Tag: News

Naarm-based Wergaia / Wemba Wemba woman, Alice Skye, today unveils her first single for 2020, “Grand Ideas”, out via Bad Apples Music. Produced by Jen Cloher, the release arrives with artwork by Prime Minister of the National Indigenous Youth Parliament, Aretha Brown, and will be launched live on Saturday, June 6 as part of online music event Delivered Live, hosted by Henry Wagons and Myf Warhurst.

“Grand Ideas” finds a backbone firm in the indie rock realm, with layers of warm rhythms, smiling keys and big drum beats crafting a body-moving soundscape for Alice’s introspective lyricism. Bursting from within as she confronts the burdening helplessness that emanates from the mind’s messes, Alice’s silky vocals project a boldness in dreaming of the great escape from oneself and the “grand ideas” we build to break from the thoughts within.

The single follows last year’s evocative track “I Feel Better But I Don’t Feel Good”, praised for further shedding light on Alice’s ability to capture everyday, tumultuous internal battles through raw musicality and awe-inspiring transparency. Since the release of 2015’s debut single “You Are the Mountains” and subsequently becoming a finalist in the triple j Unearthed NIMA competition, Alice Skye has assumed form as one of Australia’s brightest voices and most honest lyricists. In 2018, Alice was awarded the inaugural First Peoples Emerging Artist Award before releasing her debut album Friends With Feelings, catching the immediate attention of Double J, garnering the titles of FBi Radio’s Independent Artist of the Week and triple j Unearthed’s Feature Artist, reaching #10 in the iTunes charts, and has since accumulated one million Spotify streams. In 2019, Alice returned to appear on ABC’s Deadly Hearts compilation album with single “Speak Your Language”, before taking home the Emerging Artist Award at the 2019 Australian Women in Music Awards. On stage, she has supported the likes of Paul Kelly, Benny Walker, Archie Roach, Colin Hay, Thelma Plum, Stella Donnelly and more as well as toured her debut album with childhood friends and close bandmates, Sam and Kane King. She’s charmed crowds at Falls Festival, the 2018 NIMA Awards as triple j Unearthed competition winner, and more.

In the past 12 months Alice has performed at Lost Lands Festival, the Sounds Australia stage at the Folk Alliance International Conference in New Orleans, and supported Paul Kelly for Twilight at Taronga. Most recently, following the effects of COVID-19, Alice’s SXSW campaign and upcoming August tour to Canada have been hindered. Performances have meanwhile instead been showcased across Instagram Live festival Isol-Aid, and Ticketmaster’s Facebook Live Together Fest.

“Grand Ideas” marks Alice Skye’s second single with prolific Indigenous label Bad Apples Music since signing early last year. Founded by Briggs, the label aims to use music as a platform for social change and fostering the talent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Today, Alice Skye further shapes a reputation for bringing forth unparalleled emotional exposure and introspective story-telling to her work, who’s universality in substance continues to engage with far-reaching audiences. Keep an eye out for more to come from this extraordinary voice in 2020, kick-started with the freshly minted “Grand Ideas”.

STREAM / DOWNLOAD

Source: BadApplesMusic.com

Briggs has shared his latest taste of new music, sharing “Extra Extra” as the first single from his upcoming EP.

“‘Extra, Extra’ is how I live. No days off,” Briggs says of the track. “Everything I do is Extra – you can check my resume for that. A lot of people know me for a lot of different things – but this is back to the fundamentals of who I am as Briggs.”

STREAM / DOWNLOAD

Source: BadApplesMusic.com

Gamilaroi artist Kobie Dee shares his latest single “Still Standing” ft Liyah Knight. The highly anticipated track comes on the heels of his viral single “Jody”, which has accumulated over 2 million streams to date.

The 22-year-old MC has captured audiences across Australia with his effortless flows, precise delivery, and an uncanny knack for storytelling that connects deeply with his listeners. In his short time on the scene, Kobie has quickly become one of the most important voices in Australian hip hop.

Kobie Dee’s latest offering is a heartfelt and profoundly moving track about the hard-hitting topics of the Stolen Generation, January 26th, and challenges experienced by Aboriginal people. Kobie says of his latest track:

“The first verse I actually wrote in 2016 after invasion day, and the second I finished at the beginning of this year. The song is about the Stolen Generation and some of the issues that we face as Aboriginal people. My great grandfather was taken from his parents in Wreck Bay. I personally couldn’t imagine how much that would have hurt to be taken from your parents and away from your culture. It is something that makes me sad when I look at my daughter because I couldn’t live if I had her taken from me.”

The song was produced by Ascent Beats and features the rising singer/songwriter Liyah Knight, whose tender vocals play the perfect counterpart to the rawness of Kobie’s lyrics.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Source: BadApplesMusic.com

Source: BadApplesMusic.com

Source: BadApplesMusic.com

Acclaimed Yuin MC Nooky returns today with his new single “Numb”, out via Bad Apples Music. The track arrives with a visual partner bringing to life the strikingly transparent lyricism Nooky is consistently praised for.

BUY/STREAM HERE
WATCH HERE

The power of Nooky’s music is not confined to his own introspection and self-therapeutic benefits, rather it acts as both a tool soothing his own anger as well as reaching others to make a social and political point. Premiered on Triple J’s Good Nights, “Numb” broadens Nooky’s unapologetic attitude while taking a step back from his signature fiery lyrics and drawing focus to his honest words, a dip in trap production and warped beats courtesy of collaborator Solo. Speaking to its name, the track explores the facets of addiction, unpacking moments at the brink of emotion when substances are turned to for numbing pain. Filmed at Sydney’s The Lord Gladstone and premiered by FilterZine, the accompanying video morphs these sentiments into a hazy night out, with dizzying scenes mimicking the effect of alcohol and resulting disjointed feelings of numbness.

Nooky says of the single: “Numb is a side of me that I don’t usually show, it’s something that I have hidden for quite some time, it’s about turning to substance abuse to numb the pain when you are finding it hard to face your problems. Music was my healing, it was my release, but sometimes I needed to escape my escape and just be numb to my emotions and thoughts but the next day shit’s still the same and if anything it put a hindrance on my healing.”

Nooky burst onto the scene in 2010, after moving from southern coastal town Nowra to Sydney and gaining attention for his unmatched rhymes and technical rap style. After making a name for himself in his new hometown, the multidisciplinary artist first received international recognition on a chance meeting with Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas, next flying to LA to collaborate on a track. In 2016, he took home the Australia Council’s Dreaming Prize for young Indigenous artists, before going on to release his debut solo single “Black Future” in 2018. Nooky has appeared on tracks with B Wise, P Smurf, Birdz, Sonboy, Manu Crooks and more, plus featured his second solo track “Blackfellas” on 2019’s Deadly Hearts 2 compilation album, shining a light on Indigenous music, culture and identity alongside Dan Sultan, Electric Fields, Busby Marou, Tia Gostelow and more. Not slowing down there, Nooky is also an esteemed producer, having curated the behind the scenes on tracks from Birdz, Caiti Baker and Tasman Keith.

Source: BadApplesMusic.com

We are excited to today announce we will be hosting Canadian Indigenous hip hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids across a weekend of FREE shows from 6-8 September, supported by some of our own talented local artists including Nooky, Kobie Dee and Alice Skye as well as special guest acts Lady Lash and Ridzy.

In the country for BIGSOUND, Snotty Nose Rez Kids are the combined talents of Yung Trybez and Young D, hailing from the Haisla Nation of British Columbia. Their trap beats and woven lyricism pay homage to their upbringing, while also touching upon larger themes related to Indigenous identity, politics and resistance.

Source: BadApplesMusic.com

ALICE SKYE SIGNS TO BAD APPLES MUSIC

AHEAD OF PERFORMING AT MELBOURNE MUSEUM’S NOCTURNAL SERIES WITH BRIGGS ON JULY 5

Wergaia woman and one of Australia’s brightest songwriters, Alice Skye today joins the nation’s leading label for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, Bad Apples Music. To celebrate the news, Alice Skye will perform alongside Bad Apples label founder Briggs, at Melbourne Museum’s upcoming Nocturnal event on July 5 for NAIDOC Week.

Born in Western Victoria and now based in Narrm (Melbourne), Alice has been working hard over the past couple of years, touring her 2018 debut album Friends with Feelings with childhood friends and bandmates, Sam and Kane King. A combination of hopeful and haunting, Alice’s sound combines dreamy vocals and stripped back piano melodies, elevating the gentle moodiness of her songwriting, transforming her once bedroom scribblings into well-crafted and articulated lyrics on love, loss and life. Alice Skye on signing to Bad Apples Music:

“I usually overthink things until I can’t make a decision but taking the steps to sign to Bad Apples Music just made sense to me. They have been so supportive and generous to me since we first met. It does feel ironic to be among such staunch and strong rappers when that is quite opposite of what I am, but I love the idea that there can be staunchness in shyness and that Bad Apples believe in that too.

I have such admiration for Briggs’ and the way he navigates this industry – and I love the space he and the team at Bad Apples have created for first nations artists in this country. The music industry is a wild and sometimes overwhelming place, so having people that prioritse community and operate like family back me and believe in me is a real dream. I’m so happy to be working with people who are as excited about me releasing new stuff as I am.”

Joining the news of today’s signing, Alice announces she will perform at Melbourne Museum’s monthly returning Nocturnal event series on July 5, headlined by Briggs. Returning for NAIDOC Week this July, the adults only after-dark event will take over the museum’s forest gallery to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

An enduring commitment to nurturing artists and providing platforms for excellence in the music sector, Bad Apples Music continues to grow as Australia’s most prolific Aboriginal record label. Founded by Briggs, the label maintains a foundational objective in using music as a platform for social change and educating and fostering the talent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Briggs on the signing:

“I’m proud that Alice Skye has found a home with Bad Apples Music. Wergaia woman Alice brings an immense talent, honesty and unique perspective with her that I believe will only take her to further success. I’ve watched Alice grow as an artist over the last 2 years and it’s been Strength to strength. Alice’s songwriting & performance is top tier and it won’t take long before she is recognised as one of our countries best.

Bad Apples Music strives to create pathways represent our vast communities and talents as best as possible in the most genuine way. Supporting artists outside of the Hip-Hop is a first step for us but it is a considered and informed one.”

Don’t miss attending Nocturnal on July 5 to witness Bad Apples Music’s newest signing, Alice Skye.

ALICE SKYE
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

UPCOMING SHOWS

Friday July 5 – Nocturnal, Melbourne Museum (TIX HERE)

Source: BadApplesMusic.com