Defron Haiku (Poor Lil Humpty) Interview

Defron Announces First Single Off His New Album 'Haiku (Poor Lil' Humpty)' Out Now

Returning with his third-single of 2018, veteran Melbourne-based hip-hop artist, rapper and poet Defron delivers us the first single of his debut mixtape 'Maybe You'll Be Famous When You're Dead' titled 'Haiku (Poor Little Humpty)' set for release October 12th. 'Haiku' follows on from the successful releases of 'Reign Cheque' prod. Sinks in August and 'Sacre Coeur' prod. Kwasi that was released in September and saw spins on both Triple J Unearthed and Triple J, whilst also receiving 4-star reviews from 4 Triple J presenters on his Unearthed account.

'Haiku' has been taken from Defron's mixtape 'Maybe You'll Be Famous When You're Dead' that covers the minutiae of his struggle with anxiety and depression. Filled with his story of physical health setbacks including his battle with cancer and his ongoing hearing condition that has seen him in and out of hospital since he was 5.

Produced by Entelechy, 'Haiku (Poor Little Humpty)' brings an anthemic hip-hop piece that comes with a mid-track switch-up transitioning from a rising epic story-telling track into a synth filled drop. Filled with icy lyricism and Defron's quick witted bars 'Haiku (Poor Little Humpty)' boasts a lengthy 5-minute duration.

With another single set for release from his mixtape in the coming weeks, Defron is definitely an artist that you should keep on your radar.

Interview with Defron

Question: What inspired the track Haiku (Poor Lil Humpty)?

Defron: Simply put the producer and my good friend Entelechy. We met back in 2013 working at a cinema. He caught wind that I rapped and I heard he was a bit of a bedroom producer. We played around with the idea of working together around 2014-2015 and after my debut EP dropped I told him about this idea I had for what would become the mixtape and he started sending me these batches of beats. Like 15-20 every month. I would write to them on and off but then it got to the point where I was like, "Okay, I need to knuckle down and get this thing done." So I started regularly writing every week to what he'd send through. And like all producers, Ent had all these funky names for his sketches and loops. The working title of the beat which became Haiku was "hiku124". When I'm writing I'll usually go off the mood or the title of the sample for inspiration. I was on a road-trip bumping the beats and "Hiku124" came on and I was just vibing it and started scatting and chanting "Haiku". The energy was high and fast so that hinted at the form of the joint, on that anthem hype tip and I just came up with the idea that "I'm nice with the words but I'm all about the numbers" like a Haiku, which is defined by its number of syllables in each line 7-5-7. Then the "Poor Lil' Humpty" section was again me reacting to the canvass. The working title was "King" which was also a vocal sample in the beat, and I just reacted to that concept by riffing and using Humpty Dumpty as an example of a king who's a fool. So it was a song literally born of the craft, while exploring the themes of money, success and fame, which are all prevalent throughout the Maybe You'll Be Famous When You're Dead mixtape.


Question: What should we expect from Maybe You'll Be Famous When You're Dead?

Defron: This tape is a real game-changer for me. Those who are familiar with my work are in for a pleasant surprise on this project as I really made a conscious effort to step outside my comfort zone artistically, experimenting with different songwriting forms as well as effects and sonic choices. And the entire mood of the project is a dark and brooding one as it's quite a sophisticated concept. The mixtape gets its name from a line in Charles Bukowski's novel Factotum. Factotum is how you describe someone who cycles through working menial jobs to survive, and that's how I have felt during a lot of my tenure as an independent artist. And the book sees Bukowski occupying the role of the fictionalised version of himself Henry Chinaski, and that's what I've done throughout the tape with my alter-ego Donald Duckets. He's the version of me who dwells in anxiety and depression and doesn't try to fix his situation. Then the aesthetic of the artwork and the music is this dusty futurism which has the cinematic aura of neo-noir films like Blade Runner, Drive and Inside Llewyn Davis. With this tape I'm taking listeners on a cinematic journey through my depressed psyche.


Question: What message do you have for others suffering from a mental illness?

Defron: It's a message that I myself need to hear - and often: you are the hero and villain of your story. Recognise that as much as you can antagonise and demonise yourself, so too can you recognise you are the saviour and prophet of your story. It always comes down to a choice. If you don't like something - choose to change it. If you're afraid of the choice or the change, then you need to take those small steps into becoming the hero, rather than defaulting to the villain. One of my biggest lessons this year has been to remind myself of not suffering from my fatal flaw of thinking the journey will end or that being your own hero is finite. Some days are bad, and the bad days will never stop. If you trick yourself into thinking they will come to an end, it makes them sting so much more when they come around. Late last year I thought I had solved my anxiety and depression once and for all by committing to health and fitness. Then the week of recording for the tape I was diagnosed with Bornholme disease (a viral infection) and without exercise I was right back in the middle of fighting my demons. But my mis-step was thinking I could slay this dragon once and for all. And the way I break it down is this: your one job is to keep your story rolling. On the days where you're antagonising yourself, recongise that you're still driving the plot forward, it's up to you to keep letting the hero step back up and keep fighting forward.

Question: How would you describe your music?

Defron: Dusty future rap. I'm definitely a lyricist at heart. You can hear the influence of Skyzoo, Jay-Z, Black Thought, Redman. But lately I feel like I've really evolved my music into more than just another rapper rapping a bunch of words. I've spent a lot of time trying not to be pigeon as a hip-hop purist or dinosaur, because my tastes as a listener are eclectic and diverse. So on this tape specifically you hear an artist who is developing and moulding his sound, and moving forward I'm going to continue to lean into my soulful/jazzy/lo-fi instincts, while still wrapping it in a forward thinking and modern aesthetic. I'm a rapper who loves to flex his pen and loves soulful samples but I'm also hell-bent on pushing my sound forward.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Defron: I'm still working on my set-list ahead of returning extensively to the gigging circuit next year, but one tune I KNOW will go off live is Plot is Missing. It's got a slamming hook and a dark and eery beat with rattling drums. I'm going to spend a lot of time honing the new live show and that's definitely going to be the BANGER.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Defron: Bit random, as he's not a musician, but Kevin Smith. He's one of my biggest heroes and inspirations as a creative person. The beginning of his career, how he made Clerks, and how he's essentially reinvented himself now whilst owning who he is and doing all the things that I aspire to do: write for TV, film and comics. I'd love to have him see me live cos I reckon he'd get my message and he'd appreciate all my conceptual comic book and movie references in all my songs. Also just to thank him for the constant inspiration by turning up, too!


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Defron: I have a real love/hate relationship with both but working so hard on this tape I've actually found my groove in the studio, now that I have my home set- up sorted. For a long time recording had a tonne of pressure and expectations attached to it, but when you're self-sustainable and not reliant on others, it's such a pure, magical and fun experience to just create without agenda or scrutiny. I've been grinding on this tape, the release and the live-set and I'm really keen to hit the home stu and keep working on the next phase. That being said, I've taken somewhat of a sabbatical from performing, after years of playing gigs super regularly, so I'm looking forward to really tailoring and smashing my set for some live shows.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?
Defron: I'm inspired by other art constantly. My studio is also my study and it's covered with comic-book and movie posters as well as my comic-book and memorabilia collection. And when I'm writing I really like throwing a movie on, chucking the subtitles on, and have it playing in the background as an ambiance and mood lifter. That way when I'm creating I'm constantly soaking up the art and expression that entertains and inspires me. Sometimes when writing I'll just pick up an issue of my favourite comic or read over the blurb of a DVD or just look at the art and it takes me to this pure nostalgic place where I create because I'm a kid in play.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Defron: I constantly have Skyzoo, Doppelgangaz, Curren$y and Ivan Ave on rotation. This year has been ridiculous for the quality and quantity of releases, and I'm obsessed with Children of Zeus, a hip-hop crew from the UK, as well as Christine and the Queens, a French art-pop act. For the last few weeks I've been bumping a lot of Mac Miller. I slept on his releases for years, then when I heard of his untimely passing I wanted to give his catalogue another crack and it all clicked. He honestly felt like a kindred spirit both as a person and an artist and I'm so heartbroken that we lost him, doubly so because I didn't appreciate him while he was still with us. RIP Miller x


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Defron: As cliche as it sounds, it was when I saw 8 Mile as a teenager. I struggled with bullying my entire adolescent life and I was getting into hip-hop heavy when the film came round so it spoke to me on both those levels. I saw it 4 or 5 times in the cinema. It filled me with this drive and fury to stand in front of anybody who told me I can't do something and prove them wrong. It also inspired me to get into freestyle and battle-rapping which was my induction into making music.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Defron: International, definitely Skyzoo. He's word for word, the finest hip-hop lyricist breathing, IMO, his poetic style and artistic vision have hugely influenced and inspired me, and it would be insane if I could jump on a track with him. Nationally speaking, even though he's based in NY at the moment, Dialect is at the top of my list. I've been a fan since I saw him support Mystro at Laundry Bar in Melbourne back in 08 and he's a real role model in terms of what I want to achieve as a hip-hop artist. I've been meaning to hit him up actually, so thanks for reminding me that that's on the to-do list, (laughs)!


Interview by Brooke Hunter