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After gaining momentum with his recently released funk-based and groove-filled single ‘Love’ on May 8, Perth-based hip-hop artist Sowdy strikes again whilst the iron is still hot with his latest album ‘Shine!’.The 15-track anthology will be available on July 17th, after its recent Exclusive Album Premiere on the AU review, calling it “one of the finest Australian hip hop releases so far this year.”
Backed with Sowdy’s strong foundation in drumming and electrifying vocals—‘Shine!’ was methodically crafted over the last two years from his home studio, with all tracks produced, written, mixed, mastered, and performed by Sowdy himself.
The album is a self-reflective journey, exploring the concepts of life, love, trauma, and hope, through an autobiographical lens. It is a modern, youthful take on the music that Sowdy grew up on, and a nostalgia trip through his musical upbringing. Whilst the project primarily falls into the category of hip-hop, it is sprinkled with strong influences of R&B, soul, jazz, and funk. ‘Shine!’ also features Sowdy’s collaborations with other promising Aussie artists such as Drea, Princess Khanya, 506, Cokoblack, Seup, and co-production with Luchii on ‘Can’t Stop Me’.
“I was told to hone in on my craft and really focus on how I present my music to the audience. Since then, I’ve been
working on ‘Shine!’ and with it, I feel I’ve found my sound and my purpose. I just want people to enjoy life and find an escape with my music.” – Sowdy
This rising star’s “infectious energy”, as praised by triple J presenter Gemma Pike, has been given regular spins by TripleJ Unearthed, while his “relaxed summer anthems” were given nods by publications such as Pilerats, Vice, and AU Dollars.
Sowdy’s last album ‘Leonidas’ was released in 2018, and since then, he has dropped six different singles, including ‘Big Time’ and ‘Sunshine’. Throughout his run in the music scene, trails of his influences—such as Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, and Kanye West—can be traced in his tracks. Yet, this versatile artist combines the old and the new eras of soulful jazz and youthful bounce, to create a sound of his own.
Until the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Sowdy has to put his Australian tour on hold. But a series of collaborations with other artists are in store for him for the rest of the year, so make sure to follow his social media accounts for more updates!
