The new Sunny Side Up documentary is a picture of the Melbourne scene that’s poised at saturation point.
Steadily expanding since the breakout success of Hiatus Kaiyote in 2012, with whom many of the record’s groups share members, friendships or studios, this film looks at the extended network which has been propelling forward the creative energy in the coastal Australian city.
As evidenced on the Sunny Side Up album released earlier in 2019, this is a scene which shows splashes of deep house, broken beat, cha-cha, samba, p-funk and soul. Unlike other cities with storied histories in jazz culture, the sound of Melbourne is free of any jazz customs to follow behind, leaving musicians free to incorporate hip hop, house or R&B. Jazz is the mindset, the output is infinitely diverse.
The nine acts on ‘Sunny Side Up’ have grown out of a city mostly absent of traditions in jazz and soul music, leaving them to draw on and freely re-interpret those influences. A celebratory record, it’s energised by a collaborative spirit as much as by the variety of styles which it collides together.
The documentary is online and available to stream now. Head here to watch it.
The Sunny Side Up album is out now on 2XLP vinyl, download and streaming. Order here.