New Single from The Optimen

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With the release of their sophomore album The Out of Money Experience just around the corner, Brisbane’s The Optimen are proud to present the first single to be lifted from it, Fire Fighters.

A Bit O’ Context

While it is often said to breed contempt, The Optimen emcees (Sammsonite, DATS and Kristoff the Russian) formed their friendship on familiarity. After repeatedly writing themselves off, week after week, at the same high school parties in Brisbane’s inner western suburbs, it didn’t take them long to realize they had more than more than just mild-mannered intoxication in common. With a love of good times and getting the crowd moving, the three soon became renowned as dependable DJs to get the party started right. Upon confirming they had no natural ability at this, they soon took to the mic. With the release of an 8 track EP “02: Breath Control” they quickly set about making a name for themselves on both the local and national front.

By the time they dropped their debut album “Boomtown” (which, for many, has since become a preferred nickname for their city) in 2005, it was an eagerly awaited outing. The first single Give it Up was added to high-rotation by Triple J and the crew went on to pick up two gongs at the 2006 MusicOz awards including ‘Best Urban Artist’ & ‘Best Film Clip’ (for Give It Up). This was followed by a slew of peer based awards on Ozhiphop.com, the southern hemispheres largest online hip hop community. This album also introduced DJ Damage (Terntable Jediz) to the fold with his signature meticulous cuts, sage like wisdom and stock market tips.

2007’s “The Optimen present Red Tape Renegades Vol 1” consolidated the band’s national profile and formally introduced Balboa, Anonymouz (Canada) and Pure Product, the other artists on their own label ‘Red Tape Entertainment’.

In the live arena, The Optimen have proven themselves one of the hardest-working acts in the country. Their list of credits includes some of the nation’s biggest festivals (Good Vibrations, Parklife, BBQ Beats), performances with the likes of US-superstars Ghostface Killah, Public Enemy, Beatnuts, Masta Ace, The Alkaholiks, Method Man & Redman, plus Aussie compatriots The Hilltop Hoods, The Funkoars, Downsyde, The Herd, Drapht - and many more. With the most recent addition to the group, Peter Beaty, the crew have at last found a way to translate the enormous sound of their studio recordings to the live stage.

Fire Fighters



Download Fire Fighters

Buy the freshman album 'Boomtown'


In writing the album, Fire Fighters was the first track that didn’t take much convincing on any part. Already introduced as a staple to their live set, with its infectious hook and ground-moving bass groove, it set the standard early and in many ways served as an indicator to the direction the album was heading. Starting with a breathy drum break lifted from a mysterious Japanese LP that Kristoff purchased for 100 yen in Shibuya, Sammsonite didn’t waste any time in building a track around it. When DATS suggested the minimal vocal flourishing sounded like an exclamation of “Fire! Fire!” the theme took shape. DJ Damage laid his cuts in the break and so the album began – in the true co-operative nature of the group. As a side note, Kristoff admits “We actually don’t know where this record is, or even who it is! It went missing from the studio before we could translate the kanji from the cover!”

In turning a small sample from a 7” into the first single, The Optimen added their own layers, including a rich coating of horns, live drums and breaks from Myka Wallace (Laneous & The Family Yah), backing vocals from Laneous himself and keys from Greg Arnott.

Fire Fighters is the first taste of The Optimen’s sophomore album The Out of Money Experience which is scheduled for release March 2010.