Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Make Way for A.GIRL, the Australian Rapper Emerging From Western Sydney's Underground Hip-Hop Scene

22/06/2022

One of the universal qualities of hip-hop is how artists use the genre to express where they come from and the needs, fears, frustrations, and successes they experience along the way. This has set the stage for Australia's A.GIRL-real name Hinenuiterangi Tairua-a 22-year-old rapper who is putting western Sydney on the map.

Over the last two years, she has gained national recognition thanks to her raw style and distinct sing-rap mix that yields attention-grabbing moments of musical brilliance.

On the strength of tracks like We Them Boyz (featuring Jaecy)-her first to be featured on Spotify's flagship A1 hip-hop playlist-A.GIRL has enjoyed a rapid rise. She's won both the Next Big Thing award at the FBi SMAC Awards and triple j's Unearthed competition, which netted her a slot at the dance music festival Listen Out. She's even been tipped as a rising star by U.K. publication Wonderland Mag and was named one to watch by Ticketmaster. Building on this momentum, she's since joined Aussie grime icon Chillinit on his sold-out national tour, has shows coming up with the billion-stream rapper Masked Wolf, and will headline Sydney's Spilt Milk festival in September.

Most recently, Spotify's A1 playlist brought A.GIRL together with Chillinit and another homegrown hip-hop artist, Day1, to launch a limited-edition menu with BUTTER, a hybrid fried chicken, hip-hop, champagne, and sneaker venue. (Fans can indulge in the custom menu's offerings through the end of June at BUTTER's four Sydney locations.) A.GIRL's creation for this menu is the A.GIRL Nashville Sandwich, a spicy fried chicken sandwich with buttermilk ranch, a fried runny egg, and lettuce.

I had a long think about it, and I was like, what is missing from burgers that I always add when I go home? she told For the Record. Like, how do I personalize? The runny egg. I don't know if it's a Maori thing, a Pacific Islander thing, but we always put runny eggs on everything. So I was just like, chicken sandwich with a runny egg-that's a wrap!

NEXT

Photo credit: @dreamsyndicator

Her sandwich isn't the only thing she's personalizing these days-A.GIRL has big dreams to export Aussie rap to the world in her own unique way.

What is unique about the rap and hip-hop scene in Sydney? In Sydney, I think we bring our own culture to hip-hop, but it took a while for us to develop our own culture. We were sheep following America and London for a bit, but we have this whole eshay culture about us; we've got this whole brand that we can stand solid on. And it's taken us a minute to get there. But people like Chillinit, people like A1, people like ONEFOUR, 100%. Australian hip-hop is a full thing now that other people can jump on and be like, oh, I support. I can't get this anywhere else in the world but Australia. It's pretty unique how we've kind of come into our own and then we all kind of did this like 360. But you know what? Our accent is hectic, the way we dress is hectic, our tn's are cool, everything that we've done back in the day and brought back to life, times ten.

Why should people from around the world tune into the music coming out of the area? Because of American hip-hop, we know there's food stamps over in America; we know that there's Section 8 housing; we know all of those like little things from rap culture in different places. I feel like it's time for others to learn about the things that we have to deal with, Centrelink, houses-things that are in Australian culture that Australian people can relate to. But it might take the world a minute to get onto what we're saying.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences? Definitely The Weeknd. Love Him. I'm not sure if I adapt that into my own sound or music, but his demeanor, his presence, how he carries himself as an artist, for sure. Freddie Mercury, weird one, but bro, he's just him. No matter what he does-getting people to sing weird ad-libs back to him? But he's just so undeniable wherever he goes. And I think he had the whole world against him at one point. It must have felt like it, you know? And he was like, f it, you know? And I just love him for being that. Also Doja Cat. Obviously.

How did you find your voice in hip-hop? What role did music play in your upbringing? I think by pushing through the noise and just kind of disregarding everyone, even if they had something good to say about me. I was just like, for now, while I'm trying to find myself in this male-dominated hip-hop realm, I literally only should listen to me. And that's why I did songs like Vision, where I spoke about the differences in areas and area beef.

When I first started coming out as a rapper, I was touching on topics that I felt needed to be addressed. And topics that I feel like other rappers were shying away from. And I know that if I listened to anybody outside of my own brain, I would have just steered left and done some commercial sh*t, and I wouldn't have stuck to what felt true. But it took me a minute to find my voice in hip-hop, because as much as I say that I didn't listen to anybody, I did. You know, I let people get into my head and it was very f hard.

What is your biggest piece of advice to aspiring artists? Stay true to yourself. It's really easy to get caught up in all the high pressure, easy to get caught up in the hype. No one prepares you for when you get to that point. The lights and cameras are in your face. Everybody wants to know your name. Everybody wants to get a picture. Nobody ever really keeps an 100 with you about how overwhelming that can be, about how easy it is to kind of just fall into that trap of pushing everyone that's close out of the way.

So stay true to yourself, remember who your day ones are, reme
LINK: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-06-21/make-way-for-a-girl-the-austra...
See more stories from spotify

More from Spotify

27/03/2024

Paving the Way' for Spotify's NextGen Scholarship Recipients

Spotify is committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups, and that starts with empowering the creators who will shape our industry's future....

26/03/2024

Sube la temperatura con las canciones del verano 2024 en Argentina y Brasil

De diciembre a marzo, cuando los ciudadanos del hemisferio sur disfrutan del verano, la m sica se convierte en una poderosa representaci n de las culturas y cos...

26/03/2024

Aumente o Som com as Msicas do Vero de 2024 da Argentina e do Brasil

De dezembro a mar o, medida que as pessoas em todo o Hemisf rio Sul aproveitam o ver o, a m sica surge frequentemente como uma representa o poderosa das cult...

26/03/2024

Turn Up the Heat With Argentina's and Brazil's 2024 Songs of Summer

From December to March, as people across the Southern Hemisphere soak up the summer, music often emerges as a powerful representation of a region's cultures...

25/03/2024

Spotify Tests Video-Based Learning Courses in the UK

Today we're launching a test for video-based courses on Spotify in the U.K. We've partnered with educational tech companies including BBC Maestro, PLAYv...

21/03/2024

Spotify Celebrates Ramadan With Listening Trends From Around the World

March marks the beginning of Ramadan, a cherished cultural event celebrated by Muslims worldwide. As families and communities come together to observe, contempl...

20/03/2024

Five Artists Reflect on Five Years of Spotify in India, Reaching New Fans, and the True Power' of Music

Since launching in India in 2019, Spotify has opened up opportunities for artist...

19/03/2024

The Biggest Takeaways From Spotify's Annual Music Economics Report

At Spotify, we believe that artists deserve clarity when it comes to the economics of music streaming-that's why we publish data showing our impact on the i...

19/03/2024

As Maiores Concluses do Relatrio Anual de Economia Musical do Spotify

No Spotify, acreditamos que os artistas merecem clareza no que diz respeito economia do streaming de m sica - por isso que publicamos dados que mostram o no...

19/03/2024

Las Conclusiones Ms Importantes Del Informe Anual De Spotify Sobre La Economa Musical

En Spotify, creemos que los artistas merecen claridad cuando se trata de la econ...

19/03/2024

Les points cls du rapport annuel sur l'conomie de la musique de Spotify

Spotify pense que les artistes m ritent de la clart en mati re d' conomie du streaming musical. C'est pourquoi la plateforme publie chaque ann e des do...

18/03/2024

USC Basketball Star Juju Watkins on Fashion, Film, Friendship Bracelets, and More

Listeners turn to Spotify to connect with their favorites-from artists and album...

13/03/2024

Music Videos Rolling Out in Beta to Premium Spotify Users Across Select Markets

In the early neon-infused '80s, music videos burst onto TV screens, turning some of the most beloved songs into visual experiences that redefined the way fa...

12/03/2024

Five Years of Spotify in India: A Look Back at Our Greatest Hits

February marked Spotify's fifth year in India, and since our debut, we've focused on lifting up the country's creator community, localizing content ...

08/03/2024

On International Women's Day, Spotify Celebrates the Impact of Three Years of EQUAL

Spotify is dedicated to fostering gender equity in the music industry and beyond...

07/03/2024

Spotify ajustera ses prix en France prochainement

Prochainement, nos abonn s Spotify Premium en France subiront une augmentation de prix en raison de co ts suppl mentaires sur les services de streaming musica...

07/03/2024

Spotify To Adjust Its Prices Over New Tax in France

Spotify Premium subscribers in France will soon experience a price increase due to additional costs on music streaming services imposed by the government, as pa...

07/03/2024

La Tierra de Texas' Celebrates the Tejano Legacy of Msica Mexicana at the Houston Rodeo

On February 26, 1995, Selena walked into the middle of the Astrodome as the head...

04/03/2024

The European Commission Confirms, Apple's Anti-Competitive Behavior Is Illegal and Harms Consumers

Today's decision marks an important moment in the fight for a more open inte...

04/03/2024

Los artistas colombianos, una fuerza imparable en la escena msical global

Desde los movimientos magn ticos de Shakira, pasando por el electrizante rock en espa ol de Juanes y hasta la vibrante fusi n de pop y vallenato de Carlos Vives...

04/03/2024

Colombian Artists Prove To Be an Unstoppable Force on the Global Music Scene

From Shakira s magnetic moves to Juanes s electrifying Spanish rock and Carlos Vives s vibrant blend of pop and vallenato, Colombian music resonates globally. U...

01/03/2024

Spotify's New Audiobooks Access Tier Gives Booklovers More Listening Options

Spotify is continuously innovating to provide the best possible offering for every kind of audio fan. Since launching Audiobooks in Premium, we've seen a 45...

01/03/2024

A Letter to the European Commission on Apple's Lack of DMA Compliance

Ahead of the European Union's DMA implementation deadline next week, Spotify and many EU companies sent the following letter to the European Commission toda...

29/02/2024

Spotify's Song Psychic Is Ready To Answer Your Burning Questions

Life's full of little mysteries, and sometimes the most fun way to tackle them is with a bit of cosmic guidance. Spotify is ready to take you on a journey o...

27/02/2024

Creators Kevin Norman and Hina Talk Romance Fiction, Audiobooks, and Finding Community Online

Be it a steamy contemporary novel, a charming historical romp, or fantasy with a...

23/02/2024

7 Great Audiobooks That Inspired 2024's Most Nominated Films

Sometimes a story is too good to only exist as a book, which has inspired countless directors to turn must-read novels into feature-length films. And quite ofte...

21/02/2024

Introducing AUX, Spotify's First-of-Its-Kind Music Consultancy for Brands

With a music editorial team and recommendations that have created the most vibrant streaming ecosystem in the industry, Spotify is where more than 600 million f...

17/02/2024

Start a Jam With an Assist From Your Favorite FC Barcelona Player

In September we unveiled Jam, giving music fans a new, personalized way to listen with friends and family. This collaborative experience lets Premium subscriber...

15/02/2024

Reggaetn Mexa, the Homegrown Genre Taking Over Mexico

Reggaet n music has already captivated listeners around the world, but in Mexico the genre reigns supreme. In fact, on Spotify, Mexico listens to reggaet n more...

15/02/2024

Spotify CLASSICS: 30 Classic Hip-Hop and R&B Albums From the Streaming Era

Streaming has transformed not only the way fans listen to music, but also the way artists release music to the world. And while music has become a more song-dri...

15/02/2024

Reggaetn Mexa, el gnero que est arrasando en Mxico

El reggaet n ha conquistado a oyentes de todo el mundo, pero en M xico el g nero reina. De hecho, M xico escucha reggaet n m s que cualquier otro pa s en Spotif...

12/02/2024

Nick Viall Dishes on Relationships, His Podcast, and How He Discovers New Music on Spotify

We love helping listeners discover new music on Spotify, and when it comes to fe...

12/02/2024

RADAR US Is Back With the Raw and Unfiltered Raps of Sexyy Red

RADAR was launched in 2020 to support artists and creators as they chart their paths to superstardom, and it has since become the global home for what's nex...

08/02/2024

Writer Diablo Cody and Filmmaker Zelda Williams Talk the Tunes That Help Score Lisa Frankenstein'

The '80s. A teenage crush. High school drama. And, of course, a corpse. Mayb...

07/02/2024

7 Colombian Podcasters Breaking Through in 2024

Spotify is home to more than 5 million podcasts. From impactful life stories to tips for conquering the world, the medium gives fans countless hours of content ...

07/02/2024

Siete podcasters colombianos que la van a romper en 2024

Spotify es el hogar de m s de 5 millones de p dcast. Desde historias de vida impactantes hasta consejos para conquistar el mundo, el medio ofrece a los fans inc...

06/02/2024

Celebrate a Decade of Our K-Pop ON! () Playlist With a Special Series of Spotify Singles

The global success of K-Pop has opened the eyes and ears of music fans around th...

06/02/2024

Spotify Reports Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings

Today, we announced our fourth quarter 2023 performance. The business delivered strong results in Q4, as all of our KPIs met or exceeded guidance. With revenue ...

06/02/2024

Spotify rapporterar intkter fr fjrde kvartalet 2023

Idag publicerar Spotify sina finansiella resultat f r fj rde kvartalet 2023. Verksamheten levererade starka resultat under det fj rde kvartalet, och samtliga a...

02/02/2024

Watch ELLE Magazine's Exclusive Livestream of the 2024 Spotify Best New Artist Party Here

Our eighth annual celebration of the year's Best New Artist nominees has arr...

02/02/2024

The Art of Podcasting with Joe Rogan and His New Multiyear Spotify Partnership

The Joe Rogan Experience debuted in 2009, has been a Spotify exclusive since 2020, and we're just getting started. Today we announced our new multiyear part...

31/01/2024

Raise Your Snapchat Game With Spotify's New Snapchat Sharing Lens

Whether it's your signature song or a new single you can't stop playing on repeat, the music you love to listen to is a part of who you are. And we know...

31/01/2024

Actor Noah LaLonde Talks Top Books and Bringing My Life with the Walter Boys' from Page to Screen

You may recognize Noah LaLonde from his role as Cole Walter in Netflix's new...

31/01/2024

Best New Artist 2024: Everything You Need To Know About This Year's Nominees

Over the last eight years, Spotify has honored the top rising stars in the music world with an annual celebration recognizing their accomplishments in landing a...

26/01/2024

Apple's Proposed Changes Reject the Goals of the DMA

For almost five years - 1,782 days - we have been asking the European Commission to take action against Apple. In a world that values competition and innovation...

24/01/2024

The DMA Means a Better Spotify for Artists, Creators, and You

What's one of the top complaints about Spotify? It's actually something that until now has been outside of our control: the ability to seamlessly subscr...

17/01/2024

Spotify Helps Kick Off the Americas Kings League Santander as the Official Audio Partner

Spotify is ready to amp up the fun on and off the pitch as the official audio pa...

17/01/2024

Spotify se suma a la inauguracin de la Amricas Kings League Santander como partner de audio oficial

Spotify est listo para aumentar la diversi n dentro y fuera de la cancha como p...

15/01/2024

New Year, New You: Audiobook Picks To Help You Start 2024 on the Right Foot

Whether it's New Year's resolutions or a post-holiday reset, there's always extra motivation to adopt a few healthy habits each January. But sometim...

15/01/2024

Beauty and Fashion Creator Meredith Duxbury Dishes On the Music That's Been Dominating Her Playlists

Photo credit: Jared Kocka We love helping listeners discover new music on Spotif...