Of all the names bubbling from Australia’s underground hip-hop scene, Nerve just might be the most exciting.
The Brisbane-based artist is a proficient double threat: He’s both a producer and an emcee, crafting bass-driven instrumentals teamed with head-spinning, speedy bars that he delivers with impressive ease. While much of his catalogue harks back to hip-hop of yesteryear, he’s also gained heavy traction for his more recent explorations into grime, collaborating with and performing alongside the likes of Fraksha, LGEEZ and Mitchos Da Menace.
Recently, he’s partaken in two blazing cyphers on the triple j Hip-Hop Show, while he’s also part of the ‘Get Bodied’ movement which threw a rambunctious, sold out gig at The Triffid in Brisbane last weekend. With his album Sober still fresh on our ears, we chat to Nerve about his diverse catalogue, his craft and what the future holds:
Let’s start with an obvious one. What was the inspiration behind the title of your album, Sober?
I’ve been getting this question a lot since I announced the album. It’s not too deep really. I’m generally sober and I can only get into a creative/productive space when I’m sober. I like being in control and I think it’s a good way of expressing myself in a more three-dimensional way to people who might not understand what I’m about.
On the album you tackle throwback hip-hop as well as grime. When did you start messing with grime, and was it easier than you anticipated to tackle that style?
I started to play around with grime, new school and trap sounds towards the end of 2016 when Webb Shells introduced me to it. I was a pretty solid boom-bap head from the start, so it took a while to warm up to, but it ended up being a lot of fun and really good practice for faster rhyme schemes. It was actually surprisingly easy to make the switch, but it definitely took some time to master.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GCjDW8Vakg
A lot of people on social media tend to be surprised at the quality of Australian grime. What do you think the scene needs to do to make an impact in the UK and internationally?
I think the level of production (audio and visual) needs to be continually improved upon in order to gain proper recognition from an international audience. Most people watching are going to make very quick assumptions based on the fact that we are from Australia, and the easiest way to combat that is to produce something that instantly comes across as industry quality. That’s what my network and I have been aiming for since day one, and why we do the things the way we do. Shout out Kyel Golly/Only Odd on the visuals.
You also produce your songs as well as rapping on them. Tell us about the wide range of sounds you explored on Sober, because there seems to be a lot of different references?
I wouldn’t have it any other way I guess. It let’s me build tracks from the ground up organically without jacking anyone else’s style or vibe. Everything on Sober is a product of making about 70+ tracks over a 2 year period which either went to other releases or were cut in the process of finalising the album. The inspiration was mainly just whatever I was feeling at the time, hence the subtle switches from hip-hop to grime and new school throughout.
It seemed like everyone was talking about Brisbane’s rap scene for awhile in 2016/2017. How would you describe the movement up there, and how it compares to other cities in Australia?
I don’t really pay too much attention to the ‘scene’ or whoever is making moves locally apart from those that I have contact with personally. To be straight, I’ve got too much else to worry about in life than other artists and trying to compare/contrast myself with them or anyone really.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG6ormqnVHQ
You also have your own thing going on with the Get Bodied crew who just sold out a show at The Triffid. The electricity of those shows is pretty amazing, what’s the vibe and energy like between you artists in the studio and onstage?
It’s pretty much just ridiculously hype. I don’t even really know how to describe the movement at this point, but it’s making a tonne of noise and to be honest, I’m not surprised. It’s a lot of fun to be a part of.
How did you feel about the Channel 9 news coverage of the event?
Classic media spun nonsense, however, any publicity is good publicity. But it’s hard to make moves forward in the industry when things like this happen and continue to get blown out of proportion in such a way. We work hard to break down stigmas in our music industry as it is, and its a shame to have things like this taking away from the positive side of what we’re trying to do as a movement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSpbwFV3oV4
In particular, you have formed a pretty menacing relationship with Wombat, releasing the Nightshift EP together. How did you guys meet, and any more plans for a joint release?
We me through Greeley and clicked pretty well from the get-go. Nightshift pretty much made itself, and we definitely have plans to make more releases together in the future.
What’s on the cards for Nerve for the rest of 2018?
I’m playing with a lot of newer and more experimental sounds and planning to release some content that’s going to turn some heads. I wan’t to release content that shows that I don’t just write raps – I make music. I’m definitely going to be upping the game with visuals as well. Just wait and see.
