TZU
TZU (Joelistics, left, and Seed MC, right) performing at Big Day Out, Melbourne, 2006
TZU (Joelistics, left, and Seed MC, right) performing at Big Day Out, Melbourne, 2006
Background information
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresAustralian hip hop
Years active1999 (1999)–2013 (2013)
LabelsLiberation
Past members
  • Joel Ma p.k.a. Joelistics
  • Corey McGregor p.k.a. Yeroc
  • Phillip Norman p.k.a. Seed MC or Countbounce
  • Shehab Tariq p.k.a. Paso Bionic
  • Dustin p.k.a. Duzy What
Websitewww.tzu.com.au

TZU (pronounced "Tee Zed Yoo") were an Australian hip hop group, formed in 1999 by Joelistics, Yeroc, Seed MC and Paso Bionic. They used instruments in live performances, giving their shows a rock-infused feeling.[1] Duzy What joined in 2005. TZU released four studio albums, Position Correction (2004), Smiling at Strangers (2005), Computer Love (2008, which peaked in the ARIA Charts top 30) and Millions of Moments (2012), before disbanding in 2013.

History

TZU were formed as an Australian hip hop band in 1999 in Melbourne, initially as a side project, by Joel Ma p.k.a. Joelistics on vocals, guitar and bass guitar; Corey McGregor p.k.a. Yeroc on drums and samplers; Phillip Norman p.k.a. Seed MC or Countbounce on vocals, guitar and bass guitar (ex-Pan); Shehab Tariq p.k.a. Paso Bionic (ex-Curse ov Dialect).[2] Pan were a "drum-and-bass/funk/reggae mash-up" band, while Curse ov Dialect were an "oddball experimental hip hop group with a penchant for throwing meat at the audience."[2]

According to Joelistics, the group's name is taken from the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu,[3] which was suggested by Lee Hartney of the Smith Street Band. Styled as TZU and originally pronounced "Tzu" its pronunciation was changed to "Tee Zed You" to add an "element of mystery."[3] Their debut seven-track extended play (EP), um... just a liddlbidova mic check (2001), was recorded in a portable studio, "in the back of a truck," parked near Hobart.[2][4][5] Local Noise's Tony Mitchell described it as "tentative."[5] After the EP's appearance they were signed to Liberation Music.[2]

TZU's debut album, Position Correction, appeared on 19 February 2004 and was co-produced by Seed and Yeroc,[5] which peaked just outside the ARIA Charts top 100 in March.[6] Greg Lawrence of WHAMMO described how the quartet, "[are] a bunch of true technicians who successfully transmit their love for beats and lyrics. The double-pronged vocal attack is more exact than the scalpel of a master surgeon, the subterranean bass growls and snappy beats are premium."[7] Mitchell felt, "[it] covers a wide range of moods, styles and tempos, and represents another new direction in Australian hip-hop coming from an idiosyncratic Melbourne push which is making an important impact on local indigenisations of the genre."[5]

In 2005 keyboard player, Duzy What[8] was added to the group's line-up. TZU issued their second studio album, Smiling at Strangers, which was produced by Magoo (Regurgitator, Butterfingers).[9] It reached the ARIA Albums Chart top 100 in late September.[6] Mitchell noticed, "[they] can successfully combine rock and hip hop... through a desire to experiment with and stretch the often restrictive parameters of MCing and Djing."[9] Simon Jones of Soulshine compared it to their debut album, "[they] have taken a more instrument-based approach in the studio, leaving behind the beats and samples of their debut Position Correction and replacing them with guitars, piano, drums and the occasional horn line."[10] In February 2006 the album was short-listed for the inaugural Australian Music Prize for releases in 2005.[11][12]

In February-March 2006, they won Yahoo! Music's "Who's Next" monthly music public-voted poll.[13][14] In November of that year they re-released Smiling at Strangers as a limited edition 2×CD, Snarling at Strangers, with the addition of a second five-track disc, Snarl, and three music videos.[15][16] The additional, previously unreleased tracks were described by Tristan of There Is no Roseability as, "a harsh critique of current politics/society. It's not as militaristic or angry as The Herd's material, but it's harsh nonetheless. It still has the genius wit and timelessness of Australian hip-hop."[17]

In 2008, the band released their third studio album, Computer Love. Rolling Stone Australia said "Melbourne group TZU just can't stop upping the ante ... They meld classic eighties electro with the more traditional funk keeping the emphasis on authenticity and class throughout." Inpress said "Computer Love is full of old school synth's, masterful sampling and live instrumentation - a maverick in its field and release that will set a new standard for the Australian music landscape."

Richard Kingsmill, Musical Director of Australian radio station Triple J, stated in regard to the band's 2008 J Award nomination for Computer Love, "They open their album saying "TZU still feelin' awesome". I couldn't agree more. They keep growing as an act and expanding on their influences. This album has so much life and they're doing all this themselves. No mentors, producers or anyone getting in the way. Pure talent."[18]

In 2012, after a period of inactivity for the band, TZU released their fourth and final album Millions of Moments.[19] To promote the album, they went on tour. Subsequently, Joelistics pursued a solo career and Count Bounce became a producer.[20]

Members

Credits:[8]

  • Joel Ma p.k.a. Joelistics – vocals, guitar, bass guitar
  • Corey McGregor p.k.a. Yeroc – drums, samplers
  • Phillip Norman p.k.a. Seed MC or Countbounce – vocals, guitar, bass guitar
  • Shehab Tariq p.k.a. Paso Bionic – turntables
  • Dustin p.k.a. Duzy What – keyboards

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[21]
Position Correction —
Smiling at Strangers
  • Released: September 2005
  • Label: Liberation Music (LIBCD7176.2)
  • Format: CD, CD+CD-ROM
 71
Computer Love
  • Released: June 2008
  • Label: Liberation Music (LMCD0012)
  • Format: CD, CD+CD-ROM
 23
Millions of Moments 57

Remix albums

List of remix albums, with selected details
Title Details
Cover Up Motel

Extended plays

List of extended plays
Title Details
um... just a liddlbidova mic check
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Tzu
  • Format: CD
The Position Selection
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Liberation Music
  • Format: LP

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[21]
"The Horse You Rode in On" 2003 — Position Correction
"Dam Busters" —
"Wildstylee" 2004 —
"She Gets Up" 2005 — Smiling at Strangers
"In Front of Me"[24] 2006 51 Smiling at Strangers
"Computer Love" 2008 — Computer Love
"Beginning of the End"[25] 2012 — Millions of Moments
"Beautiful"[26] —

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007[27] "In Front of Me" Most Performed Urban Work Nominated

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2005[28] Smiling at Strangers Australian Music Prize Nominated
2015 Leisure Australian Music Prize Nominated

J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
J Awards of 2008[18] Computer Love Australian Album of the Year Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Hall, Louise (27 March 2006). "Hip-hop without the usual bling bling". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 MacGregor, Jody (June 2008). "TZU". Rave Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. 1 2 Birchgrove Boy (24 August 2004). "Interview with MC Joelistics from TZU". Digitalthugz. Archived from the original on 14 October 2004. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "Product Details: TZU > CDS > TZU Um... Just a Liddlbidova Mic Check CD". Out with the New. Archived from the original on 25 September 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Mitchell, Tony. "Position Correction (Review)". Local Noise. Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. 1 2 Thomas, Tara (26 September 2005). "Week Commencing ~ 26th September 2005 ~ Issue #813" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (813): 2, 5, 10, 12, 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2005. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  7. ↑ Lawrence, Greg. "Position Correction". Worldwide Home of Australasian Music and More Online (WHAMMO). Archived from the original on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. 1 2 "About". TZU on Facebook. Facebook. 1 July 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  9. 1 2 Mitchell, Tony (2007). "Smiling at Strangers (Review)". Local Noise. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ Jones, Simon (14 January 2006). "TZU – Smiling at Strangers". Soulshine: Australian Independent Music. Archived from the original on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "The Shortlist for the 2005 Australian Music Prize Has Been Announced". FasterLouder.com.au. 6 February 2006. Archived from the original on 7 June 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ "The Drones Take Out the Inaugural AMP (Australian Music Prize)". FasterLouder.com.au. 9 March 2006. Archived from the original on 8 September 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "TZU - Who's Next Winners Feature: Yahoo!7 Music". Yahoo!7 Music. 2006. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006.
  14. ↑ "'In Front of Me' – TZU". Liberation Music. 2009. Archived from the original on 21 September 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ↑ Jean (17 January 2007). "Snarling at Strangers – tzu". thedwarf.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ↑ "New Australasian Releases". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). November 2006. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ↑ Tristan (22 December 2006). "Come on Australia, Shake Your". there is no roseability. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. 1 2 "Computer Love TZU". triple j. ABC. 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  19. ↑ "Interview with Joelistics".
  20. ↑ "Interview with TZU, October 2012". 2012.
  21. 1 2 Peaks in Australia:
    • All except noted: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 288.
    • Computer Love: "Discography TZU". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  22. ↑ TZU (Musical group) (2012), Millions of Moments, Liberation Music, retrieved 21 November 2021, Performer: TZU: Joelistics (Joel Ma); Countbounce (Phillip Norman); Paso Bionic (Shehad Tariq); Yerock (Corey McGregor).
  23. ↑ "TZU release remix album". triple j. ABC. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  24. ↑ "In Front of Me - single". Apple Music. July 2006. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  25. ↑ "Beginning of the End - single". Apple Music. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  26. ↑ "Beautiful - single". Apple Music. August 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  27. ↑ "Most Performed Urban Work Nominations - 2007". APRA|AMCOS. APRA|AMCOS. 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  28. ↑ Brian Wise (6 February 2006). "Australian Music Prize; Shortlist Announced". ABC DIG Internet Radio. ABC. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
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