Daily Meds are a case in point. The Sydney collective have released their first LP Happy Daze and producer Roleo is on the line to spruik their wares. “I’m basically the DJ for the crew; I do all the music for the live shows. I sort of hooked up with Daily Meds around the time we were starting Big Village Records. It was a few of us involved, some of the boys from a crew called Reverse Polarities and some of my boys from Sydney. We were wanting to do something a bit more grimey and that’s kind of where we ended up.”
So Roleo explains from the beginning: “To be honest I actually really started in music before hip hop – I did make beats but I also did a lot of guitar and worked with a lot of live instruments. That’s why the group wanted to go with a live kind of concept so we did a lot of live instrumentals and stuff. I did a track on the album that was a bit more electronic that has a bit of a different direction as well. I’ve been doing that and making more electronic stuff; I did a track on the album that’s like that and it took a bit of a different direction too which I’m really happy with.”
The end result is an eclectic album that feels wholly complete and robust. “We made the whole album over quite a while,” he explains – which must be why it feels original and organic. “We actually wanted to have that live, fresh feel; I’m always making beats. I have about 500 on my computer and things are always being worked on, always ready to go. So it’s good to have been able to bring all of that together. Sometimes some things sound good and other times things don’t – I have tracks that I’ll play and the crew will go off and write a song straight away. They sort of vibe off it, so in the end, it always comes together. I basically show them what I’ve got and we go from there.”
Of course then, having the album backed by Triple J didn’t hurt either – and confirms their talent scouts are on their game – because the material that fits squarely in the ‘commercial mediocrity’ column doesn’t get a look in. So underground success for the crew, it seems, is a foregone conclusion – just as their live show is one not to be missed. The energetic party features the entire crew representing Sydney’s Inner West and includes emcees P.Smurf and Mikoen, producer Roleo as well as vocalist Billie Rose. And expect it to be a ripper.
“We’ve all got different influences which for us is really good. It really comes through in our shows – the male emcees are Aussie hip hop fanatics and they know their music from Obese to Elefant tracks. Myself, I’m listening to a lot more instrumentals and things; grime from the UK as well. Billie Rose might be listening to Fugees and anything else in between.
Finally then, as a token of their goodwill, the posse is getting together this week for a free gig in Melbourne – as well as another at a late date in Philip Island. And there is no need to explain how pumped they are about delivering some of their earlier EPs as well as material from the new album. Roleo is also playing a set of beats on the night as well. “We’re hyped for the show and the performance we’ve been preparing is pretty intense, so we’re all looking forward to it.” Sounds the goods.
BY RK
