Plutonic Lab

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Plutonic Lab
Birth nameLeigh Ryan
Also known asPlutonic Lab
BornMelbourne
Origin Melbourne, Australia
Genres Hip hop, soul, electronic
Occupation(s)Producer, Drummer, Engineer, Artist
Years active1995 –present
Labels Obese, Nuffsaid, Wax Museum Records, Low Key Source, Shark Repellent
Website plutoniclab.com

Leigh Ryan, better known by the stage name Plutonic Lab or sometimes as Pluto is an Australian music producer, engineer, artist & performer.

Contents

He is also one half of soul/pop duo "SoundsLike FRANCO" with vocalist Natalie Slade, one third of Canadian/Australian rap group "SHWING" with BBRC members Roshin & Bronze as well as the international tour drummer for the group Hilltop Hoods.

Pluto has collaborated with Ladi6 (NZ), Black Milk (US), G-Love (US), Guilty Simpson (US), Wiley (UK) Miles Bonny (US), Natalie Slade (AU), Notes To Self BBRC (Canada), Coma-Chi (Japan) Renee Geyer (AU), Drapht (AU), Hilltop Hoods (AU), Dialectrix (AU), Speech Debelle (UK), Task Force (UK), Fat Lip (US), Eternia (Canada), The Grouch & Eligh (US).

Early life and career

Plutonic Lab began drumming at the age of 10 and performing shows at 14. He obtained an honours degree in Sound Design/Media Arts from RMIT University, studying under Australian film composer/artist Philip Brophy and sound artist Phillip Samartzis.[ citation needed ]

In 1995 he produced the album "Mystery Shkool" for his group Macronauts on CD and Cassette & two beat tapes, Tri Chromes and M.O.S., in 1998 under his own label, Plutonic Lovely. In 2001, he released his first solo album, Give Me Sabotage Shell, followed by Collision of Days in 2004, both released on Nuff Said Records. His third solo album, Codes Over Colours, was released in 2005 on Obese Records. Taking 10 years between solo albums his last LP "Deep Above The Noise" won best Hip-Hop Album at the VIC Music Awards 2016. Attaining feature album status on Double J & 3PBS and Won 'Best Hip-Hop Album' at the AGE Music Victoria Awards 2016. The singles "The Crib" ft. Guilty Simpson & "Sliced Bread" ft Notes To Self BBRC received rotation on Triple J and Double J nationally.

Achievements

His album "Deep Above The Noise" won best Hip-Hop Album at the VIC Music Awards 2016. Attaining feature album status on Double J & 3PBS and Won 'Best Hip-Hop Album' at the AGE Music Victoria Awards 2016. The singles "The Crib" ft. Guilty Simpson & "Sliced Bread" ft Notes To Self BBRC received rotation on Triple J and Double J nationally.

Most recently nominated for "Engineer Of The Year" at the 2019 ARIA awards.

And won 2020 APRA Music Award "Most Performed Urban Work" with the "Leave Me Lonely" Hilltop Hoods.

He is a UK Mercury Prize Winner, (producing 2 singles for Speech Debelle's winning LP)

He produced Dialectrix's 2013 album, "The Cold Light of Day" which was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize, won the 2009 UK Mercury Prize for his work with Speech Debelle, and was nominated for 'Best Urban Release' at the 2008 ARIA Awards as half of the hip-hop duo Muph & Plutonic, who also placed 2 songs in the Triple J's "Hottest 100" and landed the 'Triple J Feature Album' placements multiple times.

Production

Plutonic Lab has produced albums and EPs for many Australian hip hop artists on labels including Nuffsaid Records (collaborating over a number of years with Australian MC/producer Prowla) and Obese Records (including the label CEO Pegz). [1]

He has also produced beats on releases from Shawn Lov (USA), MC Tumi (South Africa), Karma and Esoteric (USA), Eternia (Canada) and Taskforce (UK).[ citation needed ]

He has performed shows in Australia, North America, Europe and Asia. Opening for The Pharcyde, People Under The Stairs, Ozomatli, Mad Professor, Lee Scratch Perry, MC Supernatural, DJ Shadow, Money Mark, Hilltop Hoods, The Next Men, Mr Lif, Cage, Swollen Members, Braintax & Mystro, Lupe Fiasco, El-P, Tricky, The Streets and events including Cockatoo Island Festival, Obese Block Party, Pyramid Rock Festival, Falls Festival, Big Day Out, Groovin' the Moo, Golden Plains Festival, Splendour in the Grass and Good Vibrations Festival.[ citation needed ]

Plutonic Lab was voted 'Best Producer' three years running (2004, 2005, 2006) on Australian Hip- Hop community site ozhiphop.com.[ citation needed ]

All three Muph & Plutonic Albums & Pegz "Axis" LP obtained 'Feature Album' status on Australian national broadcaster Triple J.[ citation needed ]

His third LP "Codes Over Colours" was a featured album on Melbourne's 3RRR radio,[ citation needed ] and on other independent radio programs nationally.[ which? ]

In 2008 The Album "And Then Tomorrow Came" was nominated for an ARIA.[ citation needed ] The album also landed two songs in Triple J Hottest 100, 2009.[ citation needed ]

Speech Debelle's "Speech Therapy" LP won UK's Mercury Prize in 2009, [2] for which Plutonic Lab produced two singles.[ citation needed ]

His music has also been featured in film and television including HBO's series Girls , TNT's series Franklin & Bash , and the feature films X, Noel Clarke's 4.3.2.1 and Chronicle .[ citation needed ]

He also produced Neon Heartache ,[ citation needed ] the debut album of Jess Harlen, who was named best female artist in The Age's EG Awards in 2010. [3]

Discography

Solo albums

Album titleRelease dateLabelFormat
Tri Chromes (beat tape)1998Plutonic LovelyCassette
M.O.S. (beat tape)1998Plutonic LovelyCassette
Give Me Sabotage Shell2001 Nuffsaid CD/vinyl
Collision of Days2004NuffsaidCD/vinyl
Codes Over Colours2005ObeseCD/vinyl
Midnight on Pluto (remix EP)2006 Obese Vinyl
Give Me Sabotage Shell (Extended/Remastered)2007Shark RepellentCD
Collision of Days (Extended/Remastered)2007Shark RepellentCD
Submariner (7-inch EP)2013LWPVinyl
Deep Above The Noise (2x12" LP)2016Wax Museum RecordsVinyl

Production

Albums

ArtistAlbum titleRelease dateLabel
MacronautsMystery Shkool (CD/Cassette)1995Plutonic Lovely
ProwlaLonewolf (CD/LP)2001Nuffsaid
Plutonic LabGive Me Sabotage Shell (CD/LP)2001Nuffsaid
MuphinMore Than Music (CD/LP)2003Obese
Pegz Capricorn Cat (CD/LP)2003Obese
Shawn LovThe Blackout of 1977 (CD/LP)2004Nuffsaid
Plutonic LabCollision of Days (CD/LP)2004Nuffsaid
Muph & Plutonic Hunger Pains (CD/LP)2004Obese
Pegz Axis (CD/2×LP)2005Obese
Plutonic LabCodes Over Colours (CD/2×LP)2005Obese
OmniBatterie (CD/LP)2006BLX
Muph & Plutonic Silence the Sirens (CD/2×LP) 2006Obese
IvensSounds to Expire to (CD)2007EcoTone
Lotek Go (CD)20072–99 Records
PegzBurn City (CD/LP)2007Obese
Muph & Plutonic...And Then Tomorrow Came (CD/2×LP)2008Obese
Speech Debelle Speech Therapy (CD/LP) 2009Big Dada
Gully Platoon The Great Divide (CD)2009Obese
Jess Harlen Neon Heartache 2010Plethora
Dialectrix Audio Projectile 2010Obese
Plutonic & G Love Moonshine Lemonade 2011Inertia
Jess Harlen Park Yard Slang 2012Plethora
Dialectrix The Cold Light of Day 2013Obese
Plutonic Lab Submariner (7-inch EP)2013LWP
Plutonic LabFieldnotes - Hong Kong (Book & Vinyl)2016Fieldnotes Project
Plutonic Lab Deep Above The Noise (2×LP)2016Wax Museum Records
Plutonic LabFieldnotes - Japan (Book & Vinyl)2017Fieldnotes Project
Sounds Like FRANCOFRANCO (12-inch)2019Low Key Source

Singles and EPs

ArtistTitleRelease dateLabel
Pegz (as Pegasus)Pegasus (12-inch)2001Obese
ProwlaThe Great Rescue (EP)2002Nuffsaid
TumiA Dream Led To This (EP)2002Nuffsaid
Taskforce & Pegz12 Apostles (12-inch)2002Obese
KarmaTop Shelf (12-inch)2002Nuffsaid
Eternia & A-LoveMovin (12-inch)2003 Warner
Shawn LovDewitt (12-inch)2004Nuffsaid
Black SamuraiKill Em All (EP)2004C Side (UK)
Muph & PlutonicHeaps Good (12-inch)2004Obese
PegzChechen Gorilla (12-inch)2005Obese
PegzBack Then (12-inch)2005Obese
Plutonic LabThe Waiting (12-inch)2005Obese
Hilltop Hoods The Hard Road (12-inch)2006Obese
IvensThe 9th Letter (12-inch)2007EcoTone
Muph & PlutonicThe Day Off (7-inch)2007Obese
Muph & Plutonic"Size of the Soul" (Promo CD single)2008Obese
Muph & Plutonic"Beautiful/Ugly" (Promo CD single)2008Obese
Speech Debelle The Key (CD single)2009Big Dada
Speech DebelleBetter Days (CD single)2009Big Dada
Jess Harlen Watch the Water (CD single)2010Plethora
Jess HarlenI Go (CD single)2010Plethora
DialectrixNew Generation (CD single)2012Obese
DialectrixGo (Digital single)2013Obese
Plutonic LabLook Alive ft. Dialectrix (7-inch)2013Shark Repellent
Plutonic LabThe Crib ft. Guilty Simpson (7-inch)2016Wax Museum Records
Plutonic LabSliced Bread ft. Notes To Self BBRC (Digital Single)2016Wax Museum Records
Plutonic LabBlind Eyes / Give It Up (7-inch)2018Low Key Source
Sounds Like FRANCOIt's All On You (Digital Single)2018Low Key Source
Sounds Like FRANCOMoney Over Matter (Digital Single)2019Low Key Source
Hilltop HoodsLeave Me Lonely (7-inch, Single, Ltd)2019HTHV005
SHWINGSHWING (Lock It Down) (Digital single)2019Golden Era Records
SHWINGANYBODY (Digital single)2019Golden Era Records
Plutonic LabEnemy featuring Black Milk 2020Low Key Source

Tracks on other albums

Album titleArtistTrackRelease dateLabel
Evolutionary Vibes 2Macronauts"Atstrue" (remix)1997 Creative Vibes
4 Element EffectPlutonic Lab"Evidence"1998183
Rock Da CityPlutonic Lab"Slipping into Darkness"1999Nuffsaid
Madlock"Madlock"
Sounds Like LeftPlutonic Lab"Mental Big Gun" (remix)2001Sony (Asia)
"Sunshine"
12 ApostlesPegz & Task Force"True to tha Art" (vocal)
"True to tha Art" (instrumental)
2001Obese
Stealth Issue 2 Vol 3Plutonic Lab"Glory Days"2001Stealth
Top Fashion Dolphin (EP)Plutonic Lab"Mental Big Gun"2002C Side (UK)
Tumi"The Inner View"
Culture of Kings Vol 2A-Love"Petty"2002Obese
Obese CityPlutonic Lab"Knowing Disintegration"2002Obese
Muphin"Tape in a Green Case"
Other Worldly FusionsPlutonic Lab & RuCL"Runnin Hot"2002Hardware
Top ShelfKarma featuring Esoteric"Top Shelf" (vocal)
"Top Shelf" (instrumental)
2002Nuffsaid
Karma"Art of War" (vocal)
"Art of War" (instrumental)
Strait From The Art Vol 1Eternia & A-Love"Movin"2003 Warner
Diggin DeepMuphin"Smart Risk, Big Benefit"2003
Culture of Kings Vol 3Pegz"Tins of Beans"2004Obese
Building With Bricks Volume 2Karma"Art of War"2004Brick
DescoreBreakfast News (Main Title)
100 Forms of Happiness[ clarification needed ]
2004Sound Punch
15.OZ VinylMuphin"Smoke Stained"2004Crookneck
JJJ Hip Hop ShowMuph & Plutonic"Heaps Good"2005
MC Que"Waters Breakin"
Home And Hosed – Ripe and ReadyMuph & Plutonic"Heaps Good"2005
Trampled: Remix (EP) (Elefant Traks)Hermitude"Nightfalls Messenger" (remix)2006Obese
Been There Done That Bias B featuring Billy Bunks"Bundle of Bees"2007Obese
The Signal Urthboy "We Get Around" (Plutonic remix)2007 Elefant Tracks
More or Less Resin Dogs featuring Mika 9, Aceyalone and Abstract Rude"Coming With the Sound" (Plutonic Lab mix)2009Hydrofunk Records/MGM
Cover Up Motel TZU "Get Up" (Plutonic Lab remix)2009Liberation
Beatz InternationalTor"Pushin It"2009File Records (Japan)/UK Streetsounds (UK)

Battle vinyl

ArtistTitleDateDetails
DJ PerplexDMC Battle Wax2008Various production beats and elements
DJ PerplexDMC Battle Wax2009Various production beats and elements

Soundtracks

TitleDirectorNotes
Hot Wet Dot: 16mm Skate FilmJo Harrison www.joskefilms.com
Molotow Masters: Graffiti SeriesJo Harrison www.molotow.com
Words in My Mouth Voices in My Head, No 1 AnnaPhillip BrophyScreened at ACMI Melbourne, 2004
philipbrophy.com
BurnDavid Selvarajah VadivelooNominated for AFI Best Short Fiction Film award, 2009
burn-movie.com.au

Awards and nominations

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2016 Deep Above the NoiseBest Hip Hop AlbumWon [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

Australian Hip-Hop traces its origins to the early 1980s and was initially largely inspired by Hip-Hop and other urban musical genres from the United States. As the form matured, Australian hip hop has become a commercially viable style of music that is no longer restricted to the creative underground, with artists such as The Kid Laroi, Manu Crooks, Onefour, Iggy Azalea, Hilltop Hoods, Bliss n Eso and Youngn Lipz, having achieved notable fame. Australian Hip-Hop is still primarily released through independent record labels, which are often owned and operated by the artists themselves. Despite its genesis as an offshoot of American hip-hop, Australian hip hop has developed a distinct personality that reflects its evolution as an Australian musical style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilltop Hoods</span> Australian hip-hop group

Hilltop Hoods is an Australian hip hop group that formed in 1996 in Blackwood, Adelaide, South Australia. They are regarded as pioneers of the "larrikin-like" style of Australian hip hop. The group was founded by Suffa and Pressure, who were joined by DJ Debris after fellow founder, DJ Next, left in 1999. The group released its first extended play, Back Once Again, in 1997 and have subsequently released eight studio albums, two "restrung" albums and three DVDs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suffa</span> Australian musical artist

Matthew David Lambert, known by his stage name Suffa or MC Suffa, is an Australian rapper and producer. He is best known as one of the members of the hip hop group Hilltop Hoods, and has been a recording artist since the 1999 release of the band's debut album, A Matter of Time. He has also produced tracks for other artists.

<i>The Hard Road</i> 2006 studio album by Hilltop Hoods

The Hard Road is the fourth studio album by Australian hip hop group Hilltop Hoods. Released on 1 April 2006 by Obese Records, it debuted at number one on the Australia ARIA Albums Chart, and was the first album by Australian artists to achieve that position. It contains the top 20 single "Clown Prince". It achieved Gold status on 8 April 2006, a week after release, and has now surpassed Platinum status.

<i>Axis</i> (Pegz album) 2005 studio album by Pegz

Axis is the second album released by Australian hip hop artist MC Pegz. It was released in 2005, 18 months after his debut album. This recording features appearances from other Australian MCs, including Hilltop Hoods, Hyjak N Torcha, and Debaser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obese Records</span> Former Australian record label

Obese Records was a record label that released music from the Australian hip hop genre. It was the largest Australian independent hip hop label, including performers Pegz, Hilltop Hoods, Thundamentals, Reason, Andy Struksha, and Dialectrix. Obese Records also operated two retail stores in Melbourne, a record distribution company, a soul imprint named Plethora Records, and operated the artists' management and touring company Obese Records Artist Management.

Hyjak N Torcha is an Australian hip hop group from Sydney, New South Wales.

Tirren Staaf, otherwise known as Pegz, is an Australian hip hop artist and producer hailing from Melbourne, Victoria. He was the CEO of Obese Records—the record label responsible for artists such as Hilltop Hoods, Downsyde, and Bias B.

<i>Burn City</i> 2007 studio album by Pegz

Burn City is an album released by Australian hip hop artist MC Pegz on 15 October 2007. This recording features appearances from Australian MCs Drapht, Funkoars, Muph, Vents and others. Californian MC Planet Asia also collaborates on the track "Diligent Music". It peaked at No. 70 on the ARIA Album Chart, No. 10 on the ARIA Urban Album Chart and No. 4 on the ARIA Hitseekers Albums chart. The album's tracks were featured on national radio station, Triple J. According to Khalil Hegarty of The Age declared that Pegz "has made the Australian hip-hop scene his own." During 2008 he toured Australia to promote the album.

Muph & Plutonic is an Australian hip hop group. It is composed of MC Muphin and DJ–drummer–producer Plutonic Lab, both of whom released several solo albums before joining together to form a combined act in 2004.

<i>Silence the Sirens</i> 2006 studio album by Muph & Plutonic

Silence the Sirens is the second album from Muph & Plutonic and was released on 21 November 2006. The album took 10 months to produce and features guest performances from several Australian MCs and Musicians, including Fatlip, Pegz, Urthboy, Ivens (Awakenings), Raph Boogie & BVA and Red Ghost. The album is considered a classic in the Australian Hip Hop scene, due its blend of high quality production and polished lyricism. It peaked at No. 11 on the ARIA Urban Album Chart and was featured as Triple Js Album of the Week.

Horrorshow is an Australian hip-hop music duo from the Inner West region of Sydney that consists of producer Adit and rapper MC Solo. Horrorshow, together with Spit Syndicate, Jackie Onassis and Joyride, are members of One Day collective. Horrorshow are recognised as pioneers of the sub genre known as "Aussie hip-hop," alongside Illy, Drapht, the Herd, Bliss n Eso, and Hilltop Hoods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Era Records</span> Australian record label

Golden Era Records is a record label that specializes in Australian hip hop music and is based in Stirling, South Australia, Australia. The label was founded in 2008 by South Australian hip hop trio Hilltop Hoods.

A-Love is a female Australian-based MC from Melbourne. Her debut album, Ace of Hearts was nominated 'Best Urban Release' in the ARIA Music Awards of 2008.

<i>Speech Therapy</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Speech Debelle

Speech Therapy is the debut album from British rapper Speech Debelle. It was awarded the British Mercury Prize in 2009.

Gully Platoon are an Australian hip-hop group, composed of Pegz with Joe New and Dialectrix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne "Lotek" Bennett</span> Musical artist

Wayne "Lotek" Bennett is a music producer, songwriter and rapper from the UK. He is most famous for his work with Roots Manuva and more recently with Speech Debelle, producing her debut album Speech Therapy which won the 2009 Mercury Prize.

George Kordas, better known by the stage name DJ Bonez, is a hip hop DJ and producer, originally from Sydney and currently based in Melbourne, Australia.

Ryan Leaf, better known by the stage name Dialectrix, is an Australian hip hop artist from Sydney. He was a member of Down Under Beats Crew and, since 2008, has been a member of Gully Platoon. In addition to his musical career, Dialectrix works in the construction trades. He was introduced to hip hop culture through skateboarding during adolescence.

References

  1. "Muph & Plutonic". Digital Thugz. 9 February 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  2. "Why hasn't the Mercury prize helped Speech Debelle more?". 28 September 2009.
  3. "Aussie Music Heroes Celebrated At EG Awards" at Undercover
  4. "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  5. "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.