Homegrown producer Moonbase is back.

Moonbase and his catalogue of nocturnal, heavy beats have soundtracked dancefloors across the globe, leading to collaborations with local heroes including Ecca Vandal and international heavyweights like Anderson .Paak. But at the beginning of 2018, Moonbase’s life was brought to a standstill after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. The road to recovery has been tough, but Moonbase has returned with a new single in the aptly-titled ‘Rebound’ and a newfound determination to help fight the disease.

Come October 5, Moonbase will present ‘Grey Matter’ at Oxford Art Factory – a fundraiser event with all proceeds going to the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. Moonbase will be performing at the event alongside Slim Set, Dro Carey, Akouo and many more, making for a mammoth night of beat-based music and underground heaters.

Ahead of the event, we caught up with Moonbase to talk through his brain cancer diagnosis, his recovery and what to expect at Grey Matter. See it all below, and get your tickets right here:

Tell us about the day you found out about your brain cancer diagnosis. What were the main thoughts & fears you had at the time?

It started just like any other day – working on beats, running errands and all that. I only went to the doctors because I was already in the area on some other business and thought it’d be an easy in-out visit. From the GP I was sent to get a scan, which found the brain tumour and from there I was sent straight into the emergency dept. It all happened very fast – within a few hours, I went from making beats in my studio to being in a hospital bed. I didn’t have time to process the gravity of the matter until afterwards.

What was the process of recovery & rehabilitation like? How did you keep a positive outlook in that sort of situation?

The rehabilitation process was lengthy and is still on-going. After surgery, I couldn’t walk or see straight. I had to re-learn basic functions like writing with a pen and finding balance on my own feet. I see myself as a pretty positive person, but I had moments in recovery where I felt like I was going to break down. Having my family and friends close-by throughout the whole process was a blessing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_tvNqv75BU

Now that you’ve recovered, has your outlook on life changed? If so, how?

My outlook has definitely shifted. After surgery, the doctors told me that if I hadn’t have been admitted to the hospital at that time, I would’ve been dead within three months. I’m lucky to be alive and healthy, and I’m incredibly grateful for it. That thought alone motivates me through everything.

What do you think the Australian public needs to know about brain cancer? How can they help?

Brain cancer kills more people in Australia under 40 than any other cancer, and it kills more Australian children than any other disease. People need to be aware that brain cancer can affect anyone, but it is also easy to detect and treat. We need to aid organisations such as Cure Brain Cancer Foundation who fund world-class brain cancer research, advocacy and awareness to help find a cure for this awful disease.

You’ll be throwing a fundraiser gig for brain cancer at OAF. How did you curate the lineup and how does it represent the AUS music scene right now?

After my initial recovery, I became involved as an ambassador for Cure Brain Cancer. From there, I felt the best way to help spread awareness about the disease whilst celebrating life and music was to throw a fundraiser gig. I wanted to help showcase the upcoming talent within my community and the line-up is a reflection of that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3FyYkQ0rVg

You recently returned with single ‘Rebound’ – tell us about the track and Merky ACE?

I had written the initial beat for ‘Rebound’ and sent it over to Merky ACE whose music I had heard when I was touring in UK late last year. When I returned home from the hospital, I found the demo and began to finish it – turning the track into its final form. ‘Rebound’ is a perfect statement of who I was both before and after having this experience with brain cancer.

You also work frequently with one of our regular art contributors, Chris Yee! How did you link up with him and how do you think he adds to the Moonbase vision?

Yee is the GOAT! Chris and I have been friends since I started putting out music. Right from the beginning, our art was so complimentary – his vicious illustration fit perfectly with my sound. Moonbase wouldn’t have been quite right without that Chris Yee vibe.

You’ve also been added to the Listen Out lineup. What can we expect from you there, and who else are you looking forward to seeing?

Listen Out has always been a standout festival to me, and one I’ve always dreamt of playing at and I’m incredibly thankful to be a part of it. I’ve been very productive over the past few months, so people can expect to see a lot of new Moonbase music. I’m also keen to check out Col3trane, Kllo and (of course) Skepta, to name a few.

What’s on the cards for Moonbase and Trench Records for the rest of 2018?

I’m poised and ready to release a bunch of new music into the world from both myself and the rest of the Trench family over the remainder of 2018. We also have some big plans for next year as well, so keep your eye out for that!

Finally, what changes would you like to see in Australia’s approach to fighting brain cancer?

The main issues here are visibility, identification and awareness – especially amongst younger people. I believe if we can open the conversation to more Australian’s about the disease we can help save lives. I want to help spread the word and get more people involved in the pursuit towards finding a cure.