Illy

These days live music addicts might feel like a kid in a candy store with the smorgasbord of talent on show, but surely when writing the recipe for the strawberry sundae that is Australian hip-hop Illy would undoubtedly be the cherry on top – and worth every penny.
When we caught up with the engaging emcee he was recovering from a touch of the flu – luckily, after a little bed rest and some hot lemon and honey to sip, he was ready to solider on. “I’ve been a bit sick, but I’m on the mend now, thank you.”
Just his luck, because as we speak Illy is in the middle of a massive regional tour that will see him cover all corners of the country, from Cairns to Kalgoorlie and everywhere in between. “It’s going great. My last show sold out so they put another hundred tickets on the door and they sold out as well. It’s a sign that the tour’s off to a really good start.”
Bringing the noise to parts of the country that aren’t so spoilt for live music is something Illy and his crew are passionate about – that and keeping the cost of admission prices to a minimum.
“I’m not trying to price-gouge people just to line my pockets. I never want to get painted with that brush, for taking advantage of my fans. I really want to give value for money. It kills me when artists rip off their fans, and I don’t want anyone to miss out ’cause these shows are going to be huge!” Illy smiled, adding a touch of sweet to the sour remark.
Ever since the hungry young rapper set foot inside Obese Records in Prahran he’s had his eyes on the prize. “I’ve wanted to do this since I was 12. I’ve had a few great years and I’ve been extremely fortunate. It’s been a lot of hard work but I’m very fortunate to get where I’m at. It feels like the hard work is starting to pay off.”
Illy is known for pairing tasty beats with biting lyrics. Couple that with his insatiable appetite for touring and it’s no wonder that success has been served up to him on a platter.
“I can easily say 2014 has been the best year of my life so far because this whole time has been dedicated to doing awesome shit!” Illy beamed. “I’m doing exactly what I’ve loved since I was a kid.
“I’m living the dream for real! I know it’s so clichéd,” he chuckled, “but in the last five months I’ve done a sold-out Capital City tour, straight into Groovin’ the Moo, then played to a smooth twenty-thousand in one night for triple j’s One Night Stand. I was so pumped. I’ve listened to it every year since I was a teenager.
“Then I was off to America to shoot a video and work with dudes who are my heroes. Then [he takes a deep breath] home for a couple of snows gigs, then to Europe to do a tour with the Hilltop Hoods, who I grew up listening to. Then back home to play Splendour, and now I’m doing this regional tour and finishing the year with the biggest shows of my career [One for the Cities tour in November] – you couldn’t make that shit up!
“On top of all that, my album’s gone Platinum, and it’s just about to go Gold! It’s crazy man! I feel like I’m bragging but I’m just rattling off things that have happened. It’s pinch yourself stuff … I can’t believe it.”
Believe it or not, Illy is now on to the QLD leg of his Cinematic tour – and word has it that the shows have been simmering nicely in preparation for the Vic dates next week. As always, much to our delight he’ll be bringing along some hand-picked fresh talent.
“I’ll have my friend, a dude called Dylan Joel [who you may recall from the RISE launch tour, alongside Remi and Briggs, among others]. He’s about to put out an album that was produced by my tour DJ, Cam Bluff. Cam Bluff produced my track Coming Down with the Hoods on Cinematic,” Illy explained before continuing: “I’m going to get another young dude called Freeds on with us ’cause he’s really new and I like using the regional tours to get young artists out there.
“You may not have heard of these dudes, but they’re very talented. Freeds in particular is exciting because he’s so tight; I can’t believe he’s not more well-known. So hopefully people will hear him and get into his music.”
With that, I mentioned that he’s earning quite a reputation for helping up-and-coming emcees. “Oh, I don’t know if I’ve got that much cred…,” he laughed, shrugging off my comment. Oh, I think he does.
And the icing on the cake? Just before time was up, Illy let slip: “I hope we do chat again soon, and hopefully we’ll be chatting about my next album.” You heard it here first!
When&Where: La Trobe Uni, Bendigo – September 9; Federation Uni, Ballarat – September 10; Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool – September 11; and Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads – September 12. * The Forum, Melbourne – November 29 (One for the Cities)
By Natalie Rogers