Psycho feels like one of your most vulnerable releases yet. What made you want to confront these parts of yourself through music?
I wrote Psycho in a deep spot of reflection, trying to find the root cause of why I sometimes I would speak to my people the way I would. Turns out your mind and body holds onto past trauma and life moments, and sometimes it comes out ways we not proud of.
The song explores how pain, anger, fear and insecurity can affect the people around us. Was there a particular moment or realisation that sparked the writing of Psycho?
Overtime it was a consistent theme of me not being told what I needed to change… and finally taking responsibility to change it.
There’s a strong contrast between the silky R&B production and the heavier subject matter. How did you approach creating that balance sonically?
I love it when you get a production and arrangement that is so good, it forces you dig deep into your toolkit and put everything into a song. This was one of those moments.
You worked with Melbourne producer R.F.P on Psycho. What did he bring to the track that helped shape it into the final version?
He’s a legend, working out of Naarm, Melbourne and I’ve been working with Rory for a couple of years. His production forced me dive deeper, and match his sonics and arrangement with truthful, honest storytelling.
You also co-produced and co-directed the music video with Richie Coburn. How did the visual concept develop alongside the song?
Richie Coburn has been a huge asset to have alongside me bringing my ideas to life. Working previously on ‘Blood in the Water’ and The Gift with Hilltop Hoods, we wanted to create a new age visualizer that accompanied the track nicely, I think we achieved that.
Psycho follows your debut single Blood in the Water. What did making that first release teach you that you carried into this new chapter?
Continue to be authentic and honest in your story telling. Theres so such growth to be had when I am authentically me, and stay aligned to my truth and values. Psycho is a representation of me staying to my commitment to honesty.
You’ve worked across hip hop, R&B and soul, while also collaborating with artists including Urthboy, A.B. Original, Birdz and Frank Leone. How have those experiences influenced the artist you’re becoming in your own right?
They’ve all shown me how to stay true to self and speak about what matters in the right way.
You came from a professional AFL background before moving further into music and creative work. What did your time in football teach you that you now carry into your creative life?
It taught me how to apply myself and prepare really well, and stay prepared. Alot of times as an independent artist, you never when your next opportunity is, so you need stay prepared, and that’s what I try to do each day. Work on my craft and stay ready.
Your music often connects personal experiences with culture, identity and socially conscious storytelling. How important is it for you to keep those elements present as your sound develops?
I feel as a First nations artist, we tend to feel like we’ve inherited a responsibility to truth telling through our art. That will always remain, and as my sound evolves, and gets to a place where it can live forever through the audience, the one thing that will remain is my authenticity and truth.
You’re working towards your debut album. What can you tell us about where Psycho fits into the bigger picture, and what you’re building towards with the album?
Psycho is integral part of the process towards a larger body of work. As i mentioned previously, it is most honest, reflective and piece off work, and since psycho was born, everything that has come after has elevated and pushed me to match that honesty, with no regard for self presevation. Resulting my growth as a writer, and artist.
