You mightn't know the name of the latest contender in Australian hip hop, El' Jistos, but if you're from the Blue Mountains it's entirely possible you've heard him honing his craft before.
"You have most likely seen or heard me rapping to myself on the train on more than one occasion," said the 21-year-old former Wentworth Falls resident ahead of the release of his debut album, Try Explain That to A Four Year Old, next Saturday, October 24.
El' Jistos (real name Julz Larsen) joins a long list of successful hip hop and electronica artists who got their start in the Blue Mountains. Before going solo, he supported some of these now internationally successfully acts including Thundamentals and Hermitude with his local crew, A Blank Canvas. The former Winmalee High School student said it is no coincidence the Mountains has produced such an artistically rich music scene.
"As more and more talented creatives consistently emerge from the Mountains, it shows clearly that there is something in the atmosphere. I think it has to do with the unique micro culture," he said.
"Having positive role models is important, and knowing that they grew up walking the same streets as you, is extremely encouraging. It makes your dream feel much more tangible."
That dream will take a major leap forward when El' Jistos launches his debut album at the Baroque Room in Katoomba on October 24 (there will be a separate Sydney launch this Saturday).
Teaming up with producer Illumes, the album is already making waves with its first single, In A Can. The accompanying music video takes a humorous stab at the extremely braggadocio and over-the-top scenes almost expected in hip hop videos. Instead, El' Jistos has replaced these tropes with babies, fatherhood, family responsibility, and humility.
"The reaction has been phenomenal, I expected to hear some negative feedback because I went against the grain but I have had nothing but positive words," he told the Gazette.
El' Jistos started playing piano at six after seeing the Sting concert documentary, Bring On The Night, where the piano playing of American Kenny Kirkland captured his imagination.
"I used to compose all sorts of songs on the piano with lyrics and melody, and just wrote poems on the side. I became focused on hip hop much later and only began writing raps in 2009. It just felt right to me and that's when I started taking it seriously," he said.
One of the high points of his hip hop career so far was joining the stage with other born and bred Mountains artists for a major bushfire benefit concert at Katoomba RSL in December 2013.
"Performing at the bushfire benefit felt very rewarding; our crew [A Blank Canvas] had many friends who were affected by the fires so when the opportunity came through to help out we felt honoured and humbled," he said.
"The thing that stood out for me was the energy - everyone was on the same train so to speak, working towards a common goal."
It's motivations like this that made returning to Katoomba for his debut album launch an easy decision.
"I am now based in Marrickville but the Mountains will always feel like home," he said.
For more details: bit.ly/ElJistosMusic, eljistos.bandcamp.com or Facebook, facebook.com/eljistos.
