Downsyde
Encyclopedia
Downsyde are an Australian hip hop
group from Perth, Western Australia
. The group is composed of six members, Optamus
, Dazastah
, Dyna-Mikes, DJ Armee, Cheeky, and Hi-Hat.
(Scott Griffiths) and Dyna-mikes (Shahbaz Rind) were in Year 11 at Craigie Senior High School
., were they took part in a school talent quest in 1996.
(D. Reutens), whom they met at Leederville
TAFE, and DJ Armee (Damien Allia) on turntables, meeting him at the Hyde Park Hotel were he would DJ on Monday nights. Later, the group expanded to the current line-up with percussionist Salvatore (Salvatore Pizzata) (ex-Beaverloop) and Cheeky (Mat Cheetham) (ex-Circus Murders) on keyboards, loops & samples joining the group. Cheetham recalls:
For four years Downsyde produced beats and rhymes and played at hundreds of gigs, parties, and MC battles culminating in the September 2000 release of their debut album, Eponimous — recordings made by the band from 1996 to 2000. Their first single, "Gifted Life
", was released two years later. "Gifted Life" was nominated as 'Best Single' at the 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards
Their second album, Land of the Giants
, was released in 2003 on the Hydrofunk label. The album won 'Most Popular Local Original Album' at the 2003 Western Australian Music Industry Awards.
The group has performed alongside groups including Jurassic 5
, Cypress Hill
, Grandmaster Flash
, The Black Eyed Peas
, and The Roots
. They also performed with Australian acts like Hilltop Hoods
, Resin Dogs
, and Koolism
. The band has also performed at a number of festivals, including Big Day Out
, Splendour in the Grass
, Rock-It
, Falls Festival
, Homebake
, Good Vibrations and the Southbound Festival
.
Downsyde signed with Obese Records
and in 2004 released a single, "Lesfortunate
", which they followed up with a third album,When the Dust Settles
, in December. The album was nominated for the 2005 J Award
.
Pizzata was replaced by Catastrophe, Dazastah's
brother on drums between 2005 and 2006. Catastrophe was a short term member and filled in to do the late 2005 "When The Dust Settles" Australian Tour and performances up to mid 2006. Steve Curyer (aka Hi-Hat), Downsyde's current drummer, joined in early 2007.
Downsyde were one of the Australian hip hop artists featured in the documentary Words from the City, which aired on ABC Television in late 2007.
Dazasatah (Reutens) is a prominent local record producer. Optamus
(Griffiths) runs his own label, Opt Shop records. Armee (Allia) has toured with Fdel and DJ'd at many prominent clubs in Asia. Cheeky (Cheetham) is a member of dub reggae group the Sunshine Brothers and has a solo project 'Rooster Police'.
In 2007 the band signed with Illusive Records
and commenced recording their next album, once the final tracks were down on tape they then headed off to India
to play a couple of shows for the Mumbai
Festival.
The group's fourth album, All City was released on 4 October 2009, and features collaborations with Howling John Stone and Guru
.
The first single from the album "Fortune and Fame" (featuring Howling John Stone), released on 1 September, together with the accompanying video produced by West Australian production company The Penguin Empire has received significant airplay.
In October 2008 to promote the release of the new album Downsyde embarked on its first national tour since 2005.
Optamus
released his debut solo album Forever & A Day in June 2010, with keyboardist Chris 'Imposter' Foster and multi-instrumentalist Moondog. Dazastah
is embarking on a talent project called "Natural Dazastahs" in which he will be uploading beats online for the public to rhyme over, with the best entries being compiled for release. Although members are working on these various solo projects the group is still working on a fifth album.
Australian hip hop
Australian hip hop music began in the early 1980s; originally it was primarily influenced by hip hop music and culture imported via radio and television from the United States of America. However, since the 1990s, a distinctive local style has developed. Australian hip hop is an underground music...
group from Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. The group is composed of six members, Optamus
Optamus
Optamus is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.-History:...
, Dazastah
Dazastah
Dazastah is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde.-History:Dazastah joined Downsyde when he met MCs Optamus and Dyna-mikes at Leederville TAFE in the late 90s...
, Dyna-Mikes, DJ Armee, Cheeky, and Hi-Hat.
History
Downsyde's origin occurred when MCs OptamusOptamus
Optamus is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.-History:...
(Scott Griffiths) and Dyna-mikes (Shahbaz Rind) were in Year 11 at Craigie Senior High School
Craigie Senior High School
Craigie Senior High School was a State high school located in Craigie, a northern suburb of Perth, Western Australia.Craigie SHS's main feeder schools when it opened were Craigie Primary School, Camberwarra Primary School, Padbury Primary School, Lymburner Primary School and Springfield Primary...
., were they took part in a school talent quest in 1996.
"We sort of figured out ourselves at 16 the best way for us to identify with AustraliaThe duo released a tape demo called Behind the Bucket, selling copies at two local shops, managing to sell all of the 200 copies they made within weeks.AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and to write topical music about Australia was for us to use our own voices rather than adopting a New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
accent." - OptamusOptamusOptamus is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.-History:...
"We suddenly got asked to play gigs with Eskimo JoeThe group added a third MC, DazastahEskimo JoeEskimo Joe is an Australian alternative rock band formed by Stuart MacLeod on guitars, Joel Quartermain on drums and guitar and Kavyen Temperley on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia in 1997....
and Beaverloop at the Grosvenor and actually gig as a band. At that point we used to play the gig with our beats recorded on a walkmanWalkmanWalkman is a Sony brand tradename originally used for portable audio cassette, and now used to market Sony's portable audio and video players as well as a line of Sony Ericsson mobile phones...
that we'd plug through the PA" - OptamusOptamusOptamus is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.-History:...
Dazastah
Dazastah is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde.-History:Dazastah joined Downsyde when he met MCs Optamus and Dyna-mikes at Leederville TAFE in the late 90s...
(D. Reutens), whom they met at Leederville
Leederville, Western Australia
Leederville is a locality within the City of Vincent within the Perth metropolitan region of Western Australia.It is home to Aranmore Catholic College, The Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, Central Institute of Technology Leederville Campus and St Mary's Church.-External...
TAFE, and DJ Armee (Damien Allia) on turntables, meeting him at the Hyde Park Hotel were he would DJ on Monday nights. Later, the group expanded to the current line-up with percussionist Salvatore (Salvatore Pizzata) (ex-Beaverloop) and Cheeky (Mat Cheetham) (ex-Circus Murders) on keyboards, loops & samples joining the group. Cheetham recalls:
"I was in TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
hanging out and got a call from my mate Sal, he's playing drums with these guys Downsyde and he said 'when you come back you should have a crack at sampling stuff for them.' So I came back, met the guys and the next thing I know I was in the band. My first show was at the Big Day OutBig Day OutThe Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
." - Cheeky
For four years Downsyde produced beats and rhymes and played at hundreds of gigs, parties, and MC battles culminating in the September 2000 release of their debut album, Eponimous — recordings made by the band from 1996 to 2000. Their first single, "Gifted Life
Gifted Life
"Gifted Life" is the first single from Australian hip hop group Downsyde's second album Land of the Giants. It was released on 23 September 2002 on the independent label, Hydrofunk and distributed nationally by Virgin....
", was released two years later. "Gifted Life" was nominated as 'Best Single' at the 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards
Their second album, Land of the Giants
Land of the Giants (album)
Land of the Giants is the second album from the Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde. It was released through Virgin/Hydrofunk Records in March 2003. Guest on the album included DJ Fdel and Porsah Laine....
, was released in 2003 on the Hydrofunk label. The album won 'Most Popular Local Original Album' at the 2003 Western Australian Music Industry Awards.
The group has performed alongside groups including Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
, Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
, Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing....
, The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
, and The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
. They also performed with Australian acts like Hilltop Hoods
Hilltop Hoods
The Hilltop Hoods are an ARIA Award winning Australian hip hop group, from Adelaide, South Australia. Their members are MCs Suffa , MC Pressure , DJ Debris and formerly DJ Next. They have been at the centre of the Australian hip hop scene for the better part of two decades, originally forming back...
, Resin Dogs
Resin Dogs
Resin Dogs are a Brisbane, Australia-based hip hop band, originally formed in 1996. Resin Dogs are a loose collective, a cut and paste sample band who use live drums, live bass, and elements of hip hop via turntables and samplers to create all forms of ritual dance sounds...
, and Koolism
Koolism
Koolism is an Australian hip hop duo originating from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.The members are lyricist Hau Latukefu and producer/DJ/musician Danielsan Ichiban .-History:Koolism started out in 1992 when Elleson joined a group by the name...
. The band has also performed at a number of festivals, including Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
, Splendour in the Grass
Splendour in the Grass
Splendour in the Grass is an annual Australian music festival held in July at Woodford, Queensland, and previously held at Belongil Fields, outside Byron Bay...
, Rock-It
Rock-It
Rock-It is an Australian music festival held at the Arena Joondalup in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. The festival was first held in 1999, and mainly features modern rock music...
, Falls Festival
Falls Festival
The Falls Festival is a New Year's Eve music festival, held annually in Lorne, Victoria and Marion Bay, Tasmania Australia since 1993.It lasts four days, from 29 December to 1 January each year. The headline acts play mostly over two evenings, 30 December and 31 December...
, Homebake
Homebake
Homebake is an annual Australian rock festival, featuring an all-Australian lineup . The festival was first held on 4 January 1996 at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay, on the far north coast of New South Wales...
, Good Vibrations and the Southbound Festival
Southbound (festival)
Southbound is an arts, camping and music festival. A variety of Australian and international artists perform at this event. The festival occurs annually, early January, at the Sir Stewart Bovell Park in Busselton, Western Australia.-History:...
.
Downsyde signed with Obese Records
Obese Records
Obese Records is an Australian hip hop record label. It is the largest Australian independent Hip-Hop label, a retail store and a touring and record distribution company.-History:...
and in 2004 released a single, "Lesfortunate
Lesfortunate
"Lesfortunate" was the second song from the Downsyde's third album When The Dust Settles. It was released as a limited edition EP in September 2004, prior to the album's release in December, with the various tracks also available as a download from the iTunes Store and the group's .The song...
", which they followed up with a third album,When the Dust Settles
When The Dust Settles
When the Dust Settles is the third full-length album from Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde and was released in December 2004 through Obese Records...
, in December. The album was nominated for the 2005 J Award
J Award
The J Award is an award given by influential Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by a panel of members of the music industry, led by Richard Kingsmill...
.
Pizzata was replaced by Catastrophe, Dazastah's
Dazastah
Dazastah is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde.-History:Dazastah joined Downsyde when he met MCs Optamus and Dyna-mikes at Leederville TAFE in the late 90s...
brother on drums between 2005 and 2006. Catastrophe was a short term member and filled in to do the late 2005 "When The Dust Settles" Australian Tour and performances up to mid 2006. Steve Curyer (aka Hi-Hat), Downsyde's current drummer, joined in early 2007.
Downsyde were one of the Australian hip hop artists featured in the documentary Words from the City, which aired on ABC Television in late 2007.
Dazasatah (Reutens) is a prominent local record producer. Optamus
Optamus
Optamus is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.-History:...
(Griffiths) runs his own label, Opt Shop records. Armee (Allia) has toured with Fdel and DJ'd at many prominent clubs in Asia. Cheeky (Cheetham) is a member of dub reggae group the Sunshine Brothers and has a solo project 'Rooster Police'.
In 2007 the band signed with Illusive Records
Illusive Sounds
Illusive Group is an independent Australian record label & touring company that represents a number of acts including Bliss n Eso, Lowrider, Paris Wells, Downsyde, Metals, True Live, Diafrix and X&Hell.-History:...
and commenced recording their next album, once the final tracks were down on tape they then headed off to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to play a couple of shows for the Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
Festival.
"We've changed labels every album. We did Eponimous independently, Land of the Giants on EMI/Hydrofunk and When the Dust Settles on Obese. After When the Dust Settles was released, we need to take time away from touring and a whole lotta other stuff to do with the industry; we felt there was a whole lotta pressure for us to release another album a year and a half later and to do all of this stuff mechanically, which creatively didn't feel right. We specifically sign one album deals, whereas a lotta artists get bullied into three album deals and get shockingly ripped off, spat out and are not a musician two years later. We sent 'this' album out to countless labels and we got back countless deals back. It just happened that Illusive came back with a very interesting way of marketing Downsyde, plus we have the common goal of elevating us as a band and not Australian hip hop per se." - Optamus
The group's fourth album, All City was released on 4 October 2009, and features collaborations with Howling John Stone and Guru
Guru (rapper)
Keith Edward Elam , better known by his stage name Guru, was an American emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts...
.
"It's taken a while to get it out. We're all organised and we're getting our live show together. We've got some tours coming up, we're just like, 'fucking let's go." - Cheeky
The first single from the album "Fortune and Fame" (featuring Howling John Stone), released on 1 September, together with the accompanying video produced by West Australian production company The Penguin Empire has received significant airplay.
In October 2008 to promote the release of the new album Downsyde embarked on its first national tour since 2005.
"We're pumped man - it has been a long time since we did a string of dates around the country, and it's good fun." - OptamusOptamusOptamus is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.-History:...
Optamus
Optamus
Optamus is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.-History:...
released his debut solo album Forever & A Day in June 2010, with keyboardist Chris 'Imposter' Foster and multi-instrumentalist Moondog. Dazastah
Dazastah
Dazastah is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde.-History:Dazastah joined Downsyde when he met MCs Optamus and Dyna-mikes at Leederville TAFE in the late 90s...
is embarking on a talent project called "Natural Dazastahs" in which he will be uploading beats online for the public to rhyme over, with the best entries being compiled for release. Although members are working on these various solo projects the group is still working on a fifth album.
Albums
- Behind the Bucket - Independent (1997) demo cassette limited release - 200 copies
- EpinonimousEpinonimousEpinonimous is the debut album released by the Australian Hip Hop group Downsyde. Although Downsyde are now quite well known throughout Australia, this album is hard to get hold of. It was released in September 2000.-Track listing :...
- Syllaboliks (September 2000) - Land of the GiantsLand of the Giants (album)Land of the Giants is the second album from the Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde. It was released through Virgin/Hydrofunk Records in March 2003. Guest on the album included DJ Fdel and Porsah Laine....
- HydrofunkHydrofunk RecordsHydrofunk Records is an independent Australian hip hop record label that represents a number of Australian acts including the Resin Dogs and Def Wish Cast.-History:...
/VirginVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
(HF 30) (March 2003) - When the Dust SettlesWhen The Dust SettlesWhen the Dust Settles is the third full-length album from Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde and was released in December 2004 through Obese Records...
- ObeseObese RecordsObese Records is an Australian hip hop record label. It is the largest Australian independent Hip-Hop label, a retail store and a touring and record distribution company.-History:...
(OBR026) (December 2004) - All CityAll City (album)All City is the fourth studio album from Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde. It was released in October 2008 through their new label, Illusive Sounds....
- Illusive RecordsIllusive SoundsIllusive Group is an independent Australian record label & touring company that represents a number of acts including Bliss n Eso, Lowrider, Paris Wells, Downsyde, Metals, True Live, Diafrix and X&Hell.-History:...
(ILL014CD) (4 October 2008)
Singles
- "Gifted LifeGifted Life"Gifted Life" is the first single from Australian hip hop group Downsyde's second album Land of the Giants. It was released on 23 September 2002 on the independent label, Hydrofunk and distributed nationally by Virgin....
" - Hydrofunk/Virgin (23 September 2002) - "El QuestroEl Questro"El Questro" is a single by Downsyde from the group's second album, Land of the Giants. It was released in February 2003 on independent label, Hydrofunk, and distributed by Virgin....
" - Hydrofunk/Virgin (14 February 2003) - "Clap Your HandsClap Your Hands (Downsyde song)Clap Your Hands is the first song released from Downsyde's 2005 album, When The Dust Settles. It was released as a download only in October, 2003.It received airplay on Triple J and was one of the most played Australian songs of 2003 on the station...
" (October 2003) download only - "LesfortunateLesfortunate"Lesfortunate" was the second song from the Downsyde's third album When The Dust Settles. It was released as a limited edition EP in September 2004, prior to the album's release in December, with the various tracks also available as a download from the iTunes Store and the group's .The song...
" - Obese (September 2004) - "Fortune and Fame" - Illusive (1 September 2008)
- "Life Speed" - Illusive (2008)
Awards
- 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards - Nominee - Best Hip-Hop act
- 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards - Winner - Best Debut Artist
- 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards - Nominee - Best Album - Land of the Giants
- 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards - Nominee - Best Single - "Gifted Life"
- 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards - Nominee - Best Australian Hip Hop Act
- 2003 WAMiWest Australian Music Industry AwardsThe Western Australian Music Industry Awards are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc...
Awards - Winner - Most Popular Local Original Urban Music Act - 2003 WAMi Awards - Winner - Most Popular Local Original Music Video - "El Questro"
- 2003 WAMi Awards - Winner - Most Popular Original Local Album - Land of the Giants
- 2005 WAMi Awards - Winner - Best Live Electronic Act
- 2005 WAMi Awards - Winner - Best Urban Music Act
- 2006 WAMi Awards - Winner - Best Urban Music Act
- 2007 WAMi Awards - Winner - Best Urban Music / Hip Hop Act
- 2008 WAMi Awards - Winner - Best Urban Music / Hip Hop Act