Diving Deep and Getting Real with Boffa

The Deeper You Dive, The Realer It Gets explores the highs and lows of your music career—the friendships gained and lost—over the past few years. Tell us more about how the whole album came into being, including the collaborations you made in the making of this release.

This album really all came together organically. There was no time frame and no specific way I wanted it to feel, meaning you get the whole range of emotions from myself in it. 

The album title ‘The Deeper You Dive, The Realer It Gets’ didn’t come until all the music had been finished. If you listen start to finish, I hope to take the listener on a journey, starting with heavy hitting lyrics and beats before getting into the more important and personal issues. So keep diving, it gets realer the deeper you go. There’s something in there for everyone.

There are a few notable collaborations on this album. Starting with the producers, I linked up with two local cats of whom I’ve wanted to work with for a minute, Lariken and Aside-45. Both amazing at what they do so salute to them both.

There’s only one feature verse you hear which comes from Milz. That’s my dude ya know, so having him bless the joint over an old school Aside-45 slapper and be part of the album just makes it mean that much more. He's been riding since day dot.

Among the 11 tracks in this album, which one is the deepest and realist, in terms of reflecting your emotions at the moment?

Inside My Head, that’s without a doubt. The way I was feeling at the time of writing it, I was just everywhere but a good place. Angry, lost, broken, doubting everything and everyone whilst all at the same time keeping myself grounded and knowing imma pull through. You really hear my emotions come through on that one.

What valuable lessons did you learn after going through the rejections you described from your songs?

Nobody owes you shit! But that’s just in life in general. People love when you cheer them on, they’ll also cheer you on but then become their competition, it changes. Also to keep working, HEAD DOWN - WORK! It’s on you.

The number of emerging Australian Hip-Hop artists are exponentially growing. What do you think is your edge among all the other rising artists?

I’m in my own lane when it comes to Hip Hop here in Australia. I’m bringing back the depth of Hip hop with my cadence, melodies, wordplay and storytelling. 

Everybody’s trying to be the next rapper who already has a name for themself, basically biting their style and not trying to create their own lane. I have. Whether it’s a boombap instrumental from the 90’s, or a trap beat from the modern era, I’ll always find a way to bring all of the elements of Hip hop to it. 

Nobody’s bringing the same live show that we do, our selling point IS our live game, it’s what we’re known for. Ask anybody, we pride ourselves in it. Me and Milz once we’re on, we’re on.

You said that the pandemic has initially slowed down your momentum. What advice can you give to fellow artists who are struggling to work during this season?

Pick your phone up and collab! Even if you’re stuck at home there are like minded people out there that can get them creative juices flowing if you’re stuck. Not having shows makes it hard to do it all behind a screen with no face to face interaction from the scene. Fuck a screen! That’s demotivating as fuck. But also don’t force it, it’ll come.

You have previously performed in various shows, especially in Adelaide. What do you miss the most about performing live before an audience?

EVERYTHING. Their screams, their reactions but mostly nothing else matters when I’m up there. I leave it all on the stage, every last drop. There’s nothing I love most than grabbing that mic and tearing down the place!! Especially next to the most energetic hype-man, Milz! Give us a 20ft ceiling joint, that roof is still getting raised!

After this album release, you will also be releasing two singles. What does the rest of the year have in store for you?

Well first off we need to celebrate this album with an epic album launch, it’s important for us to. But before then we still have a few more music videos to drop. But new music wise? We’ll see. I’m currently working on a few jams and got more in the bank. I’ll be looking to collaborate with different types of artists moving forward. I’d love to rock a music festival too, I know we’d kill it, that’s definitely a goal.