The hip hop trio are in the midst of a 27-date national tour to promote their latest album Off the Grid, and are making sure to visit regional and metropolitan centres in all corners of the country. 

For MC Eso, it is about getting in touch with fans that have been with the trio throughout their journey as a group.

“We love going out and seeing the little guys,” he said.

“Our fan base was built from the ground up, so we remember the people who packed in to the back of cars and travelled to support us when we were just starting out."

The more personal touch extends to their latest album, with the group’s sixth studio effort touching on some heavy themes.

Tracks such Moments have the group reflecting on significant points in their life on the way to adulthood. 

Eso said it was the desire to connect with audiences on a deeper level which led the group to look inward for their latest release.

“Our early stuff was a bit like a Jackson Pollock painting in the sense that we had a lot of random elements thrown together in one big mash up, but this is more like a portrait,” he said.

“We thought of the artists that inspired us and looked at how they spoke to their audiences, which led us onto this path.

“As part of the creative process, we try to tap into fun, energetic vibe that should come from being in the studio.

“We forget about all the exterior pressure and take a journey into the unknown.

“I feel like people will really get to know us when they listen to this music.”

It marks a decidedly different direction from 2013’s Circus in the Sky, an album which cemented their status as one of Australia’s leading hip hop acts. 

Eso said the self reflection allowed for him to turn personal battles into a positive.

“I had struggled with alcohol in the past and now I’m sober,” he said.

“For years, I felt like we kind of put a party flag up because of that, and now, we have taken it down.

“Instead of people deserting us for someone who still does promote that kind of lifestyle, I’ve received messages of support from people who have had similar experiences.

“It just shows the power of music and that some kinds of music can’t be tamed.”

Launceston will be at the back end of the current tour, with the trio taking to the Club 54 stage on July 21.  Eso said they look forward to maintaining their strong ties to the region.

“We’ve always had great friends down there, so it’s always a special place for us to play.”