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Proud First Nations artists, Nooky, Dallas Woods and Angus Field announce their debut album tour for K*ll THE DEAD as Blak collective 3%.Central to K*ll THE DEAD is the trio’s persistent embrace of vulnerability across fiery hip-hop that packs power in every quick-witted lyrical punch. For all the defiance and swagger, there is also humour and introspection. As ever, the album’s connection to mental health, family and country cannot be understated, as 3% uncover, unpick and blow apart the complex journeys they have each walked, and the resounding resilience, strength and pride that blankets a brighter future.
Underscoring the record with the powerful message of ‘Black and Proud’, the album artwork, by contemporary Aboriginal artist Daniel Boyd, weaves the ancient tradition of dot painting into the historic image of AFL player Nicky Winmar. Taking a stand against racism, the iconic photo signifies the resilience and strength of Aboriginal people, and through Dan’s interpretation, encapsulates their deep ongoing spiritual connection to land, culture and their ancestors. On the album artwork, 3% shared “We reached out to Dan Boyd as we are fans of his work and thought there was no one better to help convey the themes of the record. We chose this image, because that was a moment: when Nicky Winmar stood up against racism and echoed the statement he was Blak and proud. We thought the image resonated so much with what we were doing on the album. K*ll THE DEAD is 3%’s Uncle Nicky moment - we bare our flesh and blood on this record and it is undeniably Blak and proud.”
3% are currently preparing for a free show at this year’s Vivid Sydney from Tumbalong Park on June 14 - performing K*ll THE DEAD in full, with special guest appearances from Jess Mauboy, Tia Gostelow, Marlon Motlop, Stay True God and Denni, all who feature on the record.
3% on K*ll THE DEAD:
"Everything was done to wipe my people off the face of the earth and write us out of history. Policies, chemical warfare of poisoning water holes and lacing blankets with smallpox to create an epidemic of introduced diseases. Massacres, marshal law and policies of removal to remove and breed out our blood. It all failed. Our resilience, strength, pride and beauty live on, in spite of all the monstrous acts of crime and war committed against my people. We still live and we still have enough love in our hearts to want to move forward. In history’s books, we should be dead. In some of Australia’s eyes, we don’t exist. To a majority of Australia, our voice doesn’t matter, we do not matter. How you gonna K*ll what’s already dead? You can’t. They can’t. The spirit we hold is one with this land, so even when we go, our lineage remembers. The trees, the rocks, the water remember. We are the oldest living, surviving race on earth. We are fukn eternal." - Nooky
"We never K*ll the dead because they live on in us. They remain in spirit. All the people that they tried to K*ll - the clans, they couldn't K*ll, we still exist. We have survived. So you could never K*ll the dead, because we're still alive. Their spirit will always be alive. They might be no longer here, but they are always here spiritually." - Dallas Woods
After first stepping into the studio in 2022, the trio spurred by their mutual admiration of each other’s craft and united by their unique and extraordinary talents, have together honed a sound that represents connection in the face of different tribes and countries. Under a name that refers to their people, who make up just 3% of the Australian population, the First Nations collective have unleashed a taste of their music that journeys themes of closing the gap, reclaiming stolen land and Indigenous deaths in Custody.
The trio have released previous singles, “OUR PEOPLE” featuring The Presets, “Sleezy Steezy Cool” featuring Tia Gostelow, and most recently “Coming Home” which featured a re-recorded sample paying homage to Jimmy Little’s “Royal Telephone”. Combined, the songs have received praise from 10 Magazine, ACCLAIM, NME, Rolling Stone Australia and AUD’$, alongside radio support from triple J, Double J, CADA, 2SER, 4ZZZ and FBi Radio just to name a few. All singles received incredibly powerful video treatments, and were named rage Feature Video upon release. Meanwhile, “OUR PEOPLE” directed by Nick Rae and Brayden Fun Films, was nominated for Best Video at triple j’s 2023 J Awards. Fans who’ve been paying attention, will have seen an unreleased taster from K*ll THE DEAD featuring Jessica Mauboy, titled “Won’t Stop” become the Supercars 2024 theme song.
First Nations magic took centrestage during AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round, with 3% performing pre-match for the Dreamtime at the G takeover, to 44,047 live spectators and a broadcast audience exceeding a million. Earlier this year, 3% performed at the 2024 return of Blak Powerhouse on January 26, for the evening program organised by We Are Warriors. This added to the group’s string of live appearances, including a performance at the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks as part of a presentation led by Nooky’s We Are Warriors initiative, ‘Calling Country’. Late last year, Woods, Nooky and Field made their live debut at their SXSW Sydney showcase from The Lord Gladstone, which saw US-based global icon, Chance The Rapper make an impromptu appearance on stage to show his support for the trio. The group went on to embark on their first run of live shows, taking place inside a group of undisclosed Victorian Prisons, before closing out 2023 at ARIA’s Great Southern Nights initiative, with a free show from Parramatta’s Crown Hotel. In March, the trio performed at Treaty Day Out on Wadawurrung Country in Ballarat, held by the First Peoples' Assembly in recognition of helping connect First Nations people and allies through live music and storytelling - and supported BARKAA on a sold out show from Sydney’s The Lansdowne.
As 3% gear up to lay down a resilient chapter in Blak storytelling via their debut album.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
OXFORD ART FACTORY, 38-42 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia,Sydney, Australia
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