Fresh off the release of his debut album In Belly We Trust, Agung Mango shares the secrets of his instinct-driven songwriting.
There aren’t many rappers in Melbourne working as hard as Agung Mango.
Fusing jazzy, genre-bending beats with a cool-as-ice flow and a unique lyrical perspective, the Indonesian-Italian artist has built up a cult-like following at home and abroad. He’s got something that isn’t easy to come by. Charisma isn’t the right word for it; neither is passion – though he has both in droves. Perhaps ‘taksu’ comes closest.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The Balinese psycho-spiritual concept combines a God-given gift with an enduring commitment. On the opening track of Mango’s debut album In Belly We Trust, his uncle waxes poetic on the topic atop a mystic, ambient instrumental made with fellow Picked Last member Sam Varghese.
The idea of blurred boundaries between body, mind and spirit sits at the core of the album. Mango doesn’t shy away from intense topics, musing on love, death, spiritual belief and visions of the future.
As someone who’s constantly drawn to new ideas, Mango (an abridgement of ‘man on the go’), says the title of the project came from finding clarity in trusting his instincts.
“When you’re constantly inspired like me, it’s super easy to be overstimulated and misguided. During the creation process of In Belly We Trust, I was overstimulated by a lot of things around me — work, family, friends, the law and other factors,” he says.
“There was a point during the album where I wanted to block everything out and only listen to my gut. This was a heavy decision because it led to a number of different ways of thinking that I now embrace, such as not giving a fuck when I make stuff. It all falls under trust at the end of the day.”
Growing up, Mango was inspired to get into music by his older brother, who’d been making tracks with his friends. “As a kid, all I wanted to do was copy my brother in whatever he did, like most younger brothers do,” he tells me.
Detroit-based rapper and producer J Dilla was (and still is) his favourite artist. “His ability to push boundaries within hip-hop left an undeniable mark on music until this day. His soulful samples with intricate rhythms always left me more curious than before.”
Borrowing J Dilla’s laid-back approach to production, Mango pulls from a broad range of textures, whether that be moments of candid chatter, groovy RnB bass lines, saxophone solos or squealing rock guitars.
Thus far, he’s taken a structureless approach to songwriting: “Every time I’ve trusted my gut, I’ve reaped the benefits,” he offers. The production is glossy, but his sound is distinctly his own, a result of a busy mind and a dedication to the game.
“Freely creating without thinking too much helped this project become what it is,” he tells me. “Coming up to my next projects this year, I think this will be the last time I approach an album like this. I’d rather the process be more directed and premeditated.”
The day after the release of In Belly We Trust in July, Mango caught a flight to Indonesia for his first international headline tour. “The culture from Bali, Indonesia, has a big influence on how I create music,” he says.
“To perform outside my city and to see actual fans show love to my music is a wild feeling. I couldn’t believe the turnout from every city and how much love and appreciation they all have for the art. From Yogyakarta, Bandung, Jakarta, to Bali, all the shows mark the beginning of a trusty relationship.”
On September 21, he’ll bring the tour home to Melbourne for a long-awaited album launch party at The Night Cat. He’s relieved the record is finally out in the world, but as someone who is constantly thinking of his next moves, he’s still learning how to celebrate his wins. “I have people constantly reminding me to seize the moment,” he says.
Though In Belly We Trust has barely been out for a month at the time of our conversation, Mango says he’s got a lot more where that came from, promising fans two more projects before the end of 2024.
“Plenty of work to go, but my word is bond,” he says. “Just a reminder, I’m still independent and free to do what the fuck I want, so I shall feed my fans what I think they should have for the remainder of this year. I know for a fact they will enjoy this new work ethic.”
Keep up with Agung Mango here.
