Certified Wise

The much loved, Adelaide-based Funkoars crew is flying high once again. Following some trying circumstances in 2008, the lads have rebounded and are on the up and up.

Dan Yates aka Reflux recalls the harrowing ordeal that was their '08 album release, ‘The Hangover’.

"Basically we had the album ready to go in 2008 and we dropped it on Shogun and they went belly up mid-way through the year; there was a time where it wasn't even available on the shelf! We were like, 'our album isn't even available on the shelf!' That was pretty hard. Eventually we re-released it but had to sort of freshen it up a little bit; so it's a little bit different but there are also ideas for the next album and we're in the recording stages of that process now.”

Dan says the crew started in 2001 with four emcees and one DJ - reminiscent of Beastie Boys to an extent!

“I'm a bit older than the other guys and we have similar kinds of tastes and stuff, and it really grew from there. We don't take things too seriously either. Originally it was about the party but since then, we've matured a bit; it’s still not too serious if you get my drift. For us it has always been about making the music infectious.”

And on the topic of their future direction, Daniel continues: “It's always going to be Funkoars; it's always going to be the same ethic and we won't lose people the way some groups do.

We won't be doing an album full of ballads - sure we've matured and our listening tastes have evolved. Working with Ash Grunwald has given us an appreciation of the production method and even though we’re sample-based, it's taking another leap into where we are going. And as with the other one it won't be a simple part two - we'll explore new ideas and directions for sure.”

On the topic of local music, Daniel suggests it's potentially the best it has even been.

“We tend not to talk about the state of the union in Australia. We really only worry about what we want to do. Obviously there are sub genres in Aussie hip hop and that's the way it has always been; you have a specific sound you like to present. It's the same as it is in the USA. There has traditionally been this distinctive sound from New York and that has differed from the west coast. But that's the same thing here. Plenty of crews have carved themselves out a great market here in Australia and that's creative and healthy because you have to have your own originality. Along with that can sometimes come sameness and there's only so much you can do to be different, so originality means a lot to our crew.”

In terms of their lyrics and production, the guys go with gut feel. “If Trials brings up a beat we're going to use it whether or not it is going to sell or be listened to in the USA or the UK or wherever; we don't care if people there listen to it. We draw influences sure - but we remember that the great albums of hip hop are the great albums of hip hop but the more you understand that the more you create your own vibe and go your own way I think.”

The lads are excited about the next phase of their careers and are busy planning their upcoming show. “We played at the Clipsal 500 here in Adelaide with The Hoods, Midnight Juggernauts and Lowrider. The powers that be enjoyed the performance and thought we could bring that kind of party and flavour again so we've been invited to play with Empire of the Sun and Sneaky Sound System (at 600 Sounds) so it's going to be really interesting to play in front of different people who may not have heard our music before. I just hope they dig it!”

Funkoars play 600 Sounds Oct 24 followed by Blah Blah Blah at Riverlife Dec 28.