N’fa in a Good Cause
The West Australian
4th August 2006, 16:00 WST



N’fa is his own man. As the frontman for 1200 Techniques, the Perth-born-and-raised MC helped pave the way for the commercial success of Australian hip-hop, which has grown exponentially in recent years.

But his new solo offering, Cause N’ Effect, has scant similarities to anything else in the genre.

While not completely removed from the party-tunes vibe of 1200 Techniques — who N’fa says are not broken up, just on a hiatus — the debut disc has a more mature, introspective feel.

Cause N’ Effect’s eclectic style may not quench the thirst of all “1200” fans but appears to have been well received by the Australian public so far, with the title track getting solid airplay on radio and TV.

The artist formerly known as N’famas says he wanted his debut solo EP to be just like him — unique.

“I really wanted to do something that was a bit removed from my work with 1200 Techniques — I just wanted to challenge myself to grow a bit in my music and take a new direction,” N’fa explains.

“It was hard in a way knowing that ‘1200’ fans might have been expecting something similar from me and that they might not necessarily like my new stuff but that is just part of the process of moving forward as an artist.

“I really feel like I’ve done something that sounds very fresh.”

Although groups like Def Wish Cast and the AKA Brothers are regarded as the pioneers of Oz hip-hop, 1200 Techniques was the first Australian group to conquer the mainstream with head-nodding hits like Karma and Fork in the Road.

After releasing two successful albums, Choose One and Consistency Theory, the group decided to pursue individual avenues in music.

N’fa says the solo experience, though daunting, had allowed him to open up more. “Before there were three different points of view and it’s a matter of speaking for all three, whereas this is dwelling in my own train of thought,” he says. “I generally try and write songs that are quite righteous and uplifting yet I also know nobody’s perfect, especially myself.

“A song like my second single, Seduction of Evil, shows that I have my own vices, my own problems and challenges, which contrasts with some of the more lighter spirited songs on the album.

“I really felt with this album that I had to look deeper into myself and question myself and my sound a bit and that’s what I felt I’ve done in this project — found a new level of self.”

N’fa has also tried to encourage others to find a new understanding of themselves through Cause N’ Effect.

There is a distinct socialpolitical edge to the album and the MC said he wanted the lyrics to resonate with his audience, in particular people who doubted their own abilities.

“A lot of what I wrote about is overcoming adversity,” he says. “But adversity is not always an external force. A lot of people hold themselves back in life and it’s that element of standing up, even against themselves, to find their own strength and believe in themselves, as well as standing up against injustices in life.”

N’fa’s first two film clips — Cause N’ Effect and Seduction of Evil — reunited him with fellow Perth native and now Hollywood superstar Heath Ledger, who directed the videos.

The pair have known each other since kindergarten — “We had matching Afro hairstyles” — and kept in touch after completing high school together at Guildford Grammar School.

“Heath has always been really supportive of my work so when he rang with some ideas for clips I jumped at the chance to work with him,” N’fa explains.

N’fa has lived in Melbourne since he was 17 but still calls Perth home and is excited by the prospect of returning to the west coast and his family during his national tour next month.

“Perth is a great place and my experiences there form a lot of what my music is all about.”

N’fa joins DJ Peril and Suburban Intellect, plus guest DJs, at the Norfolk Basement on September 1 and the Manor, Leederville, on September 2. Tickets go on sale today from the usual outlets and www.heatseeker.com.au.


Ronan O'Connell