasn't received as well as it probably should have been – in no small part affected by the remnants of COVID and its restrictions on touring – Al is candid. "Yeah, there's always pressure," he admits.
"I'm a competitive person, and I want as many people as possible to hear my stuff, but so much of that is out of my hands. I believe in this album and these songs wholeheartedly, I genuinely think it's the best album I've ever made. It's definitely the best album I've ever written as a songwriter."
As Murray prepares for the Good Life tour, which is set to launch alongside the album, he can't help but look forward to the energy of performing live again. "I'm excited to be getting back on the road," he says.
"Playing new songs is always more exciting because it's fresh, and the idea of being able to share this album with people in real time is what's giving me juice right now."
He acknowledges the challenges of planning a national tour, especially with fans from around the country eagerly awaiting his shows. "I intend on spending the whole of 2025 on the road, so it's just a matter of time," he reassures them. "People that like my music know I'm going to play the shows, but timing is key. We did about 30 shows at the end of last year, including festivals, and we’re not done yet."
For Murray, the live Illy experience has always been about connecting with fans, something that drives him even during the tough moments on tour. "When you're sick, tired, and missing your bed, there's never a moment of 'f... this'. You know the sun's going to rise, and you're going to go have a good show."
While Al remains tight-lipped about the guest features on 'Good Life', he hints there'll be some exciting collaborations with "very talented Australian vocalists who've killed it". As for the production, along with Cam Bluff and Johnny Took, Xavier Dunn, Kuren, M-Phazes, Styalz Fuego and Konstantin Kersting are just a few of the names that helped shape the sound of the album.
Although some of the tracks, like 'Stubborn', have been around since 'The Space Between' and reworked to sound completely different over the course of three or four years, some tracks came from out of the blue.
"The last-minute addition is one of the most out there tracks on the album, and it's basically a country song – we only did that a month ago and I was like, 'this has to go on the album'," Murray says. "So, we've rushed that one and finished it. It's like there's no dilly-dallying, this has to get done, let's get it done."
While fans may have to wait a little longer to hear the album in full, Murray is certain it will be worth the wait. With a blend of introspective lyrics, genre-bending production, and a commitment to pushing his craft forward, 'Good Life' promises to be a defining moment in Illy's career.
"It's been a long time coming, but I'm looking forward to drawing this line in the sand with these songs," he says, "and I'm still writing now, so it's not going to stop and I don't want it to."
'Good Life' is released 25 October.
Illy 2024 Tour Dates
Fri 8 Nov - Metro Theatre (Sydney)Sat 9 Nov - The Princess Theatre (Brisbane)
Fri 15 Nov - 170 Russell (Melbourne)
Thu 21 Nov - The Gov (Adelaide)
