Trials joins the roster at Island Records Australia

Adelaide rapper and producer Trials will release music from his debut solo project through Island Records Australia, after signing on to the label for an as-yet untitled debut EP.

Trials, who has won multiple ARIAs, AIR and APRA Awards as one half of A.B. Original, will release said EP later in 2020.

Universal Music Australia managing director Michael Taylor revealed that Suffa of Hilltop Hoods gave him his first taste of Trials’ music, and in an the age of Zoom, his signing took place over a video call.

“Suffa first introduced me to Trials’ music via Golden Era records and the Adelaide Hip Hop scene. I was hooked on Trials’ stuff from then!” he said.

“His production, his beats, his voice, his take on hip-hop…it all has the unique ability to be fun and yet still carry that important message. That’s a rare gift, and Trials is a rare and gifted artist. We’re so excited to welcome him to Island Records Australia.”

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Trials is a Ngarrindjeri man from Coorong in South Australia, and to date he has shown his diversity as an artist with collaborations and co-writers with the likes of Drapht, Gurrumul, Archie Roach, Hilltop Hoods, Pete Murray, Seth Sentry, Illy, DZ Deathrays, Paul Kelly, Thelma Plum, Mo’Ju, Dune Rats and more.

He has also worked on soundtracks and theme music for TV and film including The Warriors (ABC), Cargo (Netflix), Cleverman (ABC/SUNDANCE) and the upcoming feature documentary, Looky Looky – Here Comes Cooky, an Indigenous response to Captain Cook’s arrival to Australia.

His forthcoming EP will feature a stack of guest appearances from both Aussie and international acts.

“I’ve been crazy fortunate to work on a wide range of music and productions in my life and I’m beyond amped to finally put everything I’ve learnt along the way into my own records,” said Trials.

“The team at Island have always been supportive of my sounds from Ben Martin and Golden Era to now Michael Taylor and Universal and I’m looking forward to making even more noise with them this year.”

Trials joins a roster at Island that includes Dean Lewis, Hilltop Hoods, Tame Impala, Boy & Bear, Broods, Matt Corby, Briggs, Washington, Seth Sentry, Thundamentals, Baker Boy and many more.