An original OG of Australian hip hop, Urthboy will release his seventh studio album 'Savour' next month before embarking on his final headline tour of Australia in the autumn.
A three-part series that has already delivered the 'Prologue' EP (with the 'Epilogue' chapter still to be released), 'Savour' explores the concept that all humans are a 'work in progress' where our past does not define our future.An artist who has collaborated previously with a diverse cross section of Australia's creative community – from Sampa the Great, Hermitude, and Kira Puru, to Emma Donovan and Bertie Blackman – on 'Savour' Urthboy welcomes a host of established and emerging talent including Dallas Woods, Ngaiire, Jane Tyrrell, Jarulah, Loren Ryan, Oscar Dawson (Holy Holy), Pip Norman, Sulo and iamsolo.
"There's a stigma around men being vulnerable because of the strain of out-of-date expectations of masculinity," begins Urthboy discussing the background behind the themes 'Savour' explores.
"This contributes to why men have high rates of suicide and don't go to the doctor and lash out in destructive ways that damage those around us.
"None of us are perfect, nor are we complete; we're works in progress and more complex than traditional markers of masculinity make room for.
"Our sadness, anger and insecurities can take hold, but we can also lean in and work through them. This toxic patriarchal system harms everyone, but we can help dismantle it even if we carry shame from our past behaviour. We can change.
"My new album tries to explore these ideas and that's partly why it's coming out in three parts, to reflect that we're works in progress."
Set to hit the road for the final time as a headliner act, Urthboy will tour with Noongar wordsmith Dallas Woods and 2023 winner of the Toyota Starmaker Award, Gamilaraay artist Loren Ryan from March to May visiting all major capital cities (including Canberra and Hobart) as well as stack of regional areas (like Cairns, Ballarat, Wollongong, Sunshine Coast, Newcastle and Blue Mountains).
'Savour' is released 24 February, 2023. Pre-order it.
Tickets on sale.
Urthboy 2023 Tour Dates
Fri 17 Mar - Tanks Arts Centre (Cairns)Sat 18 Mar - Otherwise Bar (Townsville)
Thu 23 Mar - Lion Arts Factory (Adelaide)
Fri 24 Mar - Volta (Ballarat)
Sat 25 Mar - The Night Cat (Melbourne)
Thu 30 Mar - Milk Bar (Perth)
Fri 31 Mar - The River (Margaret River)
Sat 1 Apr - Mojos Bar (Fremantle)
Thu 13 Apr - UOW UniBar (Wollongong)
Fri 14 Apr - Kambri ANU (Canberra)
Sat 15 Apr - The Great Club (Sydney)
Thu 20 Apr - Solbar (Sunshine Coast)
Fri 21 Apr - The Zoo (Brisbane)
Sat 22 Apr - BBQ Bazaar (Gold Coast)
Fri 5 May - Cambridge Hotel (Newcastle)
Sat 6 May - Blue Mountains Theatre
Fri 12 May - Altar (Hobart)
Sat 13 May - Forth Pub (Aberdeen, TAS)
