MPavilion  

For our final installment of the Walsh Street Music program watch Gregor work his musical magic in a room of legendary architect Robin Boyd’s famous Walsh St home. Melbourne prog-pop eccentric Gregor released his debut album Silver Drop via Chapter Music in late 2018, taking the restless, idiosyncratic spirit of his previous sketches and tunes and applying it to his own interior emotional world. Spacious and delicate, but peppered with acerbic pop moments and extended, loping grooves, the album drew together elements of Gregor’s eclectic influences, filtered through his increasingly personal vision. In 2019, Gregor was nominated for Best Album and Best Solo Artist in the Music Victoria Awards. His second album Destiny is due for release in November 2020.

For part five of our Walsh Street Music program, Baby t occupies a seat in Robin Boyd’s iconic home, filling the walls with his original style and emotive lyrical comprehension. Baby t is one of the most influential rappers coming out of Melbourne to date. Growing up in Melbourne’s western suburbs Baby t has made an exceptional name for himself in Melbourne’s underground hip hop scene. Baby t has also made a big spark in the Melbourne Hip Hop scene with his hit single “Lingo” streaming up too 150k on YouTube. From recording in his closet to the community studio in Fitzroy Baby t is known for working on his craft and releasing hit after hit to featuring on the last ever Juice Wrld Australian tour. Baby t is an amazing talent and a force to be reckoned with; Baby t was one of the earlier members to join 66 records.

SLEEPER & SNAKE are the duo of Amy Hill (Terry, Primo, Constant Mongrel) and Al Montfort (Terry, Total Control, Lower Plenty, Dick Diver etc…). Setting a different pace to previous projects, Sleeper and Snake incorporate a new instrumentation of saxophone, synthesisers, drum machine, acoustic guitar and strings. Playing homespun vignettes of warbled keyboards, fizzed improvised interludes, shifting layers of skewed harmony and wistful yet pointed lyrical pep, they released their sophomore album ‘Fresco Shed’ in October 2020.

Mindy Meng Wang is a versatile Chinese/Australian Composer and Guzheng Performing Artist. She was born and classically trained in China, studied western musicology in the UK and then migrated to Australia.

She is a pioneer to bring Guzheng into many western genres such as experimental, Jazz, western classical, Electronic and improvisation. She has collaborated with many high-profile artists and frequently performed in many significant festivals, shows and venues in Australia, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and France.

Her work explores the fertile space between traditional and contemporary practices, is an important part of a significant movement of Chinese musicians redefining and reinvigorating their musical tradition on the global stages.

Her long term vision is to create a strong voice for young female composers/artist of Chinese heritage, and more importantly, create a deeper and reciprocal musical connection between Australia and China.

MONDAY, 14 DECEMBER – Sweet whirl

Sweet Whirl is the songwriting project of singer and multi-instrumentalist Esther Edquist. For the Walsh St Project she appears with guitarist Liam Barton and label mate Gregor – also on the Chapter Music record label.

MPavilion & the Robin Boyd Foundation bring you a six part series of live performances from the iconic Walsh Street house. Directed by Freya Esders and shot by award-winning cinematographer Edward Goldner, the series will place an eclectic roster of Melbourne’s favourite musicians in all corners of this architectural masterpiece.

Featuring the soulful multi-instrumentalist and proud Kuku Yalanji, Jirrbal and Torres Strait Islander woman Kee’ahn, Chinese/Australian composer and guzheng virtuoso Mindy Meng Wang, the beautifully melancholic and ethereal Sweet Whirl, Sudanese born Melbourne bred rapper BabyT, the lo-fi soundscapes of unground cult lovers Sleeper & Snake, and finally Melbourne prog pop eccentric Gregor.

Walsh St house is the dwelling that Australian architectural giant Robin Boyd designed as his own family home. As an exemplar of modernist Australian architecture that continues to influence architectural thinking, the house has been the subject of extensive media coverage both nationally and internationally. The house remains unchanged from the time it was first designed and occupied by the Boyd Family in 1959,  furnished with pieces designed by Boyd’s associates Grant Featherston, Clement Meadmore and others and then photographed by Mark Strizic. Now home of the Robin Boyd Foundation, the heritage icon provides a unique insight into Melbourne’s design leaders of the 50s and 60s. 

MONDAY, 7 DECEMBER – KEE’AHN