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PREMIERE: Kirklandd Shows Off Serious Raw Skills In This Live Video

It’s no secret that we’ve entered a seriously amazing golden age for Australian hip-hop, and it brings me great pleasure to be able to share excellent new local music with you. One really promising upcoming artist is Canberra-based Kirklandd, who today releases a live acoustic video of an untitled track.

The track was recorded and filmed at Canberra’s Merloc Studios, where Kirklandd has been collaborating with ARIA-award winning producer Cam Bluff, who you may know from his work with Hilltop Hoods and Illy.

Kirklandd’s riveting flow is controlled, deep and driving from start to end, backed by live percussion, keys, turntables and saxophone, which really bring the track to life. Hip-hop and electronic music are alike in that the addition of live instruments is neither common nor necessary, but can absolutely push it to a whole new level.

 

Kirklandd has already performed alongside Guilty Simpson, and Citizen Kay among others. He wanted to share the live experience with his fans, and worked with Bluff on the idea for this release.

“Cam and I started with the goal of crafting a contemplative, explorative track that blended a number of live instruments to form a gradually climactic sound. We combined live drum rolls, strings and sax with an unpredictable flow to form a truly unique project, and one that I’m insanely eager to release.

“I’m truly excited because I haven’t heard anything like this conceptually or musically in the Australian scene quite yet – live instruments in hip hop are all too absent, and in my production I’m always eager to push towards the energy and intimacy that live instruments provide, so I thought it was a great opportunity to hit the studio and capture this visually.”

Fans can look forward to more singles coming out across the next two months. Following this, Kirklandd will be taking to the stage of Canberra’s Transit bar on June 17 – more details and support acts to be announced soon.

Image: Victor Tawagi