N'fa - Removes the mask
You've seen his face before, heard his voice and more than likely enjoyed the tunes that he penned and sang with 1200 Techniques, the band who bought Australian hip hop to the forefront and onto the main stages of our music festivals.
But the names different (his previous incarnation was N'Famas), the trademark locks are gone and so are the members of that band. He returns, solo and ready to bring his form of urban music to the masses.
“It's awesome... really overwhelming. I've done so many festivals as (part of) 1200 Techniques. It's quite exciting but daunting... I now call all the shots and make things right,” he says.
N'fa has been taking the stage, playing support for De La Soul and Homebake in 2005. “With Homebake when the first song came on the tent was pretty empty, by the second song there, the crowd grew, and by the third there was a tent full and people moving, hands in the air and people are jumping...”
So what happened to 1200 Techniques? I am confused, reading various articles that use such words as “indefinate hiatus”, "well deserved break”, “disbanded” and “split” to describe the current status of the band.
So I ask the question that I've been debating whether to ask – with no idea what sort of response I will receive – What's N'fa's take on the status of 1200 Techniques?
“The way I see it we did a lot of hard work as 1200 Techniques. Two albums, the first urban act to win a ARIA, and the only urban group on so many rock festivals... I remember when we played the Homebake main stage and were the only urban act,” he says.
“We were quite tired and went through hard times – distributing had a lot of impact – we needed to stop for a bit, so I started writing. I don't think it's (1200 Techniques) over.”
So with that clarification, we move on to talking about N'fa, the new EP First Step, his songs and the title track of his new album 'Cause an Effect', his life and growing up in Australia with a UK / West African heritage.
“...For the last few years I was not giving my karma some element of myself... I had a mask on ... I wanted to release all of those elements and bring myself out... a fresh birth,” he says
“Three quarters of the way through the writing of the song and the title comes ... I guess it all comes from a lot of UK influence coming out to Australia at 4 and being West African,” he says.
N'fa currently calls the city of Melbourne home, after growing up in Perth in a working class Aboriginal community, which N'fa describes as an “odd situation”. He clearly highlights the many cultures that make up Australia and the inspiration behind his album name.
“...We're still afraid to step forward and be knocked down and afraid to cause an effect... Being mixed race in Australia and being the guy that keept quite and kept it all in... to try to walk this middle path. ...I think that if people can find that middle path and walk it... all of this comes out in my music – not conforming - not picking a side – my children will be mixed and will also go through that lack of identity and understanding.”
N'fa's first solo release single ‘Left Right Left (Universal King)’ was made available via a very special and unique promotion in conjunction with the newly formed digital label, The Propaganda Recording Company and the introduction of iTunes Australia. Coinciding with N’fa’s debut festival appearance on Homebake, iTunes exclusively released the track in late November 2005.
“I went on a trip overseas to visit family, and bought an around the world ticket... with the idea I wanted to do the video (for 'Left Right Left') now. It was very confronting performing... the only confortable place I felt filming was Times Square, New York... it was a once in a lifetime experience”
The video for the single features a number of extremely recognisable worldwide citys and landmarks, which on first viewing could of quite easily been created by a green screen scenario.
Propaganda Recordings, describe the new album as taking “the listener on a journey of light and shade as it presents hook-laden anthems alongside smooth, reclining rhythms.” and in the artists words the album is “mentally and emotionally mesmerising, crossing the boundaries of standard hip-hop and connecting with listeners on its musical merit.”
“...It (the album) wasn't a planned thing ... I hadn't been doing anything creative and I just started writing,” he says.
Then there's N'fa' old friend and Oscar nominated Actor Heath Ledger, who made his directing debut in April this year for N'fa's single 'Cause an Effect'.
“From the outsiders point of view he's an Oscar nominee... from my point of view he's an old friend... I sent him (Heath) a rough version of the album and he contacted me saying “I've got an idea”. We used his garage in his (recently sold) Bronte home... he had a really good concept and it was easy - shot in a day! It was just a matter of styling, we visited op shops. The concept was a voodoo character to portray that we “ put on a face and act like everything is fine," he says.
The new album includes collaborations with producers and MCs from the US, UK, Korea, New Zealand and Australia including, Roots Manuva, Mr Yoshiaki (Black Eyed Peas), Peril and Deceptikonz (Dawn Raid Entertainment).
The EP 'First Step' is due for release in April/May of this year and contains the Quicktime version of the video clip for 'Cause an Effect' and some exclusive track remixes. N'fa's debut solo album, 'Cause an Effect' is coming to a record store near you in 2006.
