Speaking the Truth

Local hip hop and rootsy groove septet Truth Serum are looking forward to bringing their well developed sound to the Step Inn and Manifest later this month.

For those unfamiliar to the laidback hip hop/ soul sounds of Truth Serum, which is unlikely since the local seven-piece have thoroughly circulated the south east corner, they’re now ready to release their long awaited EP, ‘Step Correct’.

The original members - Sean, Shano, Christophe, Seany D and Andy B - began Truth Serum in the spring of 2005, experimenting with their sound, and have since then cemented themselves in the Brisbane scene. Vocalist Zoe Lindsey, a newcomer to the act, explains the recording journey so far.

“Because Truth Serum has been together for about five years, they hadn’t really released anything, a lot of the tracks were already written and because it was the first EP, there’s some older songs that they needed to get out of their system,” she says.

With an eclectic assortment of instruments: including the flute, harmonica and electric guitar, these guys know how to capture a sound that you could assume would never work with these clashing musical instruments. Consequently, Zoe says it’s hard to pigeonhole their sound.

“I always say we’re roots/ hip hop with a bit of funk and soul elements as well. It’s hard because everyone comes from different musical backgrounds so there’s different influences all coming through. We don’t really like to say hip hop because that has certain connotations and we’re not really strictly hip hop but we do have rap in the band.”

With the band losing and gaining members over the years while evolving their sound, Zoe became one of three girls to sing with the band.

“Layla stepped in to do harmonies with me, and Libby who plays the flute was like, ‘well I can sing as well’, so all of a sudden we had these three-part harmonies happening with hip hop, which you don’t really hear,” she says.

The group is also eager to play at the upcoming Manifest festival to spread the good news of their EP.  

“Manifest seems to be a bit more electro and hip hop based, so I think we’ll be well received. It’s always nice when you play gigs with other hip hop acts where you know there’s going to be a crowd that’s really going to get it.”

Truth Serum launch their EP, and support Schoolfight, at The Step Inn on September 3. They also play Manifest September 24-26.