April 2020

Where are you currently based?

Sydney, Australia.

How did you first start playing music?

I wrote my first song when I was about two, and although it was incoherent, that is the earliest documentation of me dabbling in music! I don’t remember ever making a conscious decision to pursue music. It feels like it was appointed to me and I had no say in the matter!

What have you been working on recently?

I’ve been working on tracks for my project and really fine-tuning my sound. I’ve been remotely collaborating for my project with other artists too, like ANGE and Charlotte Adelle from Sydney, and SKYE from Melbourne who are all my friends, which has been super cool. I’ve also been doing some virtual writing and producing for other people’s projects, which is one of my favourite things to do. It’s always an honour when someone invites me onboard with their art.

Your new single ‘How Come You Don’t Pick Up Your Phone’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

If I’m writing for my own project I can only ever draw from personal experience, so every song is deeply embedded within events and realisations I’ve lived through. I found myself relying on other people to create a sense of worth (through the experience of desperately waiting to hear back from someone), and I wanted to explore this without straight up saying the conclusion I had come to. So the track is still in that pathetic space where you’re glued to your screen, and any semblance of self awareness hasn’t been achieved just yet! I was listening to heaps of 90s hip hop and R&B at the time, and I didn’t realise it but it was totally bleeding into my production and writing style: real angular, sassy hooks, big synth bass, that boom bap style beat… it all subconsciously ended up there! 

How did you go about writing the track?

As the title would suggest, I was waiting for someone to hit me back! But I didn’t end up only writing about one particular experience, rather, I ended up noticing a pattern in the scenarios I was finding myself in. The song started with the hook, so the chorus was done first. I was hearing the chords and beat in my head. I knew I had the chromatic movement in the chords so when it got time to write the verses, I wanted to keep it pretty simple. The chorus explores this desperation I was talking about earlier but in the verses I go into more depth about why I was feeling this way and my own part in my negative feelings. The song was done pretty quickly and it stayed virtually in its original form, minus some production finessing!

Where and when did you record/produce and who with?

The song was written between Sydney and Melbourne, with the chorus popping in my head when I was alone in my hotel room on a writing trip. Once I got home I finished up the verses and produced the track up, a few months later re-doing the vocals and polishing the production. It was about a year ago when I was 17. I wrote and produced the track myself, but got heaps of feedback from friends in the industry.

How did you approach the recording sessions?

Honestly, I wasn’t putting too much pressure on the song, so it was pretty chill! I did them all by myself so I had no expectation to impress – I could mess up as much as I needed to. The rest of the instruments I tracked in my little home studio when I wrote the song or at like 1am when I was finessing the track.

What programs/instruments do you use to create music and record?

I produce on and have pledged my allegiance to Ableton, which is the first DAW I learned. I’ve played piano since I was 8 and picked up guitar at around 12, so those two instruments almost definitely make a cameo in my tracks. As of late I’ve been trying to get better at playing real groovy bass lines, so working on my bass skills is something I’ve been doing heaps. The drum programming is also obviously a super important part of my songs, if that can be referred to as an ‘instrument’ in and of itself!

How did you get into recording/production?

Like I mentioned before, music was always non-negotiable for me, and I always just thought everyone produced their own demos, so I think around the age 15 I decided I’d better start learning. It was kind of just troubleshooting and making track after track for a couple years until I felt decently confident, and now it’s a massive part of what I do!

You’re also working with hiphop singer Nardean, please tell us about this experience so far:

Nardean is a queen. Queen Nardean. We met at KLP’s Ricochet Songs writing camp in Newcastle, although we’re both from Western Sydney and we don’t live too far away from eachother! We’ve done a couple songs together and I’ve produced a couple of hers and it feels like a match made in heaven. Definitely super keen for what we’ve been working on to drop.

What do you like to do away from music?

If I’m honest, music occupies most of my time. But if I’m having some forced downtime, I love cooking vegan stuff and reading self help and non-fiction. In isolation I’ve also taken to doing yoga in the morning and playing dumb online games with my friends over zoom. So I’m loving that!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m still digesting Thundercat’s new album and Mac Miller’s latest albums. They’re two of my favourite artists and I seriously love everything they do. I adore a body of work and so I’m really taking my time with these releases. In terms of local artists, I’ve really been digging 18YOMAN and Vetta Borne at the moment, I think their grooves and subtle complexities are really sick. And I’ve always loved Milan Ring!

What’s planned for 2020?

I definitely think that now is more important than ever to create, and the worst thing we could do right now is to shut ourselves out from new releases and artistic magic. So keeping busy writing and producing, both for my own project and for other artists, and taking the time to really get everything perfect! I’m working on my debut EP at the minute and that’s going to take a lot of heart and soul until it feels intimately right, but I hope you can expect that from me this year!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favourite cuisine as of late is Mexican food, literally in any way shape or form. But I also love boujee chocolate and somewhat niche fruits like passionfruit and grapefruit. In terms of places to hang out, I love (and miss) just wandering around the inner suburbs of Sydney, finding cool parks and bars in places like Newtown and Enmore. That’s also where a lot of gigs were! But I also love chilling out in the botanical gardens and around the Rocks, because its super cool and tranquil and also right next to my uni. But right now, my room and home studio are treating me well! 

https://www.chelseawarnermusic.com/

Pre-Save/Pre-Order Album HERE

Tune in to YouTube.com/MichaelFranti for the World Premiere of “Stay Human,” a film by Michael Franti, in Partnership with Levi’s
#StayHome #StayHuman #WithMe
Premiered April 23 @ 10am AEST

Global Artist and Activist Set to Join Earth Day Live
Friday April 24 @ 11.30am AEST

and Together We Breathe Hope Virtual Concert
Saturday April 25 @ 10.00am AEST

UBUD, Bali – Kicking-off the announcement of new music with a stunning new music video for lead song “I’m On Your Side” filmed in 48 hours while in quarantine, musician and global artist Michael Franti shares first new music of 2020 along with so many ways to celebrate community while physically distancing.

“There is no better time for music that helps us laugh, cry, rage, soothe, dance and sing through the sea of emotions boiling inside each of us. How beautiful that we can come together today of all days, on Earth Day. While we may be physically distancing, socially I love how we’re coming together,” he shares, announcing his forthcoming 11th studio album, Work Hard And Be Nice, set for release on June 19, 2020 on Thirty Tigers (through Cooking Vinyl Australia) with lead songs – “How We Living” and the propitious “I’m On Your Side” out today along with the pre-order/pre-save. See the music video for “I’m On Your Side,” HERE. Directed by Franti, the video made its debut last night at 11:59 p.m., paying homage to the fan favorite collaboration with Sonna Rele.

“I wrote ‘I’m On Your Side’ to share the message that despite the labels we put on each other to divide us into different groups and force us to choose sides, like political ideologies, gender, race, religion, sexuality and economic standing, we have a lot more in common than we do in difference. We all ‘stay awake at night wondering if we’ll be all right,’ or sit ‘…at the kitchen table counting up the bills to pay.’”

Adding “And in each of those situations where we start to feel hopelessness creeping in, when we feel most alone in the battle, I want the listener to know, I feel it too. I’m there with you in spirit, without judgment, in solidarity and ‘I’m On Your Side.’”

Today Franti also released “How We Living” about taking the time to celebrate the fun side of life. “The inspiration for this song was really the break that all of us need and deserve from the chaos of our daily grind, and in gratitude for all the joy that life brings us despite all the hurt in the world. It’s also a gentle reminder that ‘If you’re looking for the problems in this world, you’re gonna find ‘em, all you’ve gotta do is look out the door. But if you’re looking for that good stuff, it’s already up inside you, all you’ve gotta do is just let it show.’”

The 17-song album, available to pre-save and pre-order now, started off as an idea: That it’s important in this time of division in the world to Work Hard And Be Nice To People.

“Before there was a song and an album by the title, I had a discussion with our band and crew that our mantra on tour was going to be ‘work hard and be nice to people.’ We then made a t-shirt, and it very quickly became our top-seller! It was so popular that I decided to write a song about the concept,” Franti reveals. “Every song on the album is about the power of optimism to get us through our darkest moments and find the light in our loves, lives and for the planet.”

“I collaborated with many different incredible songwriters and it was amazing to hear how all of them understood completely the idea of how important it is for people to have ease of heart in these troubled times,” he continues, “The need for emotions to be able to pass effortlessly as they arise. Music helps with that, and sometimes it brings out feelings we never even knew existed. As I set out making the record, I hoped that it would move people’s hearts and bodies and inspire people to take on the great challenges the world faces today, with courage, love and bold optimism!”

No one could have imagined the world looking like it does today with citizens around the world in self-quarantine, however as we listen to the songs on Work Hard And Be Nice, they speak to how we get through the greatest ups and downs of our lives with our body, mind and soul still in one piece.

“Today, we are being called to connect with the hearts of others to literally bring about the healing of the planet,” Franti reflects. “There is no higher calling, and I hope this music helps people know that they are not alone in the effort. Each person’s role makes a difference, and we will create billions of small victories that all add up…together!”

The award-winning film “Stay Human,” directed by Franti and coined by Woody Harrelson as “the film every human needs to watch right now,” had its YouTube  premiere, partnered with Levi’s®, Thursday April 23 10am AEST with a Q&A and acoustic performance with Franti via Instagram immediately following the screening. Watch the trailer HERE.  Following the screening, the film will be available for viewing for 24 hours.

In continued celebration of Earth Day and the announcement of Work Hard And Be Nice, Franti will join Earth Day Live (Friday, April 24 at 11:30 a.m. AEST), and will also join Together We Breathe Hope, a free virtual concert benefiting the National Jewish Health COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund (Saturday, April 25 10am EST).

Work Hard And Be Nice Track Listing is as follows:

1. I Got You (Michael Franti & Chris Stevens)
2. Sun and Moon (Michael Franti & Chris Stevens)
3. Good Shit Happens (Michael Franti & Cappy Franti)
4. I Can Still Feel You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
5. Start Small Think Big (Michael Franti, Chris Stevens. Brett Warren & Brad Warren)
6. How We Living (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
7. Breaking Down The Door (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
8. The Friends Song (Michael Franti & Daniel Lubwama Kigozi)
9. Lay It All Down (Michael Franti, Chris Stevens & James Yeary)
10. P.S. I Love You (Michael Franti)
11. Work Hard And Be Nice (Michael Franti & Jonathan Singleton)
12. Is It Worth A Penny To You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
13. Walking Into The Sun (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
14. All My Friends (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
15. I’m On Your Side (Michael Franti & Sean McConnell)
16. Daycation (Michael Franti & Nathan Chapman)
17. Watching The World Go By With You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)

RECORDED IN: Nashville, TN; San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA
MASTERED BY: Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound; Assisted by Will Quinnell
MIXED BY: Mario Borgatta, Dave Clauss, David Cook of Splash of Soda, Jeff Juliano at The Compound, Tim Myers, & Chris Stevens
PRODUCED BY: Michael Franti, Chris Stevens, Tim Myers, Nathan Chapman, & Sean McConnell

About Michael Franti
Michael Franti is a globally recognized musician, humanitarian, activist, and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, devotion to health and wellness, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Throughout his multi-decade career, Franti has earned Billboard No. 1’s with triumphantly hopeful hits “Sound of Sunshine” and “Say Hey (I Love You),” five Top 30 Hot AC singles, eight Top 25 AAA Singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums. In January 2019, Franti released his self-directed documentary “Stay Human,” which won an array of awards at film festivals worldwide and influenced his writing for his most recent album Stay Human Vol. II (Thirty Tigers), which debuted at No. 1 on both the Americana and Independent Album charts and received critical acclaim from USA Today, Billboard, Associated Press and Paste.

Michael Franti & Spearhead continue to foster their community both on and off stage with a wish granting non-profit, Do It For The Love, founded by Franti and his wife, Sara. Do It For The Love brings those with life threatening illnesses, veterans, and children with severe challenges to concerts worldwide, fulfilling over 3,300 wishes and touching the lives of over 12,000 people to date. Franti also owns SOULSHINE Bali, a 32-room top-rated yoga retreat hotel located in Ubud, Bali. Amidst touring, Michael Franti & Spearhead have been in recording studios in Nashville, Los Angeles, and San Francisco working with A-list writers and producers on their most diverse record yet, Work Hard And Be Nice, set for release June 19, 2020.

For more information, visit MichaelFranti.com or follow on Instagram and Twitter @MichaelFranti and Facebook.com/MichaelFranti.

April 22 2020 (US) – Today, Nahko And Medicine For The People release their new song “Honor The Earth.” In honor of Earth Day, “Honor The Earth” pays tribute to the Great Law Treaty at Lake Onondaga, which led to the creation of the Iroquois Confederacy. Based on principles of peace and formed consensus, “Honor The Earth” is from the band’s forthcoming album, Take Your Power Back, out May 15^th on Medicine Tribe Records/SideOneDummy Records (through Cooking Vinyl Australia) and Executive Produced by cut&dry and Dan Fratoni.

Earlier today, Nahko debuted the song live in partnership with the non-profit Honor The Earth, which fights for Indigenous environmental justice and awareness, on the organization’s Instagram. Prior to the performance, Nahko hosted a Reddit AMA to answer fan questions about his new album, his passion for environmentalism and indigenous rights, and more.

Donate to the Honor The Earth foundation here:
http://www.honorearth.org

“I’m incredibly proud of this song, as it’s been with me for many years now.  I encourage you all to read about The Great Law of Peace from which I drew inspiration.  This is definitely an anthem message for Earth Day!  Honor the Earth, the Mother comes first, live in a good way for Her!” – Nahko

Nahko also participated in Earth Day’s 50th anniversary initiative today with a special performance of the song airing in their global Earth Day digital package. Additional participants include global calls to action from Prince Albert, Pope Francis, Andrea Boccelli and more. “In the midst of a global pandemic, Earth Day Live aims to spur collective action to protect our communities and our planet, through performances, conversations, and training sessions curated by climate activists,” the organizers told Rolling Stone.

For more information on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and this year’s initiative visit Earth Day’s website here: https://www.earthday.org/campaign/digital-earth-day

Take Your Power Back has earned early praise from Billboard and American Songwriter, who called the music “spiritually driven” and “uplifting.”

Nahko recently launched Medicine Tribe Television, an interview series with friends and collaborators airing live on Nahko’s Instagram every Tuesday and Thursday at 3 PM PT/6 PM ET. He has already hosted conversations with Shailene Woodley, Aaron Rodgers, Aubrey Marcus and more. This week’s first guest was Marianne Williamson, who joined Nahko for a discussion about spirituality in the time of Coronavirus. More guests will be announced soon. Tune into Medicine Tribe TV here: https://www.instagram.com/nahkobear

BUY/STREAM “HONOR THE EARTH” HERE

PRE-ORDER ‘TAKE YOUR POWER BACK’ NOW HERE

As announced via Radio X in the UK this morning, fans who missed out on tickets to DMA’S sold out O2 Academy Brixton, London show on 6 March 2020 will soon be able to watch the concert in full via a stream on the band’s Facebook and YouTube.

This momentous event saw the Sydney band play to a sold-out crowd of nearly 5,000 ecstatic punters at the iconic South London venue – with tickets to the concert selling out in less than 24 hours. Due to the overwhelming support from fans worldwide, the band have decided to share the one-off experience with all who missed out on tickets or want to relive the glory, from the comfort of their own homes. Australian fans can stream the show at 6am AEST or 9pm AEST on Thursday 30 April.

Today, the band have shared another teaser of the online event, with the live version of their fastest streaming single to date, ‘Silver’ filmed live at O2 Academy Brixton.

DMA’S

“Yibby’s energy and enthusiasm are innate – spitting bars with a confidence beyond his years without so much as breaking a sweat.” – FBi Radio

“Yibby brought it in a big way on Poke. His tone is becoming more and more recognizable in the burgeoning Australian hip-hop community.” – Tommy Faith, triple j Unearthed

After a breakout 12 months of releases, YIBBY returns with his first release for 2020 with laid back in name and nature new single ‘No Sweat’ which premiered on Home & Hosed last night.

Once again the Ethiopian-born, South Sydney-raised rapper has teamed up with dynamic producing duo Clockwork Odyssey to create a funk riddled track full of swirling synths and a bouncing beat, as a bed for YIBBY’s signature animated flow. YIBBY explains the content saying “No Sweat is about not stressing while going through adversity or dealing with things and still celebrating the wins.”

Forever a melting pot of genres, YIBBY’s music always comes accompanied with coming of age tales and food for thought bars. His debut single ‘Woah’ came in late 2018 signalling the start of a rapid fire first year for the now 20-year-old which consisted of the Lost In Translation EP and a hard-hitting team up with fellow up-and-comer Raj Mahal.

Quickly gaining recognition from fans and media, last year he came in at #14 on FBi Radio’s Most Played Artists of 2019. He also left his mark on triple j’s Bars of Steel and FBi Radio’s Independent Play series whilst garnering fans from Sniffers, Tone Deaf, Life Without Andy, Purple Sneakers and more. Single ‘Folk’, pulled from his debut EP, was added to spot rotation on triple j, as well as full adds on triple j Unearthed, FBi Radio, SYN Radio, 4ZZZ and EDGE Radio, and spins on Beats Radio 1.

On the live circuit he’s cut his teeth supporting Winston Surfshirt, Boo Seeka, Drapht, Arno Faraji, Milan Ring and Kuren as well as performing a show-stopping set at Bad Friday Festival. 

YIBBY
‘No Sweat’
OUT NOW

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“The Sydney hip-hop/RnB singer continues his run of fine form.” – Life Without Andy
“Okkaido has fast tracked himself as a name to watch.” – It’s Hip Hop Music

Infectiously melding hip hop, funk and R&B, Sydney-based crooner Okkaido delivers on his new single ‘No Filter ft. Sunee BOI’.

Driven by a boom-bap beat and flourishing with moments of hip hop, funk, electro and R&B, ‘No Filter’s message is right there in the title. Combating the constant dribble of inexperienced content on social platforms – ever more present in this new world – the track hopes for a more filtered online presence. Okkaido elaborates “I had always had the idea to make a song about social media, making it humorous and shine light on how ridiculous it has become. An expert in the modern age seems to be determined by the following you can acquire rather than the validity of your credentials.”

Engrossed in poetry and armed with writing intricacies, Okkaido debuted less than 12 months ago with single ‘Amanda Who’ which has since amassed almost 250,000 Spotify streams. Then came follow ups ‘Red Whine’ and ‘Flies’ catching the eye of tastemaker Life Without Andy and helping him secure his first support slot opening for Steven.

With a deluge of music planned for release this year there’s no better time to get acquainted with Okkaido.

OKKAIDO
‘No Filter’
OUT NOW

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Fat Wreck Chords are announcing the triumphant return of Bad Cop / Bad Cop, with the unveiling of the new album: The Ride, to be released on Friday June 19. The Ride was recorded throughout much of 2018 and 2019 by Johnny Carey and Fat Mike (D-Composers), and boasts all of the elements of BCBC’s sound: big guitars, lock-step bass and drums, intricate vocal harmonies, and plenty of attitude.

The lead single, “Simple Girl,” is streaming on the Fat Wreck Chords YouTube channel, and all digital platforms.

I wrote “Simple Girl” in response to what the man I’m seeing said to me when pausing our relationship…. “We both have complicated lives, the next person I’m going to be with is going to be simple.” It hurt and got me thinking. I decided then to make a declaration of everything I am and am proud to be – vocalist/guitarist Stacey Dee

In a time of chronic rage, happiness is revolutionary.

Bad Cop / Bad Cop has done angry. The band’s 2017 full-length, Warriors, was recorded in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. The Los Angeles quartet’s new full-length, The Ride (Fat Wreck Chords, June 19th), shows what happens when you come out the other side of that anger.

“It’s not that I am just stoked or blind to suffering,” says singer-guitarist Jennie Cotterill. “I think anger is a legitimate and understandable reaction to injustice and wrongdoing. It’s just that for myself, I am trying to move past ‘reaction’ into productive ‘response.’”

The message BCBC is sending this time around is less about wagging your finger at others, or giving the middle one to the Man, than it is about self-love and acceptance. As Cotterill puts it, “Love is a more powerful truth than anger.” That positivity fuels many of The Ride’s tracks: “Originators,” “Simple Girl,” “Community,” “I Choose,” “Perpetual Motion Machine,” and “The Mirage” exude confidence, gratitude, and compassion. In 2020, such things qualify as contrarian.

“These are political statements—self-love is a huge fucking statement,” affirms singer-guitarist Stacey Dee. “Self-love means putting a fix on the problems at home before trying to fix everything in the world. It’s asking people to find it in themselves to create the life that they really want to have so they’re not in turmoil, so they’re not in a place of stress and sickness.”

Dee speaks from experience. In 2018 she was hospitalised twice for different ailments, then discovered she had stage one breast cancer at the end of the year. Fortunately it was highly treatable, but the experience was life-altering. Dee captures it with brutal frankness on “Breastless,” whose bright melodies belie the struggle described in the lyrics.

“Certain Kind of Monster” and “Pursuit of Liberty”—both written and sung by bassist Linh Le—are blistering repudiations of the current administration’s treatment of immigrants.

The former is an imagined conversation with an ICE agent, and the latter juxtaposes her family’s immigration to the U.S. from Vietnam in 1975 to current events, something she’s never explored musically.

The perspective behind The Ride lends it an undeniable maturity, without losing its power. Recorded throughout much of 2018 and 2019 by Johnny Carey and Fat Mike of production team the D-Composers, the album boasts all of the elements of BCBC’s sound: big guitars, lock-step bass and drums (the latter by powerhouse drummer Myra Gallarza), intricate vocal harmonies, and plenty of attitude.

It’s just that this time, the attitude is encouraging, not raging. Nowhere is that more apparent than lilting album closer “Sing With Me.” Built around acoustic guitar, piano, and Cotterill’s voice, it’s an exhortation to “sing with me / or sing your own song / I don’t mind, just as long as you find / a voice.”

Dee adds, “If people are listening to our songs and they’re going to sing along to them, they’re going to start owning some of those words. And in owning some of those words that gives them some strength and power going forward. That’s really the biggest gift that I could give to anybody.”

“Stronger in every way” aptly describes Bad Cop / Bad Cop in 2020. The anger may have taken a back seat on The Ride, but what’s taken its place is even more powerful.