Artist info
Genre
Hip Hop
band members
Smizzy (rapper) & Ntaprize (DJ / Producer / Multi-Instrumentalist)
Influences
The Internet, Chet Faker, Kenrick Lamar
Website
Bio
When Smizzy wrote the hook for Mind Over Matter’s new single ‘American Girl’, he had one man in mind to sing it. That person was a Grammy Award winning, US artist, but actually getting him on the track seemed an unattainable feat.
After approaching some friends to try their luck at singing the irrefutably catchy melody, Smizzy was feeling disheartened, none were able to scale the bar that he had set. But then, Smizzy remembered he was an optimist, and so decided to approach, via Facebook message, a Mr. Matthew Santos.
Matthew Santos is most commonly known for his work with Lupe Fiasco album The Cool, and more notably on Lupe’s lead single ‘Superstar’ (for which he won the Grammy),
A couple of weeks passed, when all of a sudden a reply from Santos appeared in Smizzy’s inbox. Santos apologised for the delayed response, and proceeded to say that he’d love to have a run at the chorus.
Within two days Santos sent his vocals to Mind Over Matter, and the result was mind blowing.
‘American Girl’ is a clever commentary about how contemporary Australian society has been so heavily influenced by the American media.
“Steph decided to skip lunch for six months /
She wants a man so she goes to the gym tons /
Chris invited her round for a dip once /
But she turned him down cos she hates herself in swim trunks /
The increase in superficialities has resulted in an increase in the insecurities of today’s society, which is creatively highlighted through the characters Smizzy mentions.
The track’s upbeat production courtesy of Matik (Seth Sentry, Drapht) and Jon Reichardt (Hilltop Hoods, Bliss n Eso), features horn lines and driving drum beats, which contrast with Santos’s smooth and powerful vocals on the hook.
‘American Girl’ is the lead single off Mind Over Matter’s forthcoming album The Cover which is scheduled for release in early 2016.
Featured Artist
2010
18
Oct
Mind Over Matter
(- Mind Over Matter ,
- Smizzy ,
- chance waters , ...
Sydney, NSW
An album and two mixtapes into their career Mind Over Matter have earned a reputation for tireless touring and a passionate national cult following. In 2010 MOM featured on Bliss N Eso’s #1 Aria Charting album “Running on Air”.
Tell us about your music – how did you develop your sound?
We've been recording music for roughly 5 years. We started recording when we were 17 on a beaten up microphone which was propped up by a broom stick and have since released 2 mixtapes and an album. Our sound has developed noticeably with each release. When we started out our lyrics were very hip hop and Sydney street culture orientated. With each release we began to explore different ideas, concepts, and rhyme patterns within our lyrics. Free The Wolves was released after our first album. It was the perfect bridging release between our first album and the album we've been working on over the past year and a half; Just Like Fireworks (to be released in early 2011). Just Like Fireworks I feel is the strongest we've been lyrically to date. We also explored the abilities of our voices and pushed ourselves with beats that tested our flow and rhythm. Beats wise we were very selective, listening to over 5,000 beats from various producers before narrowing it down to 16 we liked. The beats on Just Like Fireworks vary from hip hop, to reggae to electro to rock it's a very diverse album. On just about every track we have some form of live instrumentation too. I also spent 6 weeks of back breaking labor building a sound treated vocal booth, that combined with a new microphone that burnt a hole in mine and Willow's pockets have attributed to our current sound.
What should a punter expect at your show?
A high energy hip hop concert. With some dope guests, live instrumentation and some crafty cuts on decks. Also to definitely loose a kilo or two. It gets equally sweaty for us and the crowd. I'm thinking of bringing my super soaker on tour this summer.
Who are some of the other local artists you rate?
Our relationship with Bliss n Eso is very strong there is a mutal respect for each others music there, Running On Air blew me away completely. Phatchance, Coptic Soldier, Drakezilla and Johnny Utah are all close friends and artists that I believe have huge huge potential. Pez, Matik, and 360 are some of my favourite dudes in the scene and have skills coming out the asshole. I feel Drapht, Urthboy, and Phrase are all incredible artists too which have helped shape the Australian hip hop scene today and are dudes I bump regularly.
What’s coming up in the future?
We're planning a small tour hitting the major cites at the end of this year. Then a celebratory trip to Thailand in January. Just Like Fireworks will then be released early on next year then a much bigger tour.
Australian music is?
Incredible.
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