Music
Press
Festival favourites for their fun and energetic stage shows, Beats Working have produced a focused album, celebrating their diversity, but retaining a flow which makes for a great listen from start to finish.
The diversity of this album is quite astounding, every style they engage, they seem to do with ease, even the more r’n’b style tracks such as Indecision, show their versatility not just in production, but in vocal style, dropping the rap, and singing where appropriate.
Australian hip-hop is no longer relegated to the back stalls, it can stand on its own, and acts such as Beats Working reinforce this. I believe this is the hip-hop Australian youth should be listening to, not ego infested American mainstream hip-hop and r’n’b.
- Cyclic Defrost Magazine
Discography
Single: Exercise
Album: Harbour Drive: July 2008
Distribution: Obese Records
Triple J's 'Home and Hosed' show have been big supporters of Beats Working as well as the Monday night 'Hip Hop Show'.
We have also been recognised on the Triple J Unearthed program as feature artists.
We have regular play on a number of community stations including FBi, RRR and many more around the country
Photos
Bio
Beats Working is a musical collaboration between four mates with a love of music across all genres. ‘BW’ started mucking around with live music and samples in 2007 and discovered a musical chemistry which saw them quickly create a huge catalogue of cross genre songs. Only one member had played in a band before* and all were surprised with the sound they were producing. * (James Branson, ex Kid Confucius)
After showing a few friends their work, the band got a kick start from a mate promoting a show in Newcastle. Impressing all at the party, the foursome quickly began playing regular shows from Brisbane to Perisher Valley in the Snowy Mountains.
With two members hailing from Coffs Harbour, and the remainder from Newcastle and Sydney respectively, the drive to the studio in Coffs Harbour became a regular journey. And so it became the name of their debut release, Harbour Drive. In July 2008 ‘Harbour Drive’ was released with national distribution through the acclaimed independent hip hop label, Obese Records.
Across 14 tracks, the group set groove, funk and fun on a collision course with ambitious raps, solid string and brass sections and dynamic arrangements. Far more than just simple rhymes, the album saw the group craft songs that are clever lyrically and instrumentally, whilst at the same time develop their own patented universal sounding vibe - one which is removed from being rooted in the traditional Australian hip hop aesthetic.
In a little over 18 months Beats Working have played over 50 shows around Australia including an East Coast tour from Brisbane to Melbourne and a week in Thredbo last year during uni week. We have played a number of festivals including Groovin the Moo, Fat As Butter, Village Fair, Open Arms Festival and early this year we played alongside Public Enemy on their Australian Tour.
The start of 2009 has seen Beats Working back in the studio recording our second album set for release in the second half of 2009. On the album, we have collaborated with artists such as DNO, (Resin Dogs) Bluerum 13, (USA) Ezekiel Ox (Mammal) and more. The second album will represent a totally new sound for Beats Working and hopefully open it up to a much wider audience.
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