Example
A day in Sydney with the English festival favourite.
TwentyFour
Photos by March 5, 2015

It seems that everytime Example tours Australia, we’re just counting down the months until he comes back – and it’s easy to see why he’s become a favourite on the Australian festival circuit.

Managing to sing and spit his way across house, grime, bass, electro and everything in between, Example delivers bangers with anthemic pop appeal and undeniable charisma. Returning this time for Future Music Festival, we spent a day with the lord in Sydney. Here’s how it went down.

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We pick up Example from Bondi and head to Sony Studios in Darlinghurst. He’s ready to tear this recording booth a new one, and energises himself with a classic Bondi breakfast: A chai latte and Acai berry bowl. We may have sprinkled some kale in there when he wasn’t looking just to top it off. #CLEANEATING #GLUTENFREE #SUMMERRIG

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Example spitting some serious bars/pure flames/modern poetry in the booth. Expect some hot material to be dropping into your earholes over the next few months, courtesy of this legend.

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Example wearing the Nike’s Flyknit Roshe. Shoutout to Nike because I’m about to give you some free integrated advertising: Using the latest Flyknit technology for maximum maneuverability and breathability, this lightweight silhouette is grounded by the favoured Roshe sole and champions an iconic black swoosh stretching to the heel. We love Nike! Go Nike. #SUBTLE

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All that rapping has gotten us hungry – we head to lunch at The Grounds of Alexandria, where there is a Shetland pony just chilling for some reason. Hey, I may be Asian but I am definitely not thinking about eating this pony. I just hope that this little fella doesn’t get used as a kitchen hand when they are short staffed.

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Worth the wait: Chicken burger and beer battered chips. Is it possible to get hammered off these if you eat enough? Someone please Google it and let us know.

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Over to a rehearsal studio before today’s big performance – Example and crew trade stories about how they nearly got to meet Drake the night before at The Passage. Drizzy sure seems to be an illusive dude – it must be those new Nike TN’s he’s been wearing, allowing him to run around Sydney at the speed of light. #CHAMPAGNEAKEDRAY

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The lads smash through their practice run, and Example needs to rest his voice. Butter Menthols won’t do the trick, so we head out for a cup o’ tea – after all, he is from London.

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Now it’s story time with Example – he tells us how this is the longest he’s been away from his wife, Aussie Erin McNaught and their newborn son Evander. We can only imagine how tough this must be, but that probably plays a large role as to why he puts in 110% every time he’s Down Under – anyone who’s seen him live will know what we’re talking about.

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On our drive back to the city we happen to pass our pals at Zanerobe, who lace Example with some new threads. He seems to be a fan, and who doesn’t love free shit? We love free shit. Someone make me famous so that I can finally get out of this FUBU jersey I’ve been wearing for the past seven years.

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Back at Sony headquarters, we indulge in a little pool, which always helps to help calm those butterflies – unless you’re uncoordinated, lose before managing to even sink one ball and have to do a nudie run around the table (like us).

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We stop for a quick fan selfie, props to this girl for having a phone cover with kitty ears on it. Example’s selfie game is very strong at the moment, as evidenced by the look of pure concentration on his facial.

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Duffel bag boyz on the move.

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We then head to dinner at Riley St Garage – this joint might sound like a mechanic, but the food is top notch and we love it. Signs that you’ve made it in life: You get your own personalised set menu when you dine at a restaurant, complete with fancy words like ‘carpaccio’, ‘tartare’ and ‘chicken’. #ITSLAVISHBITCH

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We engage in a little feast consisting of oysters (upper echelon sea creature) and pork knuckle, which is definitely one of the best things that we’ve ever put in our mouths. DJ Wire also seems impressed with said pork knuckle, as he busts out a little dance when the waiter brings it out and yells “This is dumb!” Can’t get much more complimentary than that.

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We hit the festival, and enter the backstage area (with our very rare lanyards) to find Example rapping along to Lil Wayne’s verse on Nicki Minaj’s ‘Truffle Butter‘. Need we say more? This banger sampled Maya Jane Coles, and it’s so great that I even hung a goddamn Nicki Minaj calender next to my bedside table. What a way to wake up every morning. #CALENDERSWAG #YMCMB

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Some people have crews, and some people have a squad like this. Example rolling deep and slowly sipping a cup of Smirnoff, because that’s just how we live nowadays.

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All aboard the bus! It’s time to hit the stage.

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A bottle of Glenfidditch,  a couple of Asahis and a fire extinguisher. Looks like we have everything we need here. #PAPARAZZISHOT

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Here’s the pre-show huddle. Motivational, psyche-up speeches get the lads amped up with adrenaline. They’re ready to take Future Music Festival by the gonads with tens of thousands of punters watching they’re every move. #TEAMEXAMPLE

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“Hands in the air if you love pork knuckle!”

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Yep, there’s a fair few people here. Shoutout to the dude on the left with a singlet on aka everybody.

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Example finds us creeping behind a speaker and decides to call us out in front of the whole festival.

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Example wraps up his set with “Changed The Way You Kissed Me” – a huge track that’s amplified in the live arena, and a great way to kick off Future Music Festival for 2015.

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Back in the van for a One Direction style shot for these superstars – We can’t wait to do it all over again when Future Music Festival hits Brisbane this weekend. Cheers to Example and all the lads for their hospitality.

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