Fdel

“…phattest beats in the Southern Hemisphere” – Fort Knox 5

Hailing from Perth, Western Australia Kaz Hamilton (AKA Fdel) has been refining his beat-making skills since the age of 14.

He smashed onto the local scene in 2003 producing the National hit El Questro for Australian Hip Hop royalty Downsyde.

In 2005 Fdel released his debut album Audiofdelity on Invada Records run by Katalyst (BBE) and Geoff Barrow (Portishead) to rave reviews and critical acclaim. It was to become a 'must have' record for all DJs and lovers of funky beats and fun loving hip-hop grooves.

The album can best be described as finely chopped soul. Funk hip hop, Disco and Jazz collaged together and washed down with a cocktail on beautiful summer’s day! It’ll take you on a journey back to basics. A jazzy sample chopped drum break and filtered baseline, the raw elements of feel good hip hop production. It’s both a fun and sophisticated record that oozes class and makes even the harshest critic want to put their dancing shoes on and cut a rug! Add to that the vocal dexterity of Lightheaded, Surreal from the Sound Providers and the amazing soul styling of Kylie Audilst and you have a fine and well-rounded album.

Audiofdelity was released worldwide in 2006 through Freestyle records and, with some airplay from BBC Radio One, wound up being one of Freestyles best selling releases in years. A-Skillz (Fingerlickin' Records) liked it so much he licensed two tracks for his mix CD Export 02. Tracks were featured on the European Nuhiphop compilation alongside hip hop heavyweights such as Pete Rock, J-Dilla, RZA and Madlib just to name a few.

The singles Ladies and Gentlemen and Rocksteady from the Audiofdelity record gained high rotation on Australia’s biggest radio station, Triple J. Tunes were used on TV Fashion Adverts. On holiday TV shows and was on the soundtrack for Australia’s number one TV mini-series Underbelly.

To top 2006 off as a pretty amazing year for Fdel, he took out Best Live Act at the Perth Dance Music Awards.

Fdel spent five years touring constantly, playing to packed shows nationwide and rocking festivals such as Good Vibrations, Big Day Out, SummerDayze, Future Music Festival, Southbound and Parklife. Opening for the likes of DJ Shadow, De La Soul, People Under The Stairs, Jurassic 5, RJD2, Crystal Method and almost anyone you can name both with his award winning live 5 piece band or as a formidable DJ force.

After joining the Japan 4 crew on a regular basis and fitting in like Flynn, Fdel was quick to be welcomed as an official Boomtick resident.

“The perfect blue-print for how Australian hip-hop production should sound...” - Scene

“A damn fine album of beats, breaks and slammin’ party funk...” – Onion

“A smooth funked-up hip hop set...” – Rolling Stone

“Straight party music of a consistent calibre from a genuinely skilled producer...” - Rave

“Grandiose, ballsy and a helluva lot of fun a must for any hip hop head...” - Xpress

Fdel's website.