Mind over Matter (band)

Mind Over Matter
Also known as	Smiles Again & Willow
Origin	Sydney, Australia
Genres	Australian hip hop
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Independent
Associated acts	Dj Ilz, Phatchance, Johnny Utah, Coptic Soldier
Website	http://www.mindovermattercrew.com

Mind Over Matter is an Australian hip hop outfit from Sydney, Australia consisting of MCs Willow and Smiles Again. The group has played alongside and toured in support of some of Australia's biggest artists, including Jebediah, Bliss n Eso, Drapht, The Herd and Pez.^[1]^[2]

Biography

The duo Willow (Rowan Lockyer) and Smiles Again (Martin Brown) met at St.Pius X College Chatswood in Year 7. By Year 9 Lockyer and Brown were practicing their freestyle skills and working together on what would become the roots of their music.^[3]

Mind Over Matter first surfaced on the Australian hip hop scene in 2006 with a short mixtape titled For Our Hip Hoppers. This independent release resulted in Mind Over Matter signing to Sydney Based Nurcha Records for their Debut LP Keepin' It Breezy'.^[4]

The album features Dj Ilz on the majority of the tracks and although not an official member of the group, DJ Ilz has been touring and performing with the group since 2006. Keepin' It Breezy was executively produced by Phatchance and Drakezilla and recorded at Ilz studios in Sydney, the album received accolades in Australian Street Press and Media.^[5] The group appeared on the Triple J Hip Hop show to discuss the album with Hau (of Koolism) and the first single for the album Proud received national rotation on the station.^[6] The second single for the album "Clipped Wings" featured Vast Aire of Cannibal Ox fame and garnered single of the week on FBi Radio, the group were also interviewed on the station as part of the weekly hip hop show.^[7]

In 2009 the group released a second mixtape entitled Free the Wolves. The mixtape was executively produced by Phatchance and serves as a bridge between the first album and their next official release; it was called a departure from the happy-go-lucky sound of Keepin' It Breezy.^[8] The band launched the mixtape to a sold out crowd at Oxford Arts Factory performing with Dj Illa and Saving Grace for a youth based charity Exodus Youth Worx.

On March 18, 2011 the duo released their sophomore record Just Like Fireworks.^[9]

In 2014 Mind Over Matter announced that they are now a trio with the introduction of their new DJ (DJ Ntaprize). They created their first album as a Trio on the 30th of March, 2014, "This Way to Elsewhere" (Sexiest Album Ever). This album included many featuring artists such as Bliss n Eso, Chance Waters, Vida Sunshyne, Mantra, K.I.K.I, etc. This album was produced by Martin Brown (Smiles Again) and Jon Reichardt.

Awards

Keepin' It Breezy was nominated for Album of the Year 2008 in J Mag.

Discography

For Our Hip Hoppers mixtape (2006) - Independent
Keepin' It Breezy (2008) - Nurcha Records
Free the Wolves mixtape (2009) - Independent
Just Like Fireworks (2011)
"This Way to Elsewhere" (2014)

Singles

"Proud" featuring Dj Illa (2008)
"Clipped Wings" featuring Vast Aire and Dj Illa (2008)
"It's Not a Secret" (2009)
"Real Life" Featuring K.I.K.I (2013)
"Somebody's love" Featuring Ernst Carter Jnr. (2013)
"What They Say" Featuring Bliss n Eso (2014)
"The Ghost & The Wolf" (2014)

References