Drapht Problem Here Interview

Aussie hiphop king Drapht will tonight share his electrifying new track Problem Here, featuring fellow local Perth hypes Complete and Eli Greeneyes, dropping at 8pm AEST. Accompanied by a killer video, Problem Here is the second taste of the prolific artist's brilliant new album Shadows and Shinings, an introspective and complex release demonstrative of Drapht's impressive penchant for reinvention, out September 10 – and available for pre-order now. To celebrate the new album, Drapht will be hitting the road in September for a massive national tour, kicking off at Settlers Tavern in Margaret River, WA on September 3, then moving through Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Geelong, Maroochydore, Brisbane and wrapping up at Miami Marketta on the Gold Coast on September 26.

Problem Here follows on from the spectacular Shadows On My Walls (that was complemented by the wacky, supremely clever video), a haunting track written "on the verge of a breakdown", as Drapht himself describes. The two tracks feel connected through the act of self-reflection – Drapht's uncanny ability to identify the things poisoning his outlook on life and dissecting them through hooky melodies, nostalgic, persistant beats and clever production. Problem Here feels equally influenced by Eminem as it does Machine Gun Kelly and Andre 3000, and with brilliant vocal contribution from Eli Greeneyes (who also produced the track) and Complete, this song is seriously powerful. Speaking on the inspiration behind Problem Here, Drapht explains, "It was the last song written for my album. I had just bought my dream house in the hills of Perth, and the week I moved all my stuff in - planes started flying over. Then I found termites in the roof, snakes in the backyard, and to top it all off I have a toddler at home and I decided to throw a puppy in the mix just for some extra excitement. It was all a tad bit stressful…!"

Filmed and directed by close Perth friends Complete and Uncool Sam from Drop Shot Media, the video for Problem Here is comical and true to narrative, as Drapht enthuses, "This clip was loads of fun and super easy to make, as we just focused on bringing the lyrics to life within the house where the initial idea came about. Thankfully the termites and snakes weren't living there anymore."

The new album Shadows and Shinings is a step into new territory for Drapht, but that's no surprise – Drapht has proven album after album that he will always challenge himself as an artist and push the genre of Aussie hiphop in exciting directions with every release. Shadows and Shinings is a 15-track adventure through the human psyche, contemplative and deep, but still full to bursting with addictive beats and clever production. Finished during the lockdowns of 2020, Drapht explains the process behind the album, "This album to me has been one big purge and a reset for the most part. It kind of feels like it's meant to be slotted in just after my 2011 release The Life of Riley. Some song ideas had been following me around for 8 or 9 years, with others only being a few months. For the most part I owe finishing it to the isolation period in 2020. I had a lot of time to reflect on the identity and the relationships that came with making music. I found a lot of peace in letting go, going back to what I knew worked and concentrating on the people who truly matter... I worked with a heap of killer guests and friends on this project. There's a lot of cathartic venting within the subject matter, but in all, it was the easiest and most enjoyable album I have made to date. I truly believe this is my best stuff."

Drapht is a national treasure at this point, with platinum records, multi-platinum and gold singles and two ARIA awards under his belt. Shadows and Shinings is a stellar addition to his discography and will further prove his complete legend status, not just in the world of Aussie hiphop, but across the entire Australian music industry. Luckily, fans across the nation will have the chance to see Drapht live on his national tour in September – giving fans a taste of what to expect, Drapht says, "You can expect your old mate, backed by a high energy, six-piece live band of friends, and we'll be playing 15 years worth of bangers."

Interview with Drapht

Question: How would you describe your music?

Drapht: Uptempo - 60's inspired - hip-hop


Question: Can you tell us about Problem Here?

Drapht: It features two of my closest friends from home - Complete & Eli Greeneyes. It was the last song written for my album. I had just bought my dream house in the hills of Perth, and the week I moved all my stuff in - Planes started flying over. Then I found termites in the roof, snakes in the backyard, and to top it all off I have a toddler at home and I decided to throw a puppy in the mix just for some extra excitement. It was all a tad bit stressful. The idea started with "I bought a house from Greg, he promised birds I got some planes instead" and then there were a few more swear words. But Eli Greeneyes came on board and made it all a bit nicer and easier to listen to. 


Question: What inspired the music video?

Drapht: Complete and Uncool Sam from Drop Shot Media directed and put this one together. It was loads of fun and really really enjoyable to make, as we just focused on bringing the lyrics to life within the house where the initial idea came about. Thankfully the termites and snakes weren't living there anymore.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Drapht: Yeah, that everyone in their own way is going through something. I think as humans we tend to compare our lives to people we barely know anything about, especially in the age of social media. I think it's nice being able to normalise the fact we all have our own shit and we are for the most part just doing our best with what we have available. I find it cathartic airing out my dirty laundry.

Question: What should we expect from your upcoming tour?

Drapht: A good bloody time with your old mate, backed by a high energy 6 piece live band, playing 15 years worth of bangers.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Drapht: I guess the thought of creating a legacy and a body of work that I'm proud of first and foremost. Other times it could be whatever is weighing the heaviest on me in the moment - getting it off my chest, releasing it and moving on. I think at the end of the day I just want to be able to continue to do what I love too, work for myself and make the most of my opportunities. 

Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Drapht: Right this minute The Beatles 'Rubber Soul' is playing behind me. Michelle is one of my all-time favourites. I enjoy the new Tyler, The Creator release and the new J Cole release too.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Drapht: My dad is a jazz drummer/percussionist, so a lot of different music was always in our household growing up. Then I went to school with one of the guys from Downsyde and they were big influences and door openers in my early days.


Question: If you could collaborate with any other artist, who would it be?

Drapht: Paul McCartney or Pharrell Williams


Question: How does it feel to hear your song played all over the airwaves?

Drapht: 15 years later and it still blows my mind hearing these songs on the radio. It never gets old and I can never quite seem to fathom the amount of people hearing the song in that one particular moment.


Question: What moment in your music career stands out the most?
Drapht: 2011/2012 was a crazy year for me after the release of The Life Of Riley. Playing The Big Day Out tour was always a big dream of mine. And then getting to play at the ARIAs too.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Drapht: There is no typical day for me right now haha. But a good day would normally consist of drinking a little coffee in the sun, having breakfast with my little one, answering emails, jumping in the ocean, writing some music, going for a walk or run, reading a little, eating dinner out. Then sleeping a full eight hours.


Question: What advice do you have for aspiring writers or artists?

Drapht: You really have to be committed to hustling harder than anyone else you know. Try your hardest not to compare and as cliche as it sounds, don't try to be anybody else. Find yourself within the things that inspire you, share that, be vulnerable and be honest.  


Question: What's next, for you?

Drapht: I'm feeling really inspired. My album comes out September the 10th and I'm really ready to get into writing the next one.


Question: Can you share your socials? (links please)

Drapht: Website 
Facebook 
Instagram 
YouTube 
Spotify 


Interview by Gwen van Montfort