CREATION, KARMA, AND CRYOGENICS:
1200 Techniques reflect on creative energy, storytelling and the history of Aussie music
After nearly a decade, pioneering Australian hip-hop trio 1200 Techniques are back with a new EP, ‘Time Has Come’, reflecting on the group’s history and telling stories about the early days of hip-hop in Australia. I spoke to frontman N’fa Jones about the new EP, creative energy, and telling stories.
At a time when hip-hop was struggling to find mainstream appeal, 1200 Techniques burst onto the scene in a big way, scoring 5 ARIA Award nominations and winning in two categories for ‘Karma’ (Best Music Video and Best Independent Release) in 2002, two years before the ARIAs even instituted the Best Urban Album category. “At a time when it wasn’t really popular, to suddenly strike a chord with the general public and take off, it was really crazy. The local scene hadn’t been given a good look-in yet, and everything changed after that. We were very lucky to be a part of it, very blessed to be a part of it.”
“I remember Peril coming around with the idea for the beat, and playing it in the background when I was washing dishes, and the chorus came into my head. And then Kem came around and did what he does, and laid some awesome guitar vibes, and it was just this really solid track we had. We definitely weren’t expecting any of the amazing outcomes that came.”
The Australian hip-hop scene has changed a lot since 1200 Techniques released their last record – Consistency Theory – back in 2004. And the 1200s themselves have grown in the years that have passed, says N’fa. “Any experiences will give you a different outlook on whatever you do – it’s not like time stood still, we were cryogenically frozen, and then suddenly appeared with a new record. Life has happened, and a lot of journeying, for all of us – for Peril, for Kemstar – and I think that’s definitely reflected in the fact that it’s far more musically oriented, this record. There’s a lot more chord progression, and a lot more live instrumentation, and even vocally there’s a lot of melodies. So all our journeys have brought us to this EP. Music’s created more than anything else, and we’ve got a good creative energy right now. It’s good to try things out and it’s just the right timing I guess.”
The new single ‘Time Has Come’ is a “story song”, which tells the history of 1200 Techniques from before music became their career. “The song’s really reflective on that period of time when everything was doing really well, it was just about making music and hanging out with friends.” And through the song, the 1200s talk directly “to young artists, coming up, who are just getting into the game”.
“I guess we’re trying to give them some things to think about for their journey,” says N’fa. “I feel like if you have your own mind, and your own creative headspace, if you’re not really caught up with what everyone else is doing, and you understand melody and rhythm and what-have-you, you should be able to make your own sound, it’s not too difficult. It’s when you get caught up listening to everyone else, and trying to emulate other people, that it becomes impossible.”
Exclusive Pre-orders Available At:
www.pledgemusic.com/projects/timehascome
https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/time-has-come-ep/id934335481
Official Release Friday Jan 23.
Interviewed by Justin McArthur
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