Midas.Gold: The New Gold Standard

Brisbane rapper Midas.Gold has been making waves with his video 'Work It Out' along with a nationwide tour under the same name. The young rapper has come out with multiple hits that are unlike any other rapper in Australia.

With his own brand of hip-hop which will get any crowd mobbing at a show, Midas.Gold is an up-and-coming talent with a bright future and aspirations for the world stage. With his debut EP, For What Its Worth, coming out on the 19th we can't wait to see what else he has in store.

Midas.Gold was kind enough to let us chat with him and get into his mind about his new found fame and his plans for the future.

Aiden Benavides: Hey Midas what's up?

Yo yo yo, I'm good bruh bruh, how you doing?

I'm great. So starting off you recently dropped your video for 'Work it Out', and right now it's getting massive acclaim. How does it feel that you're finally getting some recognition?

It's weird, I like that. I always knew what I wanted to do but I guess I was just like everybody else because I doubted that I'd ever be in the position that I'm in but I'm grateful. I'm grateful that Triple J fucks with what I do. It just goes to show if you put the work in, it will happen.

Good answer. So when it comes to your sound you have a bit of an edge that isn't often heard in the Australian market because you don't sound like an Australian rapper. It's interesting to say the least. Was your sound intentional, or did it come through naturally just by doing music?

Yeah I think it's been natural most definitely. I've always been exposed to hip-hop through my dad because he's from LA and I'm from America myself. I've always listened to different music like heavy metal, all different types of dance music and I don't know. Nobody taught me how to rap. I was always self taught, I didn't have any mentors for what I wanted to do. The way that I learnt my skills and technique has always been left of centre if you know what I mean. I've always been unique in that sense. It came from years of hard work and that's why it sounds like me and nobody else. Nobody else will ever sound like me.

When it comes to writing, do you have any particular process you go through? I know every rapper is different, but is there anything you do to get in the zone?

Well, first and foremost I don't rap I make dollars baby! [laughs] I just want people to know that, but yeah I'm a chill dude so I like to be somewhere quiet, chill. Ideas will pop up randomly while I'm out and about doing different things, when I choose to finish shit up is when I choose to finish shit up, so I can't really have a regular routine for writing but I do like to be by myself so I can really focus on the emotions without any inhibitions. I just do what I do, man.

Well you're still new to the game in the long sense, what are your plans for the future and do you have any goals?

The plan is to keep releasing good music that appeals on an international scale and keep pushing hoping to get recognised for that. I've always wanted to make international hip-hop. Australia can only help me for so long. I want to get overseas, and start pushing my music internationally. Be successful and push.

So when it comes to you pushing an international sound, do you feel like you draw heavy Australian influence or do you feel like you've taken more from American rappers?

I definitely have taken more inspiration from hip-hop that is from overseas, not just the US but also UK rap. It's not because I don't like Aussie hip hop but I come from the States, so I'm always going to be a bit biased.

I mean, even if you weren't from the States they just produce so much rap over there so I understand 100%.

I guess the US is the hip-hop equivalent of Rome, because they have the empire to push everything and set all the trends.

You do have an advantage when it comes to American rappers because you've come up in Australia, you have the fact you'll be an Australian rapper when you break into the world stage, and while that won't define you, you'll still have that foreign edge.

Right, 'cause I'll be different

Yeah, I mean Drake is Canadian and he milks the shit out of that.

Hell yeah! The US is over saturated, so you need everything to stand out. I got no problem taking that money, it's about winning.

[Laughs] Yeah of course man. So changing topics to touring, I know you've been doing the 'Work It Out' tour, and you only got Townsville left. Can you describe the touring experience, what's the Australian tour like?

Well, I've been on a couple tours now, and it's cool. I'm not a fan of airports or flying, so it's always a bit of a personal battle but other than that it's cool. I always like a bit of a story to tell people, especially my parents (shout out mum). I didn't want to travel I just wanted to focus on music and the traveling will come in later, so now that I am traveling because of music it feels good.

With traveling you've gotten to share stages with heaps of different talented artists. Have you got any dream collaborations for either shows, tours or music and general?

Lil Wayne.

Lil Wayne?

Yeah he's the king, I'd kill for that collaboration.

[Both laugh] Lil Wayne goes hard so I see that working well. On that, when you write tracks do you make an effort to make sure that the songs work well in a live/tour environment?

It's like yes and no, 'cause when my producer (James Angus) and I do music, we've already talked about what we want to get out of our music when we go into our studio. There's always things that we like and that we are focused on and that we apply to the work we do in the studio. We don't go in saying, "We are going to make a banger." There's no preconceived notions. Whatever comes out comes out. If it's a banger it's a banger and we will put it out. I got some more music that we are going to be putting out and it is what it is.

I'm glad you mentioned that you're gonna be putting out more songs because I'm wondering if you are going to release a mixtape or an album. What's going to be your big project?

Right now, I don't think there's a right way or wrong way.

There isn't.

I feel like what would be the best way for me will probably be EPs and singles, that's what I'm trying to do at the moment. There's no point in making a mixtape or an album unless I have the right base to release it to. You know what I mean? I want to build up hype, kinda like what All Day did, he waited until he had the right base. Right now, I'm just working to those steps that will get me to that point.

Whatever works man, I know you got some hype going from 'Work it Out'. Moving to non-music stuff, what do you enjoy outside of music?

Not a lot. I'm a simple man, Aiden and I enjoy simple things.

[Both laugh]

I like the company of close friends and myself most of the time. I dunno what else.

[Still chuckling trying to focus on the next question]  So...Damn hold on I gotta be more prepared.

Nah you're good baby, this interview has some of the best questions I've ever been asked.

Phew, I was worried for a second. Alright back to music with the next question: top 5 all time rappers ?

Hmmmmmm Let me think... Midas, Midas, Midas, Midas and Midas cause I spit hot fire!

[Laughter] 

Aw man I've been waiting to do that shit. That's my answer.

If you have another answer, I don't wanna hear it. That's the best answer I've ever heard to that question.

[Both Laugh]

I can't wait to read that.

Yeah my editor is going to love that. So with interviews, are there any questions you're dying to be asked?

Have you asked me the reasons I do music?

I can't remember that's why this is recorded, 'cause I can never remember, real quick - why do you do music?

I do music to not only improve my life but the people around me. I have more reasons because you can't just have one reason, I've always wanted to use music as a vehicle to move from A to B so I can speak to people uninterrupted. I feel like I can change things, that's another reason. Also everybody wants to make a little money.

[Laughs] I wasn't going to interview a dude named Midas.Gold and think he didn't care about money.

Hey baby, people are starving, I'm not trying to be one of them.

[Both Laugh]

I pretty much got what I need, do you have any plugs you want to shout out or anything that you want to say to the public?

Yeah, Shout out Dead Caucus and the fam. I strive to be the best. Casual racism is not okay and, For What Its Worth, I did this for you.

Preach it.

Midas.Gold's debut EP, For What Its Worth, comes out October 19 via Bedlam Records.

Words by Aiden Benavides

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