Money For Nothing

While they may be known as the Bankrupt Billionaires, the new Brisbane-based soul/ hip hop group have a wealth of experience to draw from.

The trio of Sammsonite and DATS (both from The Optimen) and vocalist Kel on Earth (from The Kelly Gang) have been together for four years – but only played their first live show together a few weeks ago. “It is so exciting, it is really amazing that we are here playing (together),” Kel says of the act’s development. “We had our debut live performance only a few weeks ago, but it went really well … it was received really well and we had a full house, it was a really amazing reception.

In another first for the band, they’re aiming to release their debut EP early next year. Seen more as a sampler, Kel says they’re thinking of giving it away at their live shows. However, the EP is set to be followed quickly with a full-length album, the band having produced a healthy collection of songs in their time together. “We have been writing together for four years and we have a repertoire of around 25 original songs,” Kel says. “But we are all crazy perfectionists ... We wanted to create something quality.”

This is the same attitude the group have taken to performing, with a number of support slots coming up to fine tune their live show. They’re slated to support Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na next week, and for this performance, they will have the whole crew together, presenting a seven-piece live beast, including the vocal services of local Laneous Macklin.

Not backward in coming forward, the group used their experience in the Brisbane music scene to their advantage, with Kel admitting they pushed that fact in snaring the Chali slot. “We definitely used the fact we are cast from all different groups, and let them know we’ve paid our dues,” she laughs. “But we also promoted ourselves as a hot new act whose sound is really good!”

Bankrupt Billionaires support Chali 2na at the Hi-Fi December 10.