KICKING BACK WITH SKEM
We sat out the back with Sydney rapper SKEM to talk food, creative process, 2025 ambitions and his latest single ‘No Surprises’.
When I think about key rappers who are shaping the new wave of Australian Hip Hop, Skem is always one of the first to come to mind. Not only has he perfected his craft to a point where he is widely known across the Australian music scene - but he shares his stories and experiences in a vulnerable way, wearing his heart on his sleeve throughout his entire discography. Listening to his beautifully raw lyrics mixed with playful and melodic beats gives any listener an instant glimpse into his stories of hardship and heartbreak - a listening experience that has earned him a loyal fanbase who are always hungry for more of his music.
Even though music is his forefront - he throws himself into every aspect of the creative process of making music. From the lyrics to the co-production, music video direction, title art and post-production - Skem is an artist who is passionate about his work and loves to collaborate with other creatives to make his visions come to life. He has his foot in the door of every aspect of his creations.
I met Skem through a post where he was looking to collaborate with creatives and artists on the set of his ‘Quicksand’ music video. Of course, I hit him up and have since worked with him on a handful of his visual projects. In our latest collaboration, I filmed the visuals for his latest music video - No Surprises. We had shot this visualiser over a few hours one night in Chinatown Sydney on my old Sony Handi-Cam camera. With time and light against us, we ended up with a rough & rugged VHS video which interestingly opposed (and complimented) his polished and very anticipated single. Of course it didn’t stop there, Skem jumped on a train to the Central Coast to give Tyren and I some guidance on his vision for the post-production side of things. So we kicked back for a few days and while we had him in company, I thought it would be nice to ask him some questions which ultimately formed this interview.
(Huge thanks to Tyren Heath who helped us out big time! All the photos in this article were taken by him.)
How’s it going Skem?
Hey brother, how are ya?
Good, good. What’s been happening?
There’s been so much going on in life lately.
For those who aren’t familiar with your music, who is Skem?
I’d like to consider myself as an average guy. I want everyone to be able to feel like what they feel is okay. So portraying that in my music and encouraging people to be themselves is a big thing and I just feel like it’s almost therapy for me to be able to make the music that I do and in turn for it to help others. Yeah, that’s the sort of shit I’m trying to do. Help myself and help the world.
Your new single ‘No surprises’ is dropping soon. From what I hear, it’s been a pretty crazy project, how are you feeling about it?
I’m excited to get it into the world. I’ve had it under wraps for a year and a bit now and it’s something I’ve been wanting to put into the world for a minute. It’s one of my first times being a part of the production co-producing and I really just like the whole atmosphere of the track and being a part of the music in general and not just the vocals. That was sick working with Colourd Noyz on that. Me and him worked really well experimenting different sounds and stuff. We’ve just finished off the video with the close homies and it was cool to finally be able to work with my mates on something from the production to the video and photos n’ stuff. It’s cool to make art with people you’re friends with and have them be a part of it. It’s going to be good to get it into the world.
Who or what inspires you?
I automatically just think of my family. My Pa, my Nan, my Mum, my Dad, my Brother and all my friends that are doing things that they want to do. And foremost before all of that, I do this for my friends that I’ve lost that can no longer be here to do what they wanted to do while they were here.
What’s your creative process like?
It varies every time. So sometimes I might start with a thought in my head that then goes to the notes in my phone and then that turns to maybe a second bar. Something that is y’know, in the feel of that. But then other times I’ll go to the studio and we’ll make some music. Like we’ll make a beat and end up writing lyrics in the studio or recording them even off the top of my head like bar for bar until we get the whole song sort of thing. But yeah, it definitely varies a lot from song to song. How we capture the mood and the feeling.
I see a lot of people saying your music has helped them through hardship. How does that make you feel?
That’s a big reason for what’s kept me doing this in times that it’s got hard. Knowing that I’ve helped other people. Yeah, that’s definitely one of the biggest accomplishments in music is knowing that I’ve helped people for sure.
As a kid who grew up in Grafton, what was that transition to the city like?
Yeah definitely a very different take on life. In the city, it’s fast paced and where I’m from it’s very slow and people do things at their own pace. There’s not a lot of work and tends to be a lot of people going down the wrong path n’ stuff. When I come to the city, there’s still all of that stuff as well but there’s a lot more people that are pursuing what they want to pursue creatively which I think inspires me a lot and I need to be around that. Sometimes I miss being around the country and the beach and the things that I grew up around but yeah, you have to make a sacrifice sometimes to get to where you want to be. But the city is definitely yeah… gangster.
Who are some Australian artists that the people should check out?
Isaac Puerile for sure. He’s such a good dude and such a talented and versatile artist. I also wanna say one of my best friends - Thomas James Mahony. Definitely go and check his music out.
I see a lot of food on your instagram stories, what’s your favourite cuisine?
Yeah bro I love food. I’d probably have to say it’d be either Italian, Lebanese or Mexican.
Is there a specific dish?
You can’t go wrong with a good mixed plate from a Lebanese spot. With the pickled chillies and the toum. Either that or maybe even just a good homemade ravioli. Chicken and mushroom ravioli - that’s where it’s at.
What’s some of your favourite food spots in Sydney?
Some institutions I would say… There’s a spot called Seeda Wrap in Bankstown that does crazy Lebanese, shish and all that. That’s mental. And there’s a Mexican spot called Smoking Grongo’s which is hell good for beuria tacos. Another spot… actually I was gonna say Frangos but nah scrap Frangos, I don’t even fuck with them anymore haha. I always have trouble even identifying the places that I go to cause I go to so many different places aye. Pastizzis Cafe is definitely an institution. Go there like pretty late, just get hell pissed, BYO and just eat heaps of good, fresh pasta and pastizzis.
What’s a core childhood memory for you?
Deconstructing party poppers and sparklers and making little fuckin’ fireworks at home. Or water bomb fights, that’s where it’s at.
Fuck yeah, this guys a menace. Skemace the menace!
That sounds like I’m… Bro! That’s so funny that I said that like that’s some hell Sid from Toy Story shit.
What’s your advice for anyone who wants to get into making music?
I think you can make beautiful music even if you’re untrained as long as you be 100% yourself and experiment until you feel comfortable.
What does 2025 look like for you?
I’m not one to speak like this but 2025 will be my biggest year yet and there will be the most music I’ve dropped so hopefully the people will like that. I’ll also be releasing my first EP, playing many more shows and just making more art in general. Also, taking a few more creative endeavours and getting involved in a few more things.
What is one of your biggest achievements so far with your music?
Helping people and having people tell me that I’ve saved their life. And just the fact that I feel like I can pretty much be entirely myself when I make music. But achievement wise - probably being on the spotify A1 artist to watch list in Australia. Yeah, that was huge for me to have. It was crazy to have such a big platform suggest me to the people. That was a crazy feeling. And just being on national radio, fucking psycho. Having my Dad hear that shit while he was driving his car, thats a huge achievement.
Is there any last words you wanna say?
Look out for more of Thomas James Mahony’s music cause we’re gonna be dropping a lot more of that next year in 2025. Forever Jacob Shethar. Forever TJM. Look after your people. Always good talking to you bro.
It was nice talking to you too Skem!
Til’ next time donny haha. I like shit like that in skate mags back in the day aye. How it’s just like “What have you been doing ya loser? I haven’t seen you since fuckin’ you were vomiting in the 7 eleven car park".
Check out SKEM’s latest music video ‘No Surprises’.