Australian music and tech accessories brand, Sprout, has collaborated with indigenous rapper Briggs to launch their new creative platform, ‘Homegrown Sound.’ Created by +61 and Bear Meets Eagle On Fire, the project also marks the first release of Briggs’ new single, ‘Munarra.’
The ‘Homegrown Sound’ platform is part of Sprout’s new mission to help support and grow Australian music at a time when the local industry is hurting, with artists struggling for support. Cancellation of festivals and the loss of over 1,300 music venues and stages across the country has made necessary exposure even more difficult. According to the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), despite Australia being the tenth largest music market in the world, there were only four albums and three singles from Australian artists in 2023’s top 100.
‘Munarra’ heralds the launch of a new artistic direction for Briggs; hip hop infused with heavy metal. “I wanted to push the boundaries with this song and the visuals. To tell a story about coming up in a hostile environment, where you’re not meant to be or grow,” said Briggs. “That’s what we wanted to explore, growing despite being in a hostile environment and emerging from that, in strength. I think today, the things I faced coming up are still there, but artists have a whole slew of new obstacles to overcome.”
The launch video for ‘Munarra’ is a visceral piece of film that shows the artist ‘birthed’ from the arid red dirt and draws its inspiration from Briggs’ own experiences and the determination it takes to break through in this country. The song will also be featured in a new ‘Homegrown Sound’ Spotify playlist, which aims to encourage Australians to stream more homegrown music.
Ben Caddy, general manager from Sprout said, “The Australian music industry has had a tough couple of years, so as an Australian brand that has music and sound at its heart, we wanted to shine a light on the best local music out there and encourage the public to support it by listening to more homegrown sound.”