Brisbane MC Profecy is making a name for himself with his exciting new hip hop sound, best showcased on his debut EP Let the Music Play. I caught up with Profecy to chat about the EP, his recent launch show, and what he brings to the hip hop genre.
You’ve recently released your debut EP, Let the Music Play. What can you tell me about it?
The EP is made up of five songs. I’ve got a couple upbeat tracks on there and a few emotional tracks. A lot of people complain about Aussie hip hop sounding all the same. My main focus was to create something that stands out from the rest and I think I’ve accomplished that.
A Belgian producer, Benno, produced the EP. What did he bring to your sound?
Benno is an extremely versatile and talented producer, the production behind the EP is a combination of old samples and live instrumentation.
You’ve also got American singer/producer DJ Corbett on one of the tracks. How did that collaboration come about, and what was he like to work with?
He was great to work with. I sent him the track and within a day he got back to me with the chorus and even added some DJ cuts. I think that song is one of the stand-out tracks of the EP. A lot of people say the beat has a Dr Dre feel to it.
I believe you set about creating an EP that differs from all the other Aussie hip hop around. How did you want to do that, and do you think you’ve succeeded?
Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot quality Aussie hip hop around but I think there is also a lot of poor quality as well. Aussie hip hop is strongly influenced by the 80s and 90s American hip hop, and a lot of Aussie emcees try to emulate this sound. I think it’s time for Aussie hip hop to evolve and that is what I’ve tried to accomplish in creating this EP.
You’ve offered your EP as a free digital download through your website. Why did you decide to be so generous with your music?
I think it’s the most effective way to gain exposure for new artists. I think it’s important that all new artists release at least one free EP before they put something in stores.
How important has the internet been in building your fan base?
Extremely important. The internet has made it so easy for me to distribute my music. I’ve gotten a lot of support from blogs, websites and even fans promoting my music on Facebook and Twitter.
How was the gig at Step Inn last Saturday?
Unfortunately the weather was pretty bad so a lot of people that bought tickets didn’t show up, which was unfortunate because due to the show selling out, we had to turn people away who didn’t pre-order tickets. Next time we’ll make sure it’s a bigger venue. Apart from that, it was a great night. All the support acts did great, and NJE did his thing as well. Big shout out to everyone that came out.
Christmas is just around the corner. What’s on your wish list?
I haven’t even thought about it! A new car would be nice.
What’s next on the agenda?
I’ll be performing at Real Talk Battle League on the 28th of January at Step Inn.
You can get your free copy of Profecy’s EP Let the Music Play through his website.
Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment