Today, Melbourne-based vocalist, producer & rapper IJALE releases his latest single, ‘MI GORENG’, via Daily Nightly records. Detailing the various highs & lows faced by emerging artists trying to make it big, the track features IJALE’s signature melodic flow & playful lyricism to express a pivotal time in his personal growth.
With lyrics like ‘makin’ bookings, still live on Mi Goreng, signing deals and still I’m hopping the train’ – IJALE references the staple snack to paint a picture for the listener of the ups and downs of an artist teetering on the edge of success.
“Mi Goreng was sold at uni for 50c a piece when I was studying, so I’d eat that a lot during this time cuz I was real broke,” recalls IJALE.
On the single IJALE details, “I had moved back to my folks place and it felt like I was taking two steps back, but on the other hand I had started to get more traction with my music after I had finished studying and I began to get a solid team around me, so there were wins mixed in with the losses.”
Written in 2019 with the producer Binfolks following a rough breakup, “the hook ‘last year was a doozy’ was about where I was at the end of 2019 but it definitely rings true now post-2020 because that was a hell of a year for the world in general. A lot of the emotional shit from 2019 still lingered on into lockdown and isolation for me.”
‘MI GORENG’ follows his triple j supported debut EP ‘Wildly Disparate Sounds’ & triple j Unearthed Feature Artist mid last year, as well as his recent collaboration with Dugong Jr. ‘Ceramic’ which landed coveted Spotify playlists New Music Friday AU/NZ, The Local List, metropolis, Poolside Grooves, crush & the hybrid.
IJALE is one of six lucky recipients of a triple j Unearthed/NIDA music video competition, and will be creating a music video later in the year.
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BIO
Melbourne producer, vocalist and performer, IJALE, is a self-contained master of his sound.
A keen music fan and avid creator, he blends a myriad of afrocentric sounds and western influences that reflect his Nigerian heritage, his Australian upbringing and the multifaceted taste of an open-minded listener of the internet age. These concoctions vary in sound from piece to piece, but are usually punctuated by hints of African percussion, infectious basslines and layered electronic textures, all of which pay direct homage to the hallmark genres of black creativity including jazz, soul, r&b and hip hop.
Jerry Agbinya, aka IJALE, began releasing music in 2017 but has been busy honing and perfecting his songwriting and production skills for years. Following a brief break from his previous project Spirals, IJALE hit the ground running with support shows alongside Winston Surfshirt, Raiza Biza and Phondupe. Since then, the Melbourne based artist has been busy releasing multiple singles, including his recent track ‘Coffee Cups’ feat. Zephyrr Greene, out via French label Kitsuné Musique. In January of 2020, IJALE hosted his first show and played alongside some of Melbourne’s most promising up and comers including Jordan Dennis, Nasty Mars, Rara Zulu & more.
IJALE has a unique knack for sound design and mood, which he effortlessly encapsulates in both recordings and in his live shows. Keep your eyes on this latest Melbourne producer, as he’s about to take the next step on his eventual path to global fame. ______________________________
Praise for IJALE
“It’s clear that IJALE is destined for stardom” – Mixdown Mag
“Continuing to defy expectations with every release, you’ll want to get IJALE on your radar now” – Ticketmaster
“Some of the brainiest bars and complex beats on Unearthed” – triple j
“Sounding like the golden age of Hip Hop” – The Guardian
“IJALE continues to defy expectations with each and every move” – Purple Sneakers
“IJALE is the true definition of a hidden gem” – EARMILK
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Upcoming IJALE Shows
Fri 14 May, Square Up @ The Forum (Melbourne)
Thu 20 May, Local Produce @ Ferdydurke (Melbourne)
Thur 27 May, 30/70 Support @ The Evelyn (Melbourne)
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