Plutonic Lab is one of Australia’s most prolific and widely respected producers, and has recently teamed up with Detroit emcee Guilty Simpson (one of the late, great J Dilla’s favourite emcees to work with) for the lead single “The Crib” off Plutonic Lab’s brand new album, Deep Above The Noise.
Guilty Simpson, formerly of the group Random Axe with the late Sean P (RIP) and Black Milk, is currently working on his new album with Australian producer Katalyst, now also signed to Stones Throw Records with his group the Quakers. One aspect which makes this American-Australian Hip Hop collaboration special is that Plutonic Lab and Guilty Simpson worked on this together in the studio, rather than sending files across the Pacific Ocean, which is often the case with Oz/US collaborations.
This organic match in styles between the two is well evident throughout the lead single, giving it an authentic feel layered with the unique combinations of Simpson and Lab’s collective talents. While Guilty Simpson was touring Australia with Katalyst throughout January and February earlier this year, he found time away from his touring schedule to sit down with Plutonic Lab, and the end product has been one of the most genuine Hip Hop collaborations between America and Australia of recent times. The album itself also features Miles Bonny (USA), Coma-Chi (Japan), MoMO (Melbourne), as well as the second single “Sliced Bread” with Notes To Self BBRC (Canada). This is Plutonic Lab’s first solo album since 2005’s Codes Over Colours, making it one of Australia’s most anticipated releases of 2016. The futuristic sound of this LP is refreshingly new, while still deeply rooted in his traditional sound that has made him a fan favourite in Australian and beyond.
Plutonic Lab is an ARIA Nominee, a UK Mercury Prize Winner (for his work with Speech Debelle) and has been voted Best Producer multiple times in Australia. As well as being a seasoned veteran behind the boards, he’s also a talented drummer and his all round musicality shines through in all his production. Plutonic Lab began drumming at the age of 10, performing shows at 14, before obtaining an honours degree in Sound Design/Media Arts from university, and is also currently the national and international tour drummer for Australian group Hilltop Hoods. He was formerly one half of the emcee and deejay duo Muph & Plutonic that had a string of classic Australian releases throughout the 2000s.
Plutonic Lab’s eclectic production has provided the backdrop for a vast number of artists, with over 80 releases locally and internationally on several record labels including work with Eternia (Canada), Coma-Chi (Japan) Australia’s Prowla, Dedlee, Bias B, M-Phazes, Pegz, Drapht, Hilltop Hoods, UK’s Taskforce, Wiley and Speech Debelle, as well as Americans Fat Lip (Pharcyde), G-Love, Omni, Eligh & The Grouch among others.
Plutonic Lab has toured across Australia, played the festival circuit and toured internationally throughout America, Canada, Japan, Singapore, UK & continental Europe. His production turn composing has been featured in both film and television including HBO’s Girls, STARZ series POWER, TNT’s Franklin & Bash & Noel Clarke’s BAFTA award winning film 4321 and feature film Chronicle.
His new album Deep Above The Noise feat. Guilty Simpson is available now through iTunes and hard copies will shortly be available in America through Fat Beats, Europe/UK in Rush Hour as well as in Japan through Disc Union.
