After being nominated for no less than six ARIA Awards for his track Papercuts featuring the wonderfully talented Vera Blue, Melbourne MC Illy is back doing what he does best and dropping more amazing tracks. His new one Catch 22 is in the same vein as Papercuts in that it features some incredible female vocals. This time they’re provided by Anne-Marie, whose unbelievable voice you might recognise from Rudimental’s Rumour Mill.
Catch 22 was released on Monday and is the new single off Illy’s fifth studio album Two Degrees, which will be released on the 11th of November. The album is produced by heavyweight Grammy winning producer M-Phazes.
The album’s title comes from an unlikely but astute source:
“President Obama was asked whether he viewed his presidency as a success, having faced such fierce opposition throughout his two terms. His answer likened society to a ship, where you can’t steer 50 degrees at once, but if you move two degrees, then another two degrees, and continue like this, years later you end up in a very different place from where you began,” Illy elaborates. “And as long as you’re steering in the right direction, and progressing, your impact is made over time. This album is a celebration of moving forward, two degrees at a time. I hope you enjoy it.”
As if ARIA nominations, a new track, and a new album weren’t enough Illy for his ever-growing base of fans, he has also announced a short tour run for Two Degrees on top of that. Illy will perform a handful of intimate shows to coincide with the album’s launch. Unfortunately for some, he will only be hitting the regular East coast destinations of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne. The tour kicks off in Brisbane on Tuesday the 15th of November.
Tickets are on sale now from illyal.com and shows will sell out quickly so be sure to grab tickets soon. Luckily for fans not along the East coast, Illy is also playing a string of festival shows on top of his own tour: Banana Fields Music & Arts Festival, Falls and NYE Street Party. Details for both the album launch and festival shows are below.
ALBUM RELEASE LAUNCH DATES
- Tuesday 15 November – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane, QLD
- Wednesday 16 November – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW
- Thursday 17 November – Howler, Melbourne, VIC
FESTIVAL DATES 2016/2017
- Saturday 29 October – Banana Fields Music & Arts Festival, Coffs Harbour, NSW
- Thursday 29 December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC
- Friday 30 December – Falls Festival, Marion Bay, TAS
- Saturday 31 December – NYE Street Party, Newcastle, NSW
- Sunday 1 January – Falls Festival, Byron Bay, NSW
- Saturday 7 January – Falls Festival, Fremantle, WA
Two Degrees is out Friday 11 November and available for pre order now.
Image: Supplied