Bliss N Eso's tale goes to show that creating your own path can lead to a destination never reachable by following directions. And what an incredible journey it has been.
In the early '90s Jonathan Notley moved from the US to Sydney, Australia and met Max Mackinnon at High School. The Two became friends through their mutual passion for hip-hop music and together over the next few years began to cultivate the craft of rhyming. Later, after a few early recordings on old boom boxes, Mackinnon moved schools and met Tarik Ejjamai who at the time was an aspiring hip-hop DJ.
The three teamed up in a climate when Australian music was dominated by rock and pop, and local hip-hop was virtually non existent; it was here that Bliss n Eso were born.
Ten years later Bliss (Notley), Eso (Mackinnon) and DJ Izm (Ejjamai) are now a force to be reckoned within Australian music.
Identifying over their passion for self expression through beats and rhymes, Bliss n Eso burst onto the Australian music scene in 2000, releasing their debut 5 track EP, aptly titled The Arrival.
From an early stage in their career, Bliss n Eso primarily built their fan base from their compelling and energetic live performances. An exhilarating blend of fluid rhymes and banging beats teamed with beat boxing, impromptu freestyling and seamless turntablism make their live shows a brand in their own right, and has seen the group hailed as one of the best live acts in the country.
Word of the three man crew's tight shows spread quickly and before long they had gained top supporting slots alongside artists including Cypress Hill, Xzibit, Naughty by Nature, Jurassic 5, The Roots, Black Eyed Peas and DJ Shadow to name but a few.
After four years of touring with consistently powerful performances, Bliss n Eso settled down in 2004 to record their first full length album Flowers In The Pavement, released through Obese Records.
A virtual brainstorm on record, the emerging artists compiled track after track of wild expression through vibrant lyrics and production. The debut album met an overwhelming response from audiences and critics Australia wide.
The hit track off the album, This is For You, received airplay on Triple J and became the second track in Australian hip-hop history to be added to commercial radio network Nova FM. The stand out songs Pigs In The Porn Trough and This is For You also brought Bliss n Eso an award for "Hip-Hop Artist of the Year" at the National Music Oz Awards in both 2003 and 2004 respectively. They also received a nomination in 2004 for the major award of "Artists of the Year".
After months of intensive touring to support the album, Bliss n Eso returned to the studio in 2005 to record their follow up sophomore album Day of the Dog.
The album demonstrated the broad capabilities of the trio through fourteen tight tracks of creative sampling, innovative production and catchy choruses, all of which sewn together with Bliss n Eso's fresh flow and clever lyricism. The album featured an array of local and international hip-hop producers including works from Suffa (Hilltop Hoods), Motley (UK) and veteran beat maker Weapon X.
The first single off the album was the party anthem Up Jumped The Boogie, which immediately received high rotation on Triple J and also crossed over to commercial networks such as Nova and Fox FM. Its infectious rhythm and playful lyrics proved popular with both fans and radio stations while the introspective side of the artists was revealed on songs like Then Till Now and That Feeling, which touched on cultural and racial divisions. Through these tracks, Bliss n Eso were introduced to a whole new audience and officially graduated from a popular underground group to a massive name in Australian music.
In the early '90s Jonathan Notley moved from the US to Sydney, Australia and met Max Mackinnon at High School. The Two became friends through their mutual passion for hip-hop music and together over the next few years began to cultivate the craft of rhyming. Later, after a few early recordings on old boom boxes, Mackinnon moved schools and met Tarik Ejjamai who at the time was an aspiring hip-hop DJ.
The three teamed up in a climate when Australian music was dominated by rock and pop, and local hip-hop was virtually non existent; it was here that Bliss n Eso were born.
Ten years later Bliss (Notley), Eso (Mackinnon) and DJ Izm (Ejjamai) are now a force to be reckoned within Australian music.
Identifying over their passion for self expression through beats and rhymes, Bliss n Eso burst onto the Australian music scene in 2000, releasing their debut 5 track EP, aptly titled The Arrival.
From an early stage in their career, Bliss n Eso primarily built their fan base from their compelling and energetic live performances. An exhilarating blend of fluid rhymes and banging beats teamed with beat boxing, impromptu freestyling and seamless turntablism make their live shows a brand in their own right, and has seen the group hailed as one of the best live acts in the country.
Word of the three man crew's tight shows spread quickly and before long they had gained top supporting slots alongside artists including Cypress Hill, Xzibit, Naughty by Nature, Jurassic 5, The Roots, Black Eyed Peas and DJ Shadow to name but a few.
After four years of touring with consistently powerful performances, Bliss n Eso settled down in 2004 to record their first full length album Flowers In The Pavement, released through Obese Records.
A virtual brainstorm on record, the emerging artists compiled track after track of wild expression through vibrant lyrics and production. The debut album met an overwhelming response from audiences and critics Australia wide.
The hit track off the album, This is For You, received airplay on Triple J and became the second track in Australian hip-hop history to be added to commercial radio network Nova FM. The stand out songs Pigs In The Porn Trough and This is For You also brought Bliss n Eso an award for "Hip-Hop Artist of the Year" at the National Music Oz Awards in both 2003 and 2004 respectively. They also received a nomination in 2004 for the major award of "Artists of the Year".
After months of intensive touring to support the album, Bliss n Eso returned to the studio in 2005 to record their follow up sophomore album Day of the Dog.
The album demonstrated the broad capabilities of the trio through fourteen tight tracks of creative sampling, innovative production and catchy choruses, all of which sewn together with Bliss n Eso's fresh flow and clever lyricism. The album featured an array of local and international hip-hop producers including works from Suffa (Hilltop Hoods), Motley (UK) and veteran beat maker Weapon X.
The first single off the album was the party anthem Up Jumped The Boogie, which immediately received high rotation on Triple J and also crossed over to commercial networks such as Nova and Fox FM. Its infectious rhythm and playful lyrics proved popular with both fans and radio stations while the introspective side of the artists was revealed on songs like Then Till Now and That Feeling, which touched on cultural and racial divisions. Through these tracks, Bliss n Eso were introduced to a whole new audience and officially graduated from a popular underground group to a massive name in Australian music.
