Shane
2018 marks a Decade of the Thundakat, and homegrown hip-hop trio Thundamentalsare celebrating their 10-year career by creating more infectious, instantly memorable music.
Premiering their succinctly-titled new single ‘I Miss You’on triple j. Co-produced with Sydney multi-instrumentalist Carl Dimataga (Khalid), it’s a chance for the group to discuss friendships that have dissolved over time, and the role that social media has played in creating a false sense of connection.
“You lose touch with reality if you’re just looking at social media”, Jeswon says. “I feel like it’s great to stay connected in the superficial sense and see what your friends are doing, but it’s also kind of toxic. You forget that everyone is going through the ups and the downs. All you’re seeing is the ups”.
‘I Miss You’ is a poignant reflection on the fractured state of personal relationships in 2018. With playful piano keys bouncing throughout, the lyrics reference past mates with a hint of nostalgic regret; leaving the listener with a powerful, bittersweet tang. Alongside rap-driven verses, clapping beats and gospel-esque chants build into the cathartic hook; “I miss you”, Tuka sings with melodic directness. “What happened to all of my friends?” It’s a lament that’s sure to resonate with an Instagram-obsessed generation; one that’s more connected than ever digitally, but ultimately alone.
Jeswon says that he hopes the track will inspire listeners to rekindle those real-life connections that have fallen to the wayside. “I’m more trying to engage in actual real life, as uncool as that is. I find that within my own social circles, I’m physically seeing my friends less and less”, he says. “I’m addicted to my phone like everyone is… It’s a proclamation: I miss you”.
‘I Miss You’ is evidence of Thundamentals’ unique ability to craft emotive, relatable songs that stay true to their hallmarks, while also moving beyond the stereotypical sounds of their genre. It’s an approach that Thundamentals will build upon on their forthcoming fifth album, set to be released very soon. “We’re known for like boom bap hip-hop, and for me, ‘I Miss You’ was a good way to retain our sound”, Tuka says. “A lot of our songs are upbeat and quite playful, but I wanted to really move into a more experimental R&B aesthetic for the rest of the record, and this is really a bridge”.
The single artwork was created by Luke Eblen (A$AP Ferg, What So Not) and features a Polaroid photo of the piano that was played in the song, along with ‘I Miss You’ written by the group in paint. The image sits amicably alongside the themes of the song; a yearning for something physical, tangible and tactile.
With 10 years under their belts, Thundamentals are now moving with more momentum than ever, and a fiery longevity rarely seen in Australian music. Their immense popularity led to 2017’s Everything We Know hitting Number 2 on the ARIA charts, while the group also have three Gold singles in Australia (including ‘Sally’ landing at #8 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 2018) and over 37 million streams worldwide. Thundamentals recently wrapped up a 36-date, sold-out tour of regional Australia, proving that their electric live show can thrill audiences in all corners of the country. We might already be halfway through the year, but the Decade of the Thundakat will see Thundamentals reach unprecedented heights in 2018.
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