And Beyond

Well, that was unexpected. Few would have predicted Chance Waters' recent success. The Sydney MC has always had a vague splash of greatness about him. From his early days supporting genre luminaries like The Herd and The Funkoars to distributing his 2009 Inkstains debut album through Obese, Waters has been a respected figure for many years. Still, none of that really suggests the scope of his most recent accomplishments.

Beginning with the lead-up to last year's Infinity album, Chance Waters' trajectory over the past 18 months has seen him move almost exclusively from strength to strength. The album's lead singles were embraced by radio and television alike – Maybe Tomorrow enjoying high rotation on triple j and Rage's Indie of the Week distinction upon release. When the album was released in November, Waters was already nominated for a J Award.

Since then, he's secured two spots in the 2012 triple j Hottest 100, performed at the Big Day Out and taken out #7 position on Rage's Top 50 of 2012 with Maybe Tomorrow. Most recently, he's signed a global publishing deal with Universal Music. The deal will see him working as a professional songwriter both locally and abroad for one of the biggest record labels in the world.

“It's been massive. Definitely. Just in regards to the opportunities that bands and musicians get when their profile goes up. I've definitely seen a lot more doors open. You know, this is the first year that I've really had any presence on the festival circuit and that just thrills me to bits,” he reflects. “Dude, playing Big Day Out is probably the most fun I've ever had on stage.”

At the time, Waters seemed very conscious of the expectations (or lack thereof) surrounding his second album. Make no mistake; Infinity was crafted with the explicit intent of breaking the MC through to a new level of exposure. He recorded with Hilltop Hoods hitmaker One Above, got singing lessons and spent over a year developing and refining the album. He may not have expected success – but he most assuredly wanted it.

“What would have happened if it hadn't broken through? I think about that all the time, actually,” he ponders. “I was at a sort of tipping point. If Maybe Tomorrow and Young & Dumb hadn't broken radio in the way that they did, I probably would have gotten very disheartened and disillusioned. I think I'm in this for the long-term, though. I'm so attached to it and embroiled in it that I really don't have any escape anymore.”

Which is really borne out by his response to his considerable success. Gifted with accomplishments beyond even his wildest anticipations, Waters has barely allowed himself a moment's celebration. He'll be performing at festivals and tours for the foreseeable future and, when not so engaged, will be finalising the writing and recording processes for his next album.

“It didn't really occur to me to go on a break before the next album. Well, I went on a holiday. I went on a three-week holiday – but I did a fair bit of writing while I was there,” Waters laughs. “I want to strike while the iron is hot. I really didn't expect those placings in the Hottest 100 and stuff. Everything that's happened has just made me think I should capitalise on the momentum while it's there. I want to get it done by end of the year.

“You know, I don't think I've actually had any massive success. It's not like I wrote a Gangnam Style or a bloody Somebody That I Used To Know,” he laughs. “Those two songs were quite modest little successes. I think things can go a lot further than they have so far. Even if I just equal what I did with Infinity, though, I'll be more than happy. For me, there's no pressure, really.”

Waters actually started writing the album before Infinity was even released. Frustrated by the pronounced gap between his debut album Inkstains in 2009 and Infinity in 2012, the MC sought to hasten the process by laying the foundations for his third album while completing his second. A full-length collaboration with the aforementioned One Above, Waters hopes to improve upon the foundations laid by Infinity's folksy hip hop mash-up.

“I'm still really happy with Infinity. It's still a relatively new record to me. There are just a couple of things I would have done differently if I had the luxury of time or experience,” he admits. “The best thing about it is that it's given me a process that I can use. I can take what I like about that album and build upon it with this one. Anything I didn't like, I can just leave behind, really.

“I just felt some of the tracks didn't really match up too well. It went to a couple of different places,” the MC says diplomatically. “I really like the idea of working exclusively with One Above for this record. Really look it as an album and make sure every song on it sits in the right place and moves things in the right direction. You know, that's the only thing I'd like to improve upon from Infinity. That, and I'd like to think I'm just better at what I do now.”

Hip hop is a culture of mythology. It's a community built around ideas of god-given talent, destiny and luck. Waters draws on a different narrative. Much as his music draws on references from outside of the hip hop culture. His narrative is one of work. He doesn't purport to be the best at anything. In previous interviews, he's actually claimed his success is more related to his unique style than his being especially gifted.

Waters' narrative inspires. Not through its spontaneity or surprise – but its persistence. In all facets, Chance Waters presents himself as a worker. His success may have been unpredicted but it was in no way undeserved. Infinity was the product of months of work and years of consideration. In the months since its release, Waters has reveled in that same work and consideration.

“I know that it could all go away tomorrow. I'm not too worried, though. Like I said, I haven't had any big single song blow-up. I'm hoping I can just keep developing and working on things, regardless,” he says candidly. “I think it's just a matter of working hard and making sure that what I do is good enough to keep people interested. Like I said, I don't think there's much of an escape from this for me, at this point.”           

Chance Waters will be playing the following dates:

Friday 12 April - The Standard, Sydney NSW
Saturday 13 April - Live It Up Festival, Brisbane QLD (U18s)
Wednesday 17 April - The Zoo, Brisbane QLD
Thursday 18 April - Surfers Paradise Beer Garden, Surfers Paradise QLD
Friday 19 April - The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba QLD
Saturday 20 April - The Big Pineapple Music Festival, Sunshine Coast QLD
Wednesday 24 April - Kay Street Saloon Bar, Traralgon VIC
Thursday 25 April - Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully VIC
Friday 26 April - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC
Saturday 27 April - Karova Lounge, Ballarat VIC
Sunday 5 May - Caxton Street Seafood & Wine Festival, Brisbane QLD (All Ages)
Friday 24 May - The Ed Castle, Adelaide SA
Thursday 30 May - Spurs Saloon, Devonport TAS
Friday 31 May - Hotel New York, Launceston TAS
Saturday 1 June - Republic Bar, Hobart TAS
Thursday 6 June - Transit Bar, Canberra ACT
Friday 7 June - The Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle NSW