Illy (rapper)

Illy

Background information
Birth name

Alasdair David George Murray

Relations = Alastair Mclean and Liam Donnelly (step brothers)
Born (1986-09-06) 6 September 1986
Origin Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres Australian Hip Hop
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Electronic dance music
Years active 2008-present
Labels ONETWO, UNFD
Associated acts Crooked Eye, Allday, Elemont, Vera Blue
Website illyal.com

Alasdair David George Murray[1] (born 6 September 1986[2]), better known by his stage name Illy, is a recording artist from Frankston in Melbourne, Australia. Before his solo career, Illy was a member of Crooked Eye, but opted to leave the group. He released his first solo album in 2009, entitled Long Story Short, and has released three further albums. His second The Chase, was nominated for an ARIA award while his third Bring It Back won.[3] Furthermore, in 2016 he released an album titled Two Degrees. He has toured internationally both as headliner and as support to the Hilltop Hoods in 2014 world tour in Europe.[4]

Music

Illy performing at the University of Tasmania in 2011.

Illy was a member of Crooked Eye before embarking on a solo career. He released his first album, Long Story Short in 2009.[5][6][7] Long Story Short reached #24 on the ARIA Top 40 Urban Albums chart[8] and the lead single, "Pictures", was placed on national rotation on Triple J.[9] In April 2010, Illy embarked on his first national headlining tour, playing 12 dates nationally.[10] In September the same year, Illy toured nationally alongside Australian rappers 360 and Skryptcha for "The Three Up Tour".[11]

He appeared on the track "Take It from Me" on producer M-Phazes' debut album Good Gracious released in 2010.

In October 2010, Illy, released his second album The Chase, and its lead single "It Can Wait" debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at number fifty-eight. In October 2011, "It Can Wait" was certified Gold by ARIA after selling 35,000 copies.[12] In 2011, Illy was nominated for an ARIA Music Award for Best Urban Album for The Chase, which was won by Drapht.[3] His single "Cigarettes" was on high rotation on Triple J and came 35th in the 2011 Triple J Hottest 100.[13] In February 2011, Illy embarked on his 14-date nationwide "The Chase Tour", with special guest M-Phazes.

Illy released his third album, Bring It Back, on 21 September 2012,[14] following the release of the single "Heard it All".[15] This album was described by Illy as a "passion project" and a "tribute" to the Australian hip hop scene. He announced a corresponding 24-date nationwide tour, spanning from August until October 2012, with Australian hip-hop producer Chasm and Skryptcha as support acts.[16] At the 2013 Aria Music Awards, Bring It Back won Illy the Aria Award for "Best Urban Album".[17]

Illy left Obese Records following the release of Bring It Back to set up his own label, ONETWO records, and signed South Australian hip hop artist Allday. The label is a collaboration with the We Are Unified (UNFD) music company, which is also Illy's global management representative.[18][19]

His fourth studio album, Cinematic, a sequel to The Chase, was released through ONETWO on 8 November 2013. The album is executive produced by M-Phazes. M-Phazes also produced 10 of the 13 tracks, with J-Skub, Styalz Fuego and Cam Bluff producing one each. It debuted at number 4 on the ARIA Albums Charts on 16 November 2013. Artists who feature on the album include the Hilltop Hoods, Drapht, Kira Puru, Ahren Stringer, Thomas Jules from Rudimental and Daniel Merriweather. He announced on his Facebook page that his fourth album will be released through his own record label, "ONETWO", in association with Warner Music Australia. The singles for the album include "On & On", "Youngbloods" (featuring Ahren Stringer from The Amity Affliction) and a free iTunes single "Cinematic".

"Swear Jar", Illy's first single release in 2015 was released on November 17.[20]

Illy's most successful track "Papercuts" came in at 7th in the Hottest 100 2016.

Awards

APRA Awards

At the APRA Music Awards of 2015 Illy won Urban Work of the Year for "Tightrope" featuring Scarlett Stevens.[21] In April 2017 he won the same category for "Papercuts" (featuring Vera Blue).[22]

ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Illy had been nominated three times.[23]

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2011 The Chase Best Urban Album Nominated
2013 Bring it Back Best Urban Album Won
2014 Cinematic Best Urban Album Nominated

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "Illy The Chase Tour Interview". girl.com.au.
  2. ↑ "Illy". Facebook. September 5, 2011. Haha, jesus, look at my wall!!! Thank you guys. 25 was the best year of my life, and you guys played a bigger part in that than you'll probably ever realise. You lot mean the world to me, really. So thank you, I'm humbled by the love, I swear it's reciprocated, and I'm going to try and make 26 even better. New album before I'm 27 - crossed heart promise. Catch you at a show, we will drink to the good times! LOVE ILLY AL MURRAY xo
  3. 1 2 "Chartifacts - Week Commencing: 1st November 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Shows". Hilltop Hoods. Hilltop Hoods. 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  5. ↑ 3D World, 25 March 2009 Illy - Licensed To Ill by Matt Unicomb
  6. ↑ Stonnington Leader, 10 June 2009, "Keep-it-simple Illy hip hopping to quality"
  7. ↑ Hobart Mercury, 13 August 2009 "Illy communication"
  8. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Urban Albums & Singles". ARIA. 21 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  9. ↑ "hitlist (by artist): triple j music". ABC. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  10. ↑ "Illy – Pictures 2010 Tour + New Acoustic CD". All Aussie Hip-Hop. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "Illy – The Chase (Initial Details) + The Three Up Tour". All Aussie Hip-Hop. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  12. ↑ "Illy Goes ARIA Gold!". All Aussie Hip-Hop. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Countdown - Hottest 100 2011". Triple J. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  14. ↑ ""Bring It Back", Illy". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Heard it all by Illy @ J Play". J Play. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  16. ↑ "Bring It Back Tour Announced for August/September!!!". IllyAl.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "Aria Awards / 2013 Best Urban Album". Aria Awards. AUSTRALIAN RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION. 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  18. ↑ Paul Cashmere (28 September 2013). "Illy Launches Label And Signs Allday". Noise11. Noise11. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  19. ↑ "ILLY, TUKA, ALLDAY & ELEMONT - HOW FAR". Illy Official Website. Illy Official Website. October 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Swear Jar - Single by Illy on Apple Music".
  21. ↑ "Urban Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "Urban Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  23. ↑ http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/search?q=Illy
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