True Live are a truly unique entity. Since their very first performance in 2005, they have defied categorisation and belonged to a genre all of their own. With each of the band's six prodigal members bringing their own set of influences to the table, the outcome is something unlike anything you're accustomed to hearing.
Formed from a selected group of musicians from Melbourne’s rich improv scene by leader / frontman / producer RHyNO, with the assistance of older, wiser musicians - the young upstart managed to score himself the hands down finest selection of players from some of the more eclectic realms of musical taste. The collective includes late period Miles / Coltrane head with a love for Madlib and Justice, Thai Matus (keyboards) and obsessive bebop violinist Tamil Rogeon. Then there's hip-hop trad jazz DJ / double bassist Tom Tom, rare groove funk drummer Choi and heir to the Blake string linage (3 generations deep of string players) and Nitin Sawney collaborator, Tim Blake.
True Live began gigging around their hometown of Melbourne regularly playing at local haunts like The Evelyn and Revolver. They very quickly garnered a cult following in Melbourne's live circuit as word spread of their phenomenal energy on stage. They took their show on the road time and time again, selling out gigs nationwide off the back of word of mouth alone. True Live had become the band that you absolutely needed to see.
Demand reached boiling point for some recorded material, so later in the year of their formation, they issued their debut release, the highly exalted Mintons EP. The EP's first single, Question This, was an undeniable success, gathering rotation from Triple J and video clip plays on Rage, Channel V and Video Hits.
The group's long awaited debut album, The Shape of It, produced independently by band leader / producer RHyNO was released in late 2006 to rave reviews, and suddenly the underground's favourite sons had officially been born into the public eye. The album saw the group craft songs of stunning lyrical and instrumental beauty, whilst at the same time develop their own patented universal sounding vibe. This combined to ensure The Shape of It was to gain incredible critical acclaim across the board. (“...charting the changing face of hip hop,,,” - Rolling Stone, “...mind expanding...” - ACCLAIM Magazine, “Bold, brilliant and truly live...” - The Age). The album's lead single, TV, was smashed on community radio across the country and also saw unpredicted support from major TV and radio networks and, ironically, some unexpected soundtrack placements on TV itself. The LP, which most industry folk had expected to sell modestly, did remarkably well off limited promotion, and not surprisingly, so did their following nationwide tours.
True Live released their new album 'Found Lost' on April 10th 2009 to glowing reviews.
While some bands may prefer to specialise in one sound or cater to an existing audience, True Live are bona fide musical ambition personified. And the result speaks for itself.
“Just stick it on and press play.” 4/5 – The Age
4/5 – The Courier Mail
“You could call this hip hop even jazz rap, but I’d prefer to label it art-hop.” 4/5 – J Mag
“True Live present a tight and accomplished set that fully synthesises their many musical strands from street, jazz and classical realms. In a word: Epic.” 4/5 - Herald Sun
“Found Lost will undoubtedly attract many new fans to this innovative Australian band. Truly they deserve an international audience.” - TheDwarf
“The Melbourne hip hop band set the bar high in 2006 with The Shape of It, and have blasted right past it with Found Lost.” - South Coast Register
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