Sowdy season; when it rains it pours |
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Sowdy is a part of the new wave of young artists coming out of Perth city and coming out hard. This new wave of artists, many of who roll with the 6KMC crew, are talented in multiple disciplines, have a great understanding of marketing and promotion, can produce their own creative content and above all are very talented.
This is definitely the case with Sowdy, who is a rapper, producer and is an audio engineer. But what makes Sowdy’s journey interesting and his art so rich, is his roots and history with music and particularly Hip Hop music.
From the age of 3, Sowdy was absorbing music. His father, a passionate music lover and DJ, would play him 90s Hip Hop and a young Sowdy was obsessed with the iconic A Tribe Called Quest. Proof dude’s got taste that goes way back.
Fast forward a couple of years and Sowdy is developing his own tastes and interests. He is still very keen on Hip Hop and specifically the most famous and popular rapper at the time (circa 2003) Mr 50 Cent.
This is definitely the case with Sowdy, who is a rapper, producer and is an audio engineer. But what makes Sowdy’s journey interesting and his art so rich, is his roots and history with music and particularly Hip Hop music.
From the age of 3, Sowdy was absorbing music. His father, a passionate music lover and DJ, would play him 90s Hip Hop and a young Sowdy was obsessed with the iconic A Tribe Called Quest. Proof dude’s got taste that goes way back.
Fast forward a couple of years and Sowdy is developing his own tastes and interests. He is still very keen on Hip Hop and specifically the most famous and popular rapper at the time (circa 2003) Mr 50 Cent.
It is this influence from his dad, who has also owned a record store and is an occasional presenter on community radio station RTRFM’s Soulsides, that has had a positive impact on the trajectory of Sowdy’s musical career.
With a foot placed in both sides of Hip Hop’s generational divide, the old school and the new school, Sowdy is trying to create music that appeals to both audiences.
Speaking on his soon to be dropped sophomore album, Shine, Sowdy says he wanted to create something “upbeat, positive, [using] lots of soul samples, mixed with modern trap drums, [a] blend new and old, a project [that could] stand the test of time”.
Shine, which will be released on the 17th July, has been quite sometime in the making and is an exciting meeting of the sometimes divisive Hip Hop sub-genres. Sowdy uses expressive and resonating vocal samples partnered with 808 drums. “I wanted to mix College Dropout Kanye with a modern twist, the bounce of new school,” he said. “[The] aim was to appeal to lovers of old school Hip Hop in terms of the flows and cadence, then the new school listeners [too]”.
With a foot placed in both sides of Hip Hop’s generational divide, the old school and the new school, Sowdy is trying to create music that appeals to both audiences.
Speaking on his soon to be dropped sophomore album, Shine, Sowdy says he wanted to create something “upbeat, positive, [using] lots of soul samples, mixed with modern trap drums, [a] blend new and old, a project [that could] stand the test of time”.
Shine, which will be released on the 17th July, has been quite sometime in the making and is an exciting meeting of the sometimes divisive Hip Hop sub-genres. Sowdy uses expressive and resonating vocal samples partnered with 808 drums. “I wanted to mix College Dropout Kanye with a modern twist, the bounce of new school,” he said. “[The] aim was to appeal to lovers of old school Hip Hop in terms of the flows and cadence, then the new school listeners [too]”.
The 15-track album is a vibe with bouncy and uplifting tracks, a change in sound from his debut release Leonidas. “The vibe for this particular project is positive. I feel like it's good to have some music that can make you feel good during stressful times,” Sowdy said referencing the current world climate with the Black Lives Matter movement and covid-19.
A supporter of the BLM movement, Sowdy is well aware of his privilege as a white male in the Hip Hop industry, sharing his own thoughts and perspective on Instagram at the height of the protest.
An excerpt of his post “I can’t, nor do I deserve to speak on how it must feel at this time being black and fearing for your life every time you leave the house, but I CAN and WILL speak on my privilege in hope of change … You cannot listen to hip-hop, follow fashion trends and use ebonics when it’s convenient to you, to only then be silent and tight lipped when shit hits the fan. You’re either with the people and the culture that you parade around and take from, or you’re the opposition and part of the problem.”
A supporter of the BLM movement, Sowdy is well aware of his privilege as a white male in the Hip Hop industry, sharing his own thoughts and perspective on Instagram at the height of the protest.
An excerpt of his post “I can’t, nor do I deserve to speak on how it must feel at this time being black and fearing for your life every time you leave the house, but I CAN and WILL speak on my privilege in hope of change … You cannot listen to hip-hop, follow fashion trends and use ebonics when it’s convenient to you, to only then be silent and tight lipped when shit hits the fan. You’re either with the people and the culture that you parade around and take from, or you’re the opposition and part of the problem.”
Though Shine is a slight move away from the current popular trend of trap music, it is a space that Sowdy feels more comfortable in, “that style suits me as an artist and how I am as a person, I wanted to make a project that is true to me. I feel better performing that type of stuff and a lot of people have enjoyed this style of music, opposed to other stuff”.
Sadly, due to covid, big plans for the release of Shine, including a national tour has been shelved, but Sowdy is staying focused and continuing to make music.
With a substantial back catalogue of music and consistent natural collaborations with lots of local artists, there will, of course, always be more music and perhaps another full length project in the not too distant future.
Where previously Sowdy worked, studied and made music on the side selling beats, promisingly he is now able to focus on music more, quitting his job, with his production talents able to pay the bills, “I am able to make music and study, [I’m] making ends meets”.
But like all fresh young artists Sowdy is ambitious and striving for more, he wants his passion to be his vocation. “I want music to be my life, so it is getting there slowly”, he humbly states. Though quite early in his career, Sowdy is already seeing great success with a growing fanbase and interest from the wider industry, so there is no doubt that his dream will be a reality very soon.
Sowdy's latest project Shine is out 17th July, pre-save the album HERE.
Follow Sowdy and his music moves on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Written by Lee Vixen.
Sadly, due to covid, big plans for the release of Shine, including a national tour has been shelved, but Sowdy is staying focused and continuing to make music.
With a substantial back catalogue of music and consistent natural collaborations with lots of local artists, there will, of course, always be more music and perhaps another full length project in the not too distant future.
Where previously Sowdy worked, studied and made music on the side selling beats, promisingly he is now able to focus on music more, quitting his job, with his production talents able to pay the bills, “I am able to make music and study, [I’m] making ends meets”.
But like all fresh young artists Sowdy is ambitious and striving for more, he wants his passion to be his vocation. “I want music to be my life, so it is getting there slowly”, he humbly states. Though quite early in his career, Sowdy is already seeing great success with a growing fanbase and interest from the wider industry, so there is no doubt that his dream will be a reality very soon.
Sowdy's latest project Shine is out 17th July, pre-save the album HERE.
Follow Sowdy and his music moves on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Written by Lee Vixen.