Sydney-born, Melbourne based producer ISHU has been creating a buzz around the nation with his blend of organic and synthetic instrumentation, combined with deep, heavy hip hop and electronic beats and basslines. With his 3rd solo release ready to drop, ISHU’s stepping his game up a few notches with the remarkable production on the new album “Hand Made”.
A solid foundation has already been built off the back of his 2010 release “A World in Progress”, which was born from his travels through Europe and Asia. Collecting samples and field recordings along the way ISHU found inspiration in every country he visited, immersing himself in local culture and sketching beats in bunkbeds all over the world. ISHU enlisted the talents of some of Australia’s finest vocalists for the album, including Mantra, Hau (Koolism), Lotek (UK), Class-A, Elf Tranzporter, Dyl Thomas (Polo Club), Pataphysics and more. “A World in Progress” showcases ISHU’s distinct sound of culture- mashing boom-bap and downtempo soundscapes, with hints of influences like Hermitude, Madlib, Bonobo and Embee (Looptroop).
2011 proved to be a busy year; bringing in the year on the Dub Shack stage at Peat’s Ridge Festival, and multiple headline shows around Australia and NZ promoting the album, and also supporting Urthboy, Sietta, Thundamentals, Electric Wire Hustle, Ladi6, Oh No, Rainman and more. ISHU also toured nationally supporting Joelistics for his “Voyager” tour which later led to a remix on Joelistics “The Shining” EP through Elefant Traks. As a side project, ISHU also released a collaborative single with Class A titled “Never” (which also features as an instrumental/remix on “Free The Beats Vol.8”), and a B side remix of one of Class A’s tracks from her successful debut.