Downsyde
| Downsyde | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Perth, Australia |
| Genres | Australian Hip-Hop |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels |
Hydrofunk Records Obese Records Illusive Sounds |
| Website | http://www.downsyde.com.au/ |
| Members | |
| Past members |
|
Downsyde are an Australian hip hop group from Perth, Western Australia. The group is composed of three members, Optamus, Dazastah and Dyna-Mikes.
Downsyde's origin occurred when MCs Optamus (Scott Griffiths) and Dyna-mikes (Shahbaz Rind) were in Year 11 at Craigie Senior High School., where 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 Australia and to write topical music about Australia was for us to use our own voices rather than adopting a New York accent." – Optamus
The 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.
"We suddenly got asked to play gigs with Eskimo Joe 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 walkman that we'd plug through the PA" – Optamus
The group added a third MC, Dazastah (Darren Reutens), whom they met at Leederville TAFE, and DJ Armee (Damien Allia) on turntables, meeting him at the Hyde Park Hotel where 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 Tokyo 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 Out." – 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, Epinonimous – 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. In the same year, Downsyde won the Best Debut Artist at the Dance Music Awards.
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