From Be-Bop to Hip Hop aiming to wow Harvey this August with jazz and hip hop fusion

Harvey is set to experience a dynamic fusion of jazz and hip-hop this month as Noongar rapper Zero Emcee and the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra come together for concerts across WA. Featuring beats and bold brass from the rapper and the an 18-piece orchestra, the all-ages show will be followed by a Q&A and songwriting workshops supported by the State Government’s Playing WA program. Jaydan Ahmat, known on stage as Zero Emcee, said he got his creative spark at 13 years old when his parents’ relationship broke down and music provided an outlet for self-expression. “I was 13 when I first picked up the paper and pen, and I knew from then that it was something that I wanted to do long term,” he said. “I’m glad I have because now I’m on tour with WAYJO and we’re going to so many fantastic little towns and cities. “I needed an outlet to let out my anger at the time, being a teenager, and the pain and trauma that I was going through. I’d say I’ve overcome it through my music — it gave me another outlet to obviously express myself. “ Ahmat said his career highs had included performing at a suicide prevention conference and in front of dignitaries at an AFL match. “It was a big one for me, because I always wanted to be a footballer when I was younger, but music took its toll,” he said. “I come from a very sporty family that have played AFL so it was cool that I got myself to the MCG through music instead of football.” Ahmat said he was keen to return to the South West and had fond memories of Harvey from his childhood. “I’ve done the South West a lot — I used to camp out in Harvey when I was younger so didn’t think my music would actually take me there,” he said. “It’s an awesome opportunity to come from being a young one running amok and camping with the family, to now getting to come back to Harvey and perform. It’s probably a full circle moment.” From Be-Bop to Hip-Hop will take to Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre stage on on August 14 at 7.30 pm.