Sydney hip hop artist The Tongue returns with his latest album, 'Hard Feelings'.
From his beginnings in the MC battle scene to a career that includes performances at the Sydney Opera House, Big Day Out and support slots for the likes of Public Enemy, Dizzee Rascal and Drapht, The Tongue has captivated audiences nationwide with his imaginative and unique sound.
'Hard Feelings' marks his fourth, full-length release and sees a change of pace musically and a number of guest collaborators.
What was your writing process like on this new album?
Basically with this project, I was blessed with finding the right producer, with the right attitude at exactly the right time. His name is PaperToy and he produced and recorded about 85 per cent of the album. His production sound brought a new style and energy out of me. I was truly inspired by his work and every time we collaborated we both loved the results.
How did the PaperToy partnership come about?
I heard the beat he made for Thundamentals, a song called 'Noodle Soup'. I asked him to send me a beat tape. He had the skills and the imagination to execute the project, so it was a no-brainer to ask him to executive produce the whole album.
“Hip hop is a progressive idea; it's about making something out of nothing.”
'Hard Feelings' experiments with a more international sound, was that a conscious attempt to move away from Aussie hip hop?
I think this new sound will translate internationally. It's already been featured on some international blogs like IndieShuffle etc. and the response has been overwhelming. I wrote tunes that could work on a dancefloor/ in a club. I really wanted to create something you can move to this time, and I feel that PaperToy and I have really achieved that.
Your regular spoken word and poetry night, 'Speech Therapy', has been a hit in Sydney and Melbourne. What inspired you to start that?
'Speech Therapy' has been a success because it's focused entirely on quality lyrics and the raw ability of the performer. We do 'Speech Therapy' at Work-Shop in Fitzroy; the venue only holds about a hundred, so you're guaranteed an intimate night with three of Australia's best rappers every time. I host and put the line-ups together; past guests include: Urthboy, Brad Strut, Dialetrix, Mantra, Solo, L-Fresh The Lion, Muph, Hau, Joyride etc., so the level of talent is just incredible.
You've mentioned in interviews that Chuck D was your biggest hip hop inspiration; what was it like to support Public Enemy?
That was a beautiful moment for me because Public Enemy were the first hip hop group who truly captured my imagination. I heard them at 14 and was inspired to rap... and by 24 I was opening for them. Dreams come true.
You've been vocal about social issues in the Australian hip hop scene, what problems do you think are most inherent?
I think the Australian hip hop scene is actually the most socially conscious, politically aware scene in Australian music. For me, hip hop is a progressive idea; it's about making something out of nothing and giving a platform to powerful thinkers. I hate to see its potential misused by people who want to peddle ignorance. But for the most part, we have some real social leaders among the top performers in this country; they do charity work, they care about their message, they want to give back.
How do you classify the future of Australian hip hop?
We need more classic albums, we're still such a young genre. I think 'Hard Feelings' will be remembered as something special, and I look forward to upcoming albums from Remi, Thundamentals, Horrorshow, Hermitude, Jimblah etc.
What are your plans after this new album is released, is there a tour in the works?
Tour coming early 2016. I really want the fans to sit and listen to this album for a month or two before seeing it performed live.
NYE you'll be heading to Brisbane for The Big Chill... what do you have planned?
The best rap show you'll see in 2015/ 16.
When you're not performing on NYE, what's The Tongue's ideal recipe for a great NYE?
My ideal New Year's Eve... is not the sort of thing that should be described in reputable publication such as scenestr.
Written by Brendan MacLean
'Hard Feelings' is a digital-only release and is available now. The Tongue plays The Big Chill at The Boundary Hotel 31 December.
