One of Australia’s finest soul-funk exports, The Bamboos, follow up their infectious single ‘Lit Up’ with ‘Broken’, the second single released from their July 6 album, NIGHT TIME PEOPLE. It will be released in three different versions and videos over successive weeks, each with a different guest MC telling stories of resilience in the face of mental illness.
 
“This is a message worth shouting loud”, The Bamboos guitarist and bandleader Lance Ferguson said. “So we asked some friends from around the globe to jump on board with us”.
 
Joining The Bamboos on the uplifting, gospel inspired track are Atlanta based J-Live, Australian MC Urthboy and contributing a German language version is Berlin’s Teesy.
 
Vocalist Kylie Auldist’s powerful and rousing chorus is constant across all versions, supported by an unforgettable horn riff and emotive string arrangements.
 
In the first version released on June 1, J-Live rhymes from his own experience of personal struggle in his trademark direct and forthright style. But, importantly, he reminds us that we have the ability within us to emerge from those depths.

“Give yourself enough time to start to mentally heal.
Enough space to feel the whole truth of your ordeal.
Forgive yourself, make yourself a new deal.
Learn from your mistakes.
So you can do whatever it takes”

“It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help” Ferguson says, when digging into what he asked the three MCs to address in their lyrics. 
 
“It’s a sign of STRENGTH.” Though the stories each MC tells are personal, Ferguson feels the theme touches so many. “If you or someone in your life has or is currently experiencing anxiety, depression, OCD, an eating-disorder, PTSD or any kind of personality disorder: our message with this song is that ASKING FOR HELP IS O.K. it should be applauded...In fact, it’s so worthwhile that it will most probably change your life for the better.”
 
“We’re just a band, simply a bunch of friends who love making music together”, Ferguson points out. “But we know that some of our own lives and the lives of those we love have been affected by this stuff – so if we can use whatever platform we have to raise awareness and help the cause then that’s gotta be a good thing.”
 
J-Live has released eight albums since 2001 and has collaborated with hip hop greats such as DJ Premier, Pete Rock and Prince Paul. Acclaimed Sydney MC Urthboy has managed to rhyme about the personal and political seamlessly across his solo albums and time in hip hop collective The Herd. Fast rising Berlin MC / singer / producer Teesy is becoming one of the freshest voices in German hip hop. Their personal and insightful rhymes are joined by a rousing, spirit-lifting chorus from Kylie Auldist.
 
As engagement with the themes and lyrics on all three versions are crucial to the project, the videos for each will be presented in a comic book inspired format. Put together by design team Cool Your Jets, each video will have its own look and aesthetic.
 
‘Broken’ feat. J-Live is released June 1
‘Broken’ feat. Urthboy is released June 8
‘Broken’ feat. Teesy is released June 15
 
The Bamboos album NIGHT TIME PEOPLE is released on Pacific Theatre / BMG
on July 6.