A Hip Girl's Macro Hop

Newcastle Herald

Thursday July 5, 2007

Anita Beaumont

ROMY Hoffman was touring the US as a guitarist in schoolmate Ben Lee's band Noise Addict when she experienced her first taste of hip-hop, which triggered a passion for the social and cultural force of the genre.

The then 15-year-old surrounded herself with hip-hop beats, tongue-twisting raps and lyrical debauchery, which sparked her desire to exchange the "axe" for a mike.

Shortly afterwards the Australian MC now known as Macromantics was born.

"When I was a kid I loved Michael Jackson and Prince those larger-than-life figures," she said.

"I loved the power they had, how they looked and sounded.

"But then I discovered punk rock when I was about 14 and that changed my life. I realised music could be made by everyday people and I see that same element of punk rock in hip-hop the genres are kind of like brother and sister, born in the same era."

Hoffman, or Macro as she is also known, released her debut long-player Moments In Movement late last year, and it has been a hit with national youth radio station Triple J in particular.

It was nominated for a 2006 J Award, and features Hoffman expressing her beliefs and opinions with punchy, spitfire force over multi-layered, rich orchestrations and melodic beats.

Before that she had released the EP Hyperbolic Logic, which was successful in and around her home town of Melbourne.

She is already working on a second album, again with Tony Buchen who produced her debut.

"I want to keep creating interesting records. I don't want to make the same record over and over again.

"I want to challenge myself lyrically and bring new concepts into my songs, write better hooks and keep multi-layering and stripping them back."

Hoffman has just released her single Physical, which opens with the line, "Hey, Macro's back, and I'm gonna get cardio and s--t," which is an example of how she uses her music to amuse and inspire people to dance and have a little fun, while reminding them of the serious side of life through some of her deeper lyrics.

"I hope listeners take away the idea that you can have fun and have a conscience too.

"Even if they don't agree with me, they should just be aware that you can go out and party but there is also really serious stuff going on."

The DIY mentality is something Hoffman lives by hanging around like-minded, creative people.

She recently filmed a low-budget video clip for Physical pretty much on the spur of the moment when a friend said she could see a film clip unfolding from it.

Fans would be able to see the clip on her website and Myspace pages very soon.

"I'm so happy to be living among these amazing artists and creative minds who are willing to put in a bit of effort to create something like this for me."

Hoffman has collaborated with the likes of heavy metal rockers Ground Components and has also recorded a cover of Kris Kross's Jump for Triple J's Like A Version segment.

While Triple J had been a big supporter and taken her music nationwide, Hoffman also appreciated the community radio stations that had first given her music a chance back when she was starting out.

The beauty of hip-hop lay, for her, in its politically slanted movement, its narrative and its representation of the common man.

"It just really appealed to me. It is just honest and raw."

She finds inspiration to write everywhere she looks.

"My music is a product of the chaos around.

"I'm inspired by politics, art, religion that's my style. It's like a collage of influences.

"I was going to make music regardless of how many people listened to it. It is such a release for me, a way of expressing myself, something I have to do or I'd go crazy."

The name Macromantics came to Hoffman when she was studying for a university course in which she studied media and communication, philosophy and audio production.

"I do see the world on a macro level, and I really believe in good people and love, that love makes the world spin.

"I'm a hopeless romantic.

"I've always loved playing around with language, and as Romy is my real name, I felt Macromantics encompassed all of that."

Hoffman is preparing to support Lilly Allen on her coming tour of Australia, which visits Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

"I'm sure that will kind of open my music up to a new audience, to some fresh sets of ears.

"I'm not a massive fan but I think it's important someone like [Allen] exists. It's more real and colloquial and kudos to that. Her music has a different kind of flavour."

"My music is a product of the chaos around. I'm inspired by politics, art, religion that's my style. It's like a collage of influences." Macromantics is performing at The Cambridge Hotel tonight. Tickets are $10 plus booking fee, available from the venue, Beaumont St Beat, The Rock Shop and bigtix.com.au. Doors open 8pm.