His Own Man

I’m glad you saw the humour in that – some people missed that!,” Tom Gaynor, aka Allday, says, talking about how he took the piss out of himself by bundling vials of his flowing locks with his first album, Startup Cult.

The Adelaide native mentions writing sessions, meetings and showcases, yet is generally vague about his plans. Yet, while he typically comes across as self-deprecating, supposedly a loser (if not a late bloomer), Gaynor is quietly ambitious. He was “psyched” when in July Startup Cult debuted on the ARIA Charts at #3. “I was surprised, but I knew after I had an EP that did, like, number 18 or 15 or something on the chart – and that was a couple of years ago – that my fans are very supportive. A lot of them have never bought a CD before but went out and bought copies of it, because that’s just what they’re like. So that was really cool.”

In his bio he suggests Startup Cult signals “the beginning of a new era in Australian rap music.” “Did I say that?” Gaynor demurs, laughing. “It sounds pretty arrogant!” Nonetheless, like 360 and REMI, Gaynor has deviated from the traditional Australian hip hop of barbecue rap to embrace electronic influences. He’s developed a Drake-y sing-song style – as heard on Startup Cult’s lead single, Right Now. “I think there’s me and a bunch of other people who are doing our own thing and not really sticking to the sound that has been known in Australia, so hopefully we can do something that’s of a world standard.” Gaynor reckons his followers are more likely to be into Flume and Chet Faker than Hilltop Hoods and Bliss N Eso.

Gaynor grew up in the suburbanised Adelaide Hills; it was here the young “menace” was fully absorbed into hip hop. However, Gaynor, digging Silverchair, was also involved in garage bands. He aspired to be “a Julian Casablancas-type” frontman – until his bandmates told him he couldn’t sing. “Rap was a bit more natural for me.” Moving to Melbourne two-and-a-half years ago. Gaynor connected with Illy, signing to his fledgling imprint ONETWO. “He just started coming to shows and saying ‘Hey.’”

The tumblr MC has “always resented” any expectation he dress according to hip hop’s subcultural rules. “It’s funny – some people comment on my Facebook, like, ‘Oh, get rid of your septum-piercing’ or whatever. It’s pretty interesting to me that people think they can control the way someone else dresses or looks.”

In October Gaynor headlines a national tour – and it won’t be just him and a DJ. “We’ve added a keyboard player, my friend from school, and we’ve rehearsed the shit out of it. It’s a really good show!”