Q&A with Viliani |
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Viliani has been on the Australian scene for a few years now but has just only dropped her debut album, The Burial, to much local acclaim. The album is a cathartic release for the rapper, who dissects many personal experiences, atop ominous sounding beats from a slew of Australian producers. It's a weighty but rewarding listen. Rappfox chats to Viliani on her debut release, the process of making the music and how she's handling the current covid-19.
Hey Viliani, thanks for taking time for this interview. How are you holding up in this wild covid-19 world situation?
An absolute pleasure, thanks for reaching out! Haha yeah well... Just trying to stay positive at the moment. It's a hard and ominous time for everyone. Gotta stay busy and keep the creative energy flowing. Lately, I've become super incredible at making pancakes and mastered hollandaise sauce so life's good.
You’re about to drop The Burial which is your first full length project and you’re working with quite a few different Australian producers, tell me about the process of making the album.
The wonders of the internet! I had been following their production for a while on IG so I reached out and hit em up for beat catalogues. I got lucky and had a close friend pass on a couple of beats to smash and one turned out to be a Mat Rafle beat who I was a fan of already. I recorded a couple of tracks at home but most of my album was recorded and polished at BTE HQ, Chess Sounds Studio.
You’ve said this album is a cathartic release for you, how long has it been in the making and why are you deciding to drop an album now?
Yes and it's been a long time coming. The Burial is made up of old and new tracks. I've been sitting on music for years to be honest. It's been the last year I decided to put all this music together and release an album finally.
Hey Viliani, thanks for taking time for this interview. How are you holding up in this wild covid-19 world situation?
An absolute pleasure, thanks for reaching out! Haha yeah well... Just trying to stay positive at the moment. It's a hard and ominous time for everyone. Gotta stay busy and keep the creative energy flowing. Lately, I've become super incredible at making pancakes and mastered hollandaise sauce so life's good.
You’re about to drop The Burial which is your first full length project and you’re working with quite a few different Australian producers, tell me about the process of making the album.
The wonders of the internet! I had been following their production for a while on IG so I reached out and hit em up for beat catalogues. I got lucky and had a close friend pass on a couple of beats to smash and one turned out to be a Mat Rafle beat who I was a fan of already. I recorded a couple of tracks at home but most of my album was recorded and polished at BTE HQ, Chess Sounds Studio.
You’ve said this album is a cathartic release for you, how long has it been in the making and why are you deciding to drop an album now?
Yes and it's been a long time coming. The Burial is made up of old and new tracks. I've been sitting on music for years to be honest. It's been the last year I decided to put all this music together and release an album finally.
Your first release off the EP is The Future Is Mine touches on self-doubt, the negative actions of others and changing your perception, what are some other themes and topics you rap about on the album?
Heart ache, depression, betrayal, regret, redemption... There's heaps.
You’ve got a distinct style, how and when did you get into Hip Hop? And when did you start rhyming? I see one of your first releases was in 2015.
Yeah I'm a bit of a weirdo. I listened to some Hip Hop as a kid but I was always a little grungier/metal head. I also wrote poetry and I'd spend a lot of time at the Youth centre so I could use their free internet to post it online. I got introduced to Australian Hip hop when I was like 15 and it blew my mind... I loved it instantly and the peeps around me who were right into it were some talented fuckers too. They really influenced me as well. Yeah 2015 I released my first single which was produced by Hayds and only ever released on Soundcloud till recently haha.
Your style is reminiscent of Perth’s Layla, who are some of your inspirations, locally, nationally and internationally?
Thank you! Best compliment. Hehe.
Lol okay here's a list... Helen Earth, Len One, Odeon, SBX, Tornts, Ciecmate, Diem, Natter MC, Hospice, Von Poe VII, Vel The Wonder, Lin Que, Heather B, Gangstarr, Korn, Slipknot, Deftones, Rhyme Asylum, Edward Scissor Tongue, Jam Baxter, Yugen Blakrok, Jedi Mind Tricks, just to name a few lol.
What’s next for Viliani?
Working on a couple of things atm... more music, tasty recipes in the kitchen and merch ideas it's all happenin' and it's full'o flava.
And once we get out of this lockdown, what is the first thing you're gonna do.
Go back to Brissy and get my fuckin cat.
Thanks again for your time. Peace.
Check out Viliani's debut album release The Burial on Spotify or Bandcamp. Also follow her moves on Facebook, Instagram and Soundcloud.
Cover Image and Album Artwork by DMERC.
Heart ache, depression, betrayal, regret, redemption... There's heaps.
You’ve got a distinct style, how and when did you get into Hip Hop? And when did you start rhyming? I see one of your first releases was in 2015.
Yeah I'm a bit of a weirdo. I listened to some Hip Hop as a kid but I was always a little grungier/metal head. I also wrote poetry and I'd spend a lot of time at the Youth centre so I could use their free internet to post it online. I got introduced to Australian Hip hop when I was like 15 and it blew my mind... I loved it instantly and the peeps around me who were right into it were some talented fuckers too. They really influenced me as well. Yeah 2015 I released my first single which was produced by Hayds and only ever released on Soundcloud till recently haha.
Your style is reminiscent of Perth’s Layla, who are some of your inspirations, locally, nationally and internationally?
Thank you! Best compliment. Hehe.
Lol okay here's a list... Helen Earth, Len One, Odeon, SBX, Tornts, Ciecmate, Diem, Natter MC, Hospice, Von Poe VII, Vel The Wonder, Lin Que, Heather B, Gangstarr, Korn, Slipknot, Deftones, Rhyme Asylum, Edward Scissor Tongue, Jam Baxter, Yugen Blakrok, Jedi Mind Tricks, just to name a few lol.
What’s next for Viliani?
Working on a couple of things atm... more music, tasty recipes in the kitchen and merch ideas it's all happenin' and it's full'o flava.
And once we get out of this lockdown, what is the first thing you're gonna do.
Go back to Brissy and get my fuckin cat.
Thanks again for your time. Peace.
Check out Viliani's debut album release The Burial on Spotify or Bandcamp. Also follow her moves on Facebook, Instagram and Soundcloud.
Cover Image and Album Artwork by DMERC.