3 Minutes of your time with Defyre

My name is Defyre and I am an MC-Beatmakin DJ I represent  my actions, hip-hop and the Syllabolix and Clandestien families. On the 2 turntables I hold it down for Clandestien, Bitter Belief, Paulie P, King Leonidas, Adam Crook and my brother Hunter RIP.   

I make music that is the evolving reflection of my life. The beats I write to or construct are the result of that captured moment.  There 's a time and place for most styles but really I'm all about the classics, that 93 feel with a 2012 freshness ! 

My first music memory is  using pillows as guitars, drumming on tables jumping around the lounge room as a young kid with the fam listening to Dad's Deep Purple records haa. Great memories.

A lot of the music I create is inspired by the feeling I got listening to my favourite artists growing up. The fact that that energy/feeling can be harnessed and enjoyed when I finish a track/album and have the product staring me in the face, pumping out ya speakers

I would describe performing to an audience as an adrenaline rush like no other.  The connection of artist and crowd feeding off  the energy created is incredible.

I love performing “Boom Bapp” live because my man Dazastah is second to none on the beats.  I didn't even know Matty Gresham was touring Europe when I emailed him for hook duties !  We hadn't spoken for a couple years and were keen to get busy. There's always an awesome vibe when we rock the song, me and Daz switching from spittin verses and workin the turntables with Matty belting out the chorus an big solo's haa Booom     

Defyre ft Dazastah and Matty Gresham - Boom Bapp 

My musical hero’s are I don't know if hero is the word but I have massive respect and have looked up to James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley all of Wu Tang, Gang Starr, Jedi Mind Tricks, Big Punisher, Apathy, Celph Titled, Redman, A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock, DJ Revolution, Dazastah, Trials and Trem, too many to list them all. 

I admire them because they do what they do to a quality no ones messing with, I feel skill level is the main factor of a great artist.     

When I am not making music you will find me across the road at the beach, chillin with my girl, friends and family. Outside playin basketball or rockin Mortal Kombat, NBA and Fifa on the Xbox. 

My favorite release for 2011 has to be a pick between Funkoars  "The Quickening" Drapht "The Life of Riley" Celph Titled and Buckwilds "Nineteen Ninety Now"

The best live show I witnessed in 2011 was Hunter and Mortars album launch for Fear and Loathing at the Rosemount Hotel.  It was the most incredible show I've seen and fortunately been a part of.  Australian hip hop gave Hunter the strength to perform to a sold out crowd as he was confronting the final stages of his fight with cancer, the roar of the crowd as he hammered out his verses was mind blowing and something Ill hold close forever.

Hunter ft Defyre - Ultrasound Rmx

What albums have you released or been apart of The Dragon Project was a collaborative album feat Tomahawk, Bitter Belief and myself on vocals, all production by Rob Shaker with him and myself on cutz. I did the cutz on Hunter and Mortar's album Fear and Loathing.  I did a track with Hunter for his album Monster House an had a solo track on Hunter and Dazastah's Australian Hip Hop Supports Canteen (kids with cancer) project.

The Dragon Project - Birds Eye View

For the coming months I am working on a mixtape called Respect Is Earned which will get you ready for my first solo album Great Balls of Fyre.  I'm doing an album with Matt Gresham, Paulie P and Oath on production, keep your ears open for that.  Ive also just finished recording the cutz for Clandestien's new album Weapons Grade and am working on cutz for King Leonidas, Bitter Belief an Paulie P releases coming soon … 

2012 will be exciting year for me as an artist because of all the releases an shows I'll be doing.

  

You can hear my music at http://defyre.com.au/ 

We can be friends on facebook at Simon Defyre Fable

Follow me onTwitter at http://twitter.com/#!/defyre

My next performance will be at DJ Qbert at The Rosemount on the 16th of February. http://www.facebook.com/events/166834266754662/

The Backyard Project - Open House Party The Hip Hop Edition

Ladies and Gentlemen The Backyard Project invites you to Perth's first broad casted house party by BYP's live stream! Be prepared to get loose in the comfort of our yard and yours. The side gate swings open on Toowong at 12pm on the 11th of February 2012. The day will be filled with non-stop entertainment so be prepared to settle in for a full day session that is sure to continue in the early hours of Sunday morning.

We want to take this opportunity at our inaugural official open house party to showcase Perth's homegrown hip-hop community by offering some great cash prizes, a supportive live audience and all performances to be shared globally via The Backyard Projects live stream and captured by Blaq Magic Innovations.  There will be 5 Hours of live graffiti on four massive walls by some very talented local artist. 

Our Backyard Bar will house 2 x kegs as well as whiskey and vodka teapots... so bring some gold coins with you for the donation tin that will happen to be sitting next to said guest offerings, of coarse you can also BYO booze if you wish.

The Backyard Project is Perth’s first Internet radio station dedicated to bringing it’s audiences the best electronic beats delivered by Perth’s homegrown DJ’s. Launched on the 12^Th of December 2011 the station has been applauded for it’s online streaming, diversity of its music and the studios modern setup.Our resident Saturday night DJ's will be holding the house up while we will be breaking it down including Sebastian Morxx Boris Abesit, fresh from the Dayglow tour.

Check The Backyard Project's website out http://www.thebackyardproject.com.au/ and the event at http://www.facebook.com/events/357866167563683/ Blaq Magic Innovations will be capturing the event you can find them athttp://blaqmagicinnovations.com/  

Email Updates

Over the last 24 hours I have had requests from some lovely people who would like to follow my blog but are not on Blogger. I have added an email subscription to the right-hand of the screen. Just type in your email and will receive updates when I publish my post. I will leave you with what may be the most beautiful music video clips ever. Bright Eyes "First Day of My Life" some of you may not be a Bright Eyes fan but this may just change your mind. Note: If you have just broken up with the love of your life maybe Evernote this for another time.

3 Minutes Of Your Time

To Whom it may concern,

Over the coming months I will be posting a series of blog interviews from both Western Australia and East Coast hip-hop Mc's, vocalist, DJ's, producers, promoters, managers and creative personalities that incorporate the elements of hip-hop in to their lives on a daily basis. They are short reads. Only 3 minutes of your time... 

I have formatted the interviews with very little structure allowing the participant to expand on what they are, what the represent and their beliefs, morals and plans for the future. The questions are very simple, the answers get a little more personal. My first interviewee is by a Perth based Mc beatmaking DJ Defyre! I have the assistance from my dear friend Ebony Campbell who will be editing the interview. Check out her blog adorable at http://adventuresofebony.blogspot.com/ or http://ebonyarwen.blogspot.com/

Speak Soon,


Evie x

Saturday Southbound 2012

They ran solo. They walked holding hands, in pairs, gazing into each others eyes. They drove in convoys of fancy dressed, free-spirted adults trying to hold on desperately to their youth. They camped in their swags, tents and tee-pee's. The taste-makers of the West Coast mingled with the country kids from our deep South.  Southbound 2012 was a well dressed indi affair. The first day was anyway. If Perth ever needed a slogan it could honestly be the "City Of The Pretty People"12,000 adults ( it was the first year the organisers, Sunset Events, had run the event as an 18+ event ) attended Southbound over the weekend of January 7th and 8th in the sunny town of Busselton, Western Australia. A festival I have attended 4 times of the 6 years it has been running.

I attended my first Southbound in 2005 which was also the inaugural year for the festival. I was 16 years old. My boyfriend at the time and his mates who were a few years older than myself were what the Australia culture on contemporary music punters represented to the core ( 6 years ago that is ). The boys were in the early twenties were hard workers, Johnny Walker drinkers, the type of guys that classified Triple J as a religion and the Hottest 100 Day was more important than Christmas, Easter and any turning of age put together. They gathered in their VL's, Troopies and at times of desperation their Mum's Excels to any and every gig that the J's promoted. Many may put these boys into the bogan category but in my eyes they never were or will be. For this one reason. They had/have amazing taste in music.


Years have passed and people change. I don't think many of those boys went to Southbound this year I suppose mortgages and having a dog gets in the way of attending festivals as you get older ( excluding Travi ) Not for me though. This year I attended southbound as a volunteer for Sunset Events in the area of artist liaison. I had a blast with the girls and boys backstage. Meeting and greeting artists. I saw snippets of music here and there. Got Kimbra her soy latte and mingled with others in the music industry. The highlight of my day is an event that is little more personal. Meeting the lovely Patience from The Grates and thanking her for the time and effort the band have showed by best friend Aimee Bailey over the years.

John and Patience are The Grates

I met Aimee when I was 15. We attended Armadale Christan College together. Straight away she thought I was strange. It probably didn't help that the first day she came to my house I showed her my collection of Austin Powers memorabilia which included the whole cast in talking figurines. I could see the look in her face, she wasn't impressed. She was scared.  Time went by and we became really close until one day, I can remember the day exactly, she said to me "we can't be friends if you listen to shit music"  Pretty harsh I thought but I get it now. She gave me three Cd's and strict instructions to listen to Triple J every chance I get, non-stop, every day for two weeks. The Cd's she lent to me that gradually became my own were the Triple J -1994 Hottest 100, Ben Harper - Live From Mars and Nirvana - Nevermind. Album's I swear she stole from her older sisters collection changed my life forever.

Triple J Hottest 100 - 1994 - Volume 3

Around 4 years ago Aimee had a really bad car accident. She was put into an induced coma as she had bleeding on the brain and the doctors needed to release some of the pressure. She didn't wake up for months. When she did she had memory loss which was heart breaking to witness from her point of view and every one around her that cared for her. Aimee has come to now but not before she went though months of painful rehabilitation that taught her everything from the simplest things in life that many of us take for granted such a speaking and walking. Her sister Rebecca had been in contact with The Grates manager and had informed them that Aimee was a HUGE fan.

 Aimee and her Boyfriend Stevo - 2011

The Grates sent Aimee get well soon letters and invitations to their shows which she attended.  This may have not been a big thing for the band at the time but it meant the world to Aimee. When I saw Patience at Southbound and I mentioned I was one of Aimee's friend. She passed on a message for me to give to Aimee. It was a enormous hug and apologies for not being on facebook any more to chat. I relayed the information that Aimee was doing well, had a lovely boyfriend and a job she was really enjoying. After the encounter with patience it took me back to when Aimee was in hospital.

From lefty to righty - Cheryl another friend from High School, Myself and the lovely 

Miss Aimee Bailey at the 2011 Perth Big Day Out.

Studying and working in the music industry is inspiring and intense. There are so many talented and gifted souls that I aspire to be like and look up to that sometimes I forget that everyday people also carry these attributes. In no way at all am I saying that Patience or Aimee are everyday people but the gratitude that Patience showed so many years ago I will never forget and somewhere in our hearts we all carry it with us. The strenght and determination that Aimee shows everyday to life I will always admire. She is my hero. I think we forget that we can push though our personal limits to do huge things too often.

Kimbra @ Southbound 2012 

Photo courtesy of Raised By The Wolves

Kimbra - Live @ Southbound 2012

On a lighter note the highlight performers for me were at Southbound 2012 were ... Perth band Sonpsilo Circus's opening set on the Saturday which I managed to catch a few songs of were awesome. Kimbra the New Zealand female vocalist stage presence and vocals totally blew me away and Dub FX. Wow Dub FX is honestly. I have no words. Just really fucking cool live.