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'Pop is not a dirty word': Illy's living the Good-er Life on tour
'Pop is not a dirty word': Illy's living the Good-er Life on tour

The Advertiser

timea day ago

  • Entertainment
  • The Advertiser

'Pop is not a dirty word': Illy's living the Good-er Life on tour

The old saying, never meet your heroes, doesn't wash with Illy. The genre-defying, ARIA Award-winning hip-hop artist otherwise known as Alasdair Murray has met his, and not only are they now his best mates, they've influenced every step of his career to date. "The people in Australian hip-hop that I look up to, like Drapht and Hilltop Hoods, they are examples of how to conduct yourself in this business," he says. "I started rapping in an Australian accent because of the Hoods and they're some of my best mates now, you know? I've been at their weddings, they're coming to my birthday overseas later this year, we're really good friends and they deserve their success. "I still look up to them, same with Drapht." Illy is about to hit the road for the 27-date Good-er Life Tour, having toured Australia's capital cities for the Good Life Tour in March. The regional run follows the recent release of Good Life Deluxe Edition, a follow-up to his seventh studio album, Good Life, released in November 2024. The deluxe edition includes a 2023 standalone single Hopeless (featuring Indiana Massara), new track Free Hand and acoustic versions of singles Kids and Good Life. "Finally getting to do the Good Life tour was, no shit, life-affirming. I loved every second of it, whether it was playing the new album, the big bangers, or meeting people after," Illy says. "I even loved the hungover flights the next morning (maybe not as much). "So now that we've got a taste for it, I am ready and counting down the days 'til the Good-er Life tour starts. "We're the most locked in we've been in years on stage, and when we're in this mode, no one does it better." Illy has seamlessly straddled the line between hip-hop and pop throughout his career, embracing new sonic inspirations on each of his albums. On Good Life, it's clear he now has it down to a fine art. He even sings on the album, drawing on a few years of singing lessons and ever-growing confidence in his abilities. "I've done a few interviews about this album now, because it is the one that goes in the most different directions," he says. "I have known, from the very start, that I couldn't make the same album over and over again and still be doing it on a seventh album. I just couldn't. "If I was just doing this as a gig, and not for love, and rehashing the same shit over and over again, I would have been doing something else years ago." He's copped some criticism from diehard hip-hop fans, but he takes it in his stride. "When people say some of my songs are pop songs, they say it as a dismissive thing because it's not what I'm known for," he says. "The thing is, I'm not embarrassed about that, I don't think it's a dirty word. "You know, the title track alone is somewhere between Oasis and an Aussie pop song. Doing that shit is hard, and it takes balls. "Staying in your lane and doing the same thing, nothing impresses me about doing that. "When people are like 'I don't really rock with this new stuff' or whatever, I pretty much say 'I appreciate you supporting me, I appreciate your honesty, I want you to like this stuff but if you don't, I get it, but I'm not going to not challenge myself for the sake of appealing to as many people as possible'. "I'd rather do what I'm doing and stay inspired and enthusiastic about it." Not being afraid to follow his creativity where it takes him is a sign of maturity for Illy. He recognises it himself. He's never been more passionate about his craft and his career. "I have, in the past, not kept healthy, and not taken care of myself, but then I realised that to keep doing what I do, I needed to put more effort into eating right, getting sleep and exercising," he says. "I quit smoking a couple of years ago, which has helped my voice, and we don't drink before the shows. "I still have fun, of course I do, but this is my favourite thing to do in the world. It's all I've ever wanted to do, I have to give it the respect it deserves. "And you're not going to be around very long as an artist if you're not taking it seriously and not giving the audience their money's worth, either." The old saying, never meet your heroes, doesn't wash with Illy. The genre-defying, ARIA Award-winning hip-hop artist otherwise known as Alasdair Murray has met his, and not only are they now his best mates, they've influenced every step of his career to date. "The people in Australian hip-hop that I look up to, like Drapht and Hilltop Hoods, they are examples of how to conduct yourself in this business," he says. "I started rapping in an Australian accent because of the Hoods and they're some of my best mates now, you know? I've been at their weddings, they're coming to my birthday overseas later this year, we're really good friends and they deserve their success. "I still look up to them, same with Drapht." Illy is about to hit the road for the 27-date Good-er Life Tour, having toured Australia's capital cities for the Good Life Tour in March. The regional run follows the recent release of Good Life Deluxe Edition, a follow-up to his seventh studio album, Good Life, released in November 2024. The deluxe edition includes a 2023 standalone single Hopeless (featuring Indiana Massara), new track Free Hand and acoustic versions of singles Kids and Good Life. "Finally getting to do the Good Life tour was, no shit, life-affirming. I loved every second of it, whether it was playing the new album, the big bangers, or meeting people after," Illy says. "I even loved the hungover flights the next morning (maybe not as much). "So now that we've got a taste for it, I am ready and counting down the days 'til the Good-er Life tour starts. "We're the most locked in we've been in years on stage, and when we're in this mode, no one does it better." Illy has seamlessly straddled the line between hip-hop and pop throughout his career, embracing new sonic inspirations on each of his albums. On Good Life, it's clear he now has it down to a fine art. He even sings on the album, drawing on a few years of singing lessons and ever-growing confidence in his abilities. "I've done a few interviews about this album now, because it is the one that goes in the most different directions," he says. "I have known, from the very start, that I couldn't make the same album over and over again and still be doing it on a seventh album. I just couldn't. "If I was just doing this as a gig, and not for love, and rehashing the same shit over and over again, I would have been doing something else years ago." He's copped some criticism from diehard hip-hop fans, but he takes it in his stride. "When people say some of my songs are pop songs, they say it as a dismissive thing because it's not what I'm known for," he says. "The thing is, I'm not embarrassed about that, I don't think it's a dirty word. "You know, the title track alone is somewhere between Oasis and an Aussie pop song. Doing that shit is hard, and it takes balls. "Staying in your lane and doing the same thing, nothing impresses me about doing that. "When people are like 'I don't really rock with this new stuff' or whatever, I pretty much say 'I appreciate you supporting me, I appreciate your honesty, I want you to like this stuff but if you don't, I get it, but I'm not going to not challenge myself for the sake of appealing to as many people as possible'. "I'd rather do what I'm doing and stay inspired and enthusiastic about it." Not being afraid to follow his creativity where it takes him is a sign of maturity for Illy. He recognises it himself. He's never been more passionate about his craft and his career. "I have, in the past, not kept healthy, and not taken care of myself, but then I realised that to keep doing what I do, I needed to put more effort into eating right, getting sleep and exercising," he says. "I quit smoking a couple of years ago, which has helped my voice, and we don't drink before the shows. "I still have fun, of course I do, but this is my favourite thing to do in the world. It's all I've ever wanted to do, I have to give it the respect it deserves. "And you're not going to be around very long as an artist if you're not taking it seriously and not giving the audience their money's worth, either." The old saying, never meet your heroes, doesn't wash with Illy. The genre-defying, ARIA Award-winning hip-hop artist otherwise known as Alasdair Murray has met his, and not only are they now his best mates, they've influenced every step of his career to date. "The people in Australian hip-hop that I look up to, like Drapht and Hilltop Hoods, they are examples of how to conduct yourself in this business," he says. "I started rapping in an Australian accent because of the Hoods and they're some of my best mates now, you know? I've been at their weddings, they're coming to my birthday overseas later this year, we're really good friends and they deserve their success. "I still look up to them, same with Drapht." Illy is about to hit the road for the 27-date Good-er Life Tour, having toured Australia's capital cities for the Good Life Tour in March. The regional run follows the recent release of Good Life Deluxe Edition, a follow-up to his seventh studio album, Good Life, released in November 2024. The deluxe edition includes a 2023 standalone single Hopeless (featuring Indiana Massara), new track Free Hand and acoustic versions of singles Kids and Good Life. "Finally getting to do the Good Life tour was, no shit, life-affirming. I loved every second of it, whether it was playing the new album, the big bangers, or meeting people after," Illy says. "I even loved the hungover flights the next morning (maybe not as much). "So now that we've got a taste for it, I am ready and counting down the days 'til the Good-er Life tour starts. "We're the most locked in we've been in years on stage, and when we're in this mode, no one does it better." Illy has seamlessly straddled the line between hip-hop and pop throughout his career, embracing new sonic inspirations on each of his albums. On Good Life, it's clear he now has it down to a fine art. He even sings on the album, drawing on a few years of singing lessons and ever-growing confidence in his abilities. "I've done a few interviews about this album now, because it is the one that goes in the most different directions," he says. "I have known, from the very start, that I couldn't make the same album over and over again and still be doing it on a seventh album. I just couldn't. "If I was just doing this as a gig, and not for love, and rehashing the same shit over and over again, I would have been doing something else years ago." He's copped some criticism from diehard hip-hop fans, but he takes it in his stride. "When people say some of my songs are pop songs, they say it as a dismissive thing because it's not what I'm known for," he says. "The thing is, I'm not embarrassed about that, I don't think it's a dirty word. "You know, the title track alone is somewhere between Oasis and an Aussie pop song. Doing that shit is hard, and it takes balls. "Staying in your lane and doing the same thing, nothing impresses me about doing that. "When people are like 'I don't really rock with this new stuff' or whatever, I pretty much say 'I appreciate you supporting me, I appreciate your honesty, I want you to like this stuff but if you don't, I get it, but I'm not going to not challenge myself for the sake of appealing to as many people as possible'. "I'd rather do what I'm doing and stay inspired and enthusiastic about it." Not being afraid to follow his creativity where it takes him is a sign of maturity for Illy. He recognises it himself. He's never been more passionate about his craft and his career. "I have, in the past, not kept healthy, and not taken care of myself, but then I realised that to keep doing what I do, I needed to put more effort into eating right, getting sleep and exercising," he says. "I quit smoking a couple of years ago, which has helped my voice, and we don't drink before the shows. "I still have fun, of course I do, but this is my favourite thing to do in the world. It's all I've ever wanted to do, I have to give it the respect it deserves. "And you're not going to be around very long as an artist if you're not taking it seriously and not giving the audience their money's worth, either." The old saying, never meet your heroes, doesn't wash with Illy. The genre-defying, ARIA Award-winning hip-hop artist otherwise known as Alasdair Murray has met his, and not only are they now his best mates, they've influenced every step of his career to date. "The people in Australian hip-hop that I look up to, like Drapht and Hilltop Hoods, they are examples of how to conduct yourself in this business," he says. "I started rapping in an Australian accent because of the Hoods and they're some of my best mates now, you know? I've been at their weddings, they're coming to my birthday overseas later this year, we're really good friends and they deserve their success. "I still look up to them, same with Drapht." Illy is about to hit the road for the 27-date Good-er Life Tour, having toured Australia's capital cities for the Good Life Tour in March. The regional run follows the recent release of Good Life Deluxe Edition, a follow-up to his seventh studio album, Good Life, released in November 2024. The deluxe edition includes a 2023 standalone single Hopeless (featuring Indiana Massara), new track Free Hand and acoustic versions of singles Kids and Good Life. "Finally getting to do the Good Life tour was, no shit, life-affirming. I loved every second of it, whether it was playing the new album, the big bangers, or meeting people after," Illy says. "I even loved the hungover flights the next morning (maybe not as much). "So now that we've got a taste for it, I am ready and counting down the days 'til the Good-er Life tour starts. "We're the most locked in we've been in years on stage, and when we're in this mode, no one does it better." Illy has seamlessly straddled the line between hip-hop and pop throughout his career, embracing new sonic inspirations on each of his albums. On Good Life, it's clear he now has it down to a fine art. He even sings on the album, drawing on a few years of singing lessons and ever-growing confidence in his abilities. "I've done a few interviews about this album now, because it is the one that goes in the most different directions," he says. "I have known, from the very start, that I couldn't make the same album over and over again and still be doing it on a seventh album. I just couldn't. "If I was just doing this as a gig, and not for love, and rehashing the same shit over and over again, I would have been doing something else years ago." He's copped some criticism from diehard hip-hop fans, but he takes it in his stride. "When people say some of my songs are pop songs, they say it as a dismissive thing because it's not what I'm known for," he says. "The thing is, I'm not embarrassed about that, I don't think it's a dirty word. "You know, the title track alone is somewhere between Oasis and an Aussie pop song. Doing that shit is hard, and it takes balls. "Staying in your lane and doing the same thing, nothing impresses me about doing that. "When people are like 'I don't really rock with this new stuff' or whatever, I pretty much say 'I appreciate you supporting me, I appreciate your honesty, I want you to like this stuff but if you don't, I get it, but I'm not going to not challenge myself for the sake of appealing to as many people as possible'. "I'd rather do what I'm doing and stay inspired and enthusiastic about it." Not being afraid to follow his creativity where it takes him is a sign of maturity for Illy. He recognises it himself. He's never been more passionate about his craft and his career. "I have, in the past, not kept healthy, and not taken care of myself, but then I realised that to keep doing what I do, I needed to put more effort into eating right, getting sleep and exercising," he says. "I quit smoking a couple of years ago, which has helped my voice, and we don't drink before the shows. "I still have fun, of course I do, but this is my favourite thing to do in the world. It's all I've ever wanted to do, I have to give it the respect it deserves. "And you're not going to be around very long as an artist if you're not taking it seriously and not giving the audience their money's worth, either."

How to get tickets for Royel Otis in Sydney: pre-sale, dates, venue and more
How to get tickets for Royel Otis in Sydney: pre-sale, dates, venue and more

Time Out

time09-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Time Out

How to get tickets for Royel Otis in Sydney: pre-sale, dates, venue and more

It's almost time to stop being a sofa king and start filling your pockets with oysters – Sydney-born band Royel Otis have just announced a major Australian tour, and they're performing in their home city for one huge show this October. The ARIA Award-winning indie-rock duo – made up of Royel Maddell (guitars) and Otis Pavlovic (vocals) – have been tearing up the global festival circuit with recent appearances at Glastonbury (UK), Governor's Ball (New York), Lollapalooza (Chicago) and Fuji Rock (Japan). Now, they're bringing their cheeky tunes back Otis' Meet Me In The Car tour announcement comes fresh off the release of the pair's latest album hickey, featuring their infectious new single 'car'. After playing more than 100 sold-out shows last year, there's no doubt their 2025 tour will be in seriously high demand. Here's everything you need to know about getting tickets to Royel Otis' Australian tour. When is the Royel Otis Sydney show? Royel Otis will light up Sydney's Hordern Pavilion for a single hometown show on Friday, October 24. When do Royel Otis Sydney tickets go on sale? If you're keen to catch this dynamic duo live, then set your alarms – tickets drop on Monday, July 14 at 10am. You can sign up for the ticket sale via Frontier Touring. Is there a Royel Otis pre-sale? Frontier Members get first dibs on tickets, with a pre-sale kicking off on Thursday, July 10 at 10am local time. Just be sure to sign up for pre-sale access ahead of time. How much are Royel Otis tickets? General admission standing tickets are $89.90. Who is the support act for Royel Otis' Sydney show? The duo haven't revealed the support act for their homecoming tour just yet, but we'll let you know once they do. Where is Royel Otis' 2025 Australian tour? Royel Otis are set to play their biggest Aussie venues to date this October, with four massive shows lined up across the country, including: Melbourne 's Margaret Court Arena – Friday, October 17 Brisbane 's Fortitude Music Hall – Monday, October 20 Sydney 's Hordern Pavilion – Friday, October 24 Perth 's Ice Cream Factory – Wednesday, October 29 Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter

How to get tickets for Royel Otis in Australia: pre-sale, prices, dates and more
How to get tickets for Royel Otis in Australia: pre-sale, prices, dates and more

Time Out

time09-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Time Out

How to get tickets for Royel Otis in Australia: pre-sale, prices, dates and more

Start filling your pockets with oysters – Royel Otis have just announced a major Australian tour. The ARIA Award-winning indie-rock duo – made up of Royel Maddell (guitars) and Otis Pavlovic (vocals) – have been tearing up the global festival circuit with recent appearances at Glastonbury (UK), Governor's Ball (New York), Lollapalooza (Chicago) and Fuji Rock (Japan). Now, they're bringing their cheeky tunes back home for a four-stop run this October, with shows locked in for Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. Royel Otis' Meet Me In The Car tour announcement comes fresh off the release of the pair's latest album hickey, featuring their infectious new single 'car'. After playing more than 100 sold-out shows last year, there's no doubt their 2025 tour will be in seriously high demand. Here's everything you need to know about getting tickets to Royel Otis' Australian tour. When and where is Royel Otis' 2025 Australian tour? Royel Otis are set to play their biggest Aussie venues to date this October, with four massive shows lined up across the country, including: Melbourne 's Margaret Court Arena – Friday, October 17 Brisbane 's Fortitude Music Hall – Monday, October 20 Sydney 's Hordern Pavilion – Friday, October 24 Perth 's Ice Cream Factory – Wednesday, October 29 When do Royel Otis tickets go on sale? If you're keen to catch this dynamic duo live, then set your alarms – tickets drop on Monday, July 14 at 10am local time. You can sign up for the ticket sale via Frontier Touring. Is there a Royel Otis pre-sale? Frontier Members get first dibs on tickets, with a pre-sale kicking off on Thursday, July 10 at 10am local time. Just be sure to sign up for pre-sale access ahead of time. How much are Royel Otis tickets? General admission standing tickets are $89.90 in all four cities. Melbourne's the only stop with seating, with A Reserve seats at $89.90 and B Reserve at $69.90. Who is the support act for Royel Otis' Australian tour? The duo haven't revealed the support act for their homecoming tour just yet, but we'll let you know once they do.

John Butler Returns With New Solo Album ‘PRISM'
John Butler Returns With New Solo Album ‘PRISM'

Yahoo

time28-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

John Butler Returns With New Solo Album ‘PRISM'

John Butler is stepping into a bold new era. The ARIA Award-winning musician has officially announced his tenth studio album, PRISM, which is set to arrive Sept. 5. The announcement lands alongside the release of the album's second single, 'So Sorry,' out today (May 28). More from Billboard Shaun Cassidy Gets Ready for the Longest Tour of His 45-Year Career: 'I Felt the Need to Connect with People' 'Luther' Ties 'Not Like Us' for Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart Bono Cheekily Weighs in On Springsteen Vs. Trump Squabble: 'There's Only One Boss in America' Marking a significant shift away from the John Butler Trio moniker, PRISM was recorded entirely solo with producer James Ireland (POND, San Cisco), who co-handled instrumentation and production duties. 'It's a big life and the world, in many ways, is in turmoil. Personally, I did a lot of soul-searching and reflecting as this record took shape,' Butler shared in a statement. 'For me, PRISM is a cathartic release, a celebration of going solo, moving away from the John Butler Trio moniker, and yet another sonic stretch as I continue to refine my musical journey. The title reflects the sonic and emotional 'bandwidth' I wanted to explore: the whole spectrum of what it is to be human. Love, death, politics, inner and outer turmoil and redemption.' Butler added, 'On the deeply reflective single, 'So Sorry,' Butler explores the long shadows cast by enduring relationships. 'You get together as 'kids' and if you're lucky, you learn how to regulate and become adults together. But no one gets out unscathed.' PRISM is part three in Butler's ambitious Four Seasons project, following 2024's Running River (an ambient meditation album) and Still Searching (an all-instrumental LP). Described as both 'contemplative and explosive,' the upcoming release promises an eclectic blend of festival-ready anthems, groove-heavy rock, and soul-searching ballads. Butler performed at Bluesfest earlier this year and is set to kick off a major U.S. tour across June, July and August, with Australian headline dates to be announced soon. One of Australia's most successful independent artists, Butler's accolades include multiple platinum records, ARIA Awards, and several No. 1 albums on the ARIA Albums Chart. His 2018 LP HOME debuted at No. 1 and saw him experiment with expanded instrumentation and electronic textures, paving the way for PRISM's continued sonic evolution. PRISM arrives Sept. 5 and is available for pre-save and pre-order now. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart

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