Local Roots

22 Jul 2019

Album Review – Allday’s Starry Night Over The Phone

Allday Releases New Album – Starry Night Over The Phone

Its been a huge, gigantic, event filled July for Adelaide rapper Allday. With the release of his highly anticipated third album at the start of the month, followed by his energy packed, upbeat, Veronica-filled set ‘Allday and Friends’ at Splendour in the Grass. Things don’t appear to be slowing down for Allday anytime soon with his Australian tour kicking off next month, followed by a North American Tour in September and October with Mallrat.

Starry Night over the Phone is the third album from Allday, after the release of the 2nd album, Speeding released back in 2017. There appears to be a shift with Allday, musically and personally since he has relocated from Australia to Los Angeles and it seems that perhaps the Los Angeles sun has been doing him good?

The album displays a sophisticated fusion of hip hop, R&B and pop with layers of melancholy which create a sombre feeling that is balanced by insightful lyrics. The release of the album displays a balance of some striking vulnerability, but also clarity in songs such as: Atmosphere and See You When I See You, but, not forgetting his sense of humour with lines like: “I found a bag mushrooms in my friends apartment. I ate like 50, now I’m making friends with martians” in Best Life, which serves as an empowering anthem about, obviously living your best life, which seems necessary to balance out the feel of the album where he speaks out about navigating his way through heart ache, bad habits and loss.

His unique take and blend on hip hop and rap creates an aesthetically pleasing experience that is easy on the ears. Starry Night over the Phone is a polished album and Allday seems to have found his groove and connects with what his knows best and what he does well.

The album has 4 singles: Wonder Drug, Protection, Lungs and Restless (featuring Australia’s favourite twins The Veronicas) which have all added to the impressive dreamscape collection that uniquely weaves in and out of genres. What’s so special about the album is at first listen it is hard to pin point exactly what genre it is because of the mix of singing, rap and sound. It feels like he is very much carving his on path as it is reflective, and honest. After listening to the album, its easy to see why the album has peaked at 7 on ARIA charts

Before heading back to North America he will be embarking on his Australian Tour. His Brisbane show has sold out, however.