Optamus

Scott Griffiths, better known by the stage name Optamus, is one of the MCs of the Perth-based Australian hip-hop group Downsyde and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.

History

Griffiths with fellow Craigie Senior High School classmate Shahbaz Rind (Dyna-mikes ) founded Downsyde in 1996.^[1] It was the following year that they released a demo cassette Behind the Bucket which topped the independent charts within a week of its release. Optamus and Dyna-mikes met their third and last MC and producer, Darren Reutens Dazastah at Leederville TAFE. The group further expanded adding Damien Allia (DJ Armee), Mathew Cheetham (Cheeky) on bass guitar and keyboard together with Salvatore Pizzata (Salvatore) on drums to form Downsyde. In 2000 they released their debut album, Epinonimous, this was followed by Land of the Giants in 2003 and When the Dust Settles in 2005. The group went into hiatus for three years before releasing All City in 2008.

As well as being a skilled MC, Griffiths is a producer and as well as working on beats for Downsyde he has produced for many Australian acts such as Hunter, Drapht and Bias B.^[2] In addition he runs his own local independent label, Opt Shop Records.^[3] Griffiths also conducts workshops for African immigrants and aboriginal youth.^[4][5][6]

I run a hip hop workshop program where the participants get to write a song and learn about the hip hop culture and the Australian hip hop culture. For me it's another aspect of what I do as a musician, that makes me feel like I'm balancing the karma from being able to tour and live a life where I get to do something I love, I think this is my 'give back'.

— Scott Griffiths^[7]

Optamus released his debut solo album Forever & A Day on 12 June 2010. Optamus is also the name of his group, a trio with keyboardist Chris 'Imposter' Foster (Mr Chops) and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Jongsma (Moondog).^[1][8] The album includes a number of guest artists including Hunter, Trials (Funkoars), Drapht, Hau (Koolism), Downsyde and MC Layla.

Optamus previewed the album to a sold out home crowd (Rosemount Hotel W.A) and a huge tour through the southwest in June 2010. 'Forever and A Day' went on to sell 3500 copies from the optamus.com.au website without any distro or label support.'Lookaround' became a Triple J single and they toured Australia extensively. Optamus has indicated that he will be releasing a second album in 2016, to be titled Hero's Concerto.

Discography

Downsyde

• Behind the Bucket – Independent (1997) demo cassette
• Epinonimous – Syllaboliks (September 2000)
• Land of the Giants – Hydrofunk/Virgin (HF 30) (March 2003)
• When the Dust Settles – Obese (OBR026) (December 2004)
• All City – Illusive Records (ILL014CD) (4 October 2008)

Optamus

• Forever and a Day – Opt Shop (SBX023) (12 June 2010)

Production

Downsyde

• Behind The Bucket – Yirra Yaakin (1997), whole album
• Epinonimous – Syllabolix MGM (2000), tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10

When The Dust Settles

• All City – Illusive (2009), tracks 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13

Clandestien

• Clandestien – Syllabolix (2001), track 4

Hunter

• Done DL – Syllabolix (2002), tracks 11, 16, 18
• Culture of Kings II – Obese (2002), disc 1, track 2 ("Jam Roll")

Matty B

• The Courageous LP – Obese (2002), track 7
• Culture of Kings III – Obese (2003), track 1

Bias B

• In Bed With Bias – Wordburner (2004), tracks C1, D3
• Been There Done That – Obese Records (2007), track 9

Drapht

• Culture of Kings III – Obese (2004), disc 1, track 1 ("Misunderstood")

Fdel

• Audiofdelity – Invada Records (2005), track 8

Hunter

• Going Back to Yokine – Obese Records (2006), track 15

Omni

• Batterie – NatAural High Records (2007), tracks B1-B3

Guest appearances

• 2001: "Lord of the Flies" (from Clandestien album, Clandestien)
• 2002: "Have a Drink With Us" (from Hunter album, Done DL)
• 2002: "Co-Conspiriters" (from Hunter album, Done DL)
• 2002: "Jam Roll" (from Culture of Kings II, Hunter track)
• 2005: "Dusty Fingers" (from Fdel album, Audiofdelity)

References

External links

• Official Website
• Optamus Myspace Page
• Optamus Discogs Page