Day1 has certainly been one to watch over the past two years in hip-hop. The Maori/Australian rapper out of Brisbane has been building a movement that doesn't seem to be slowing down after his 2019 breakout single "Boss." He followed that with successful singles "One Time" and "Riding" which showcased different skills and demonstrated his ability to manoeuvre through the world of melodic rap with confidence.

Despite his short time in the limelight Day1 has already been featured on an official remix of A Boogie Wit Da Hoodies' single "Mood Swings" along with Youngn Lipz and Creed Tha Kid. The 20 year-old has just released his debut EP, Day Uno, an eight-track collection that showcases a mix of gritty rap and slick R&B. This project features his latest single "Magic" which is a collaboration with fellow artist Hooligan Hefs.

Why the name Day1, we are going to assume that's not the name your mum gave you?

Day1: (laughs) the reason is a characteristic I have with everyone, my approach to everyone, it's a day one trait. You know loyal, down to earth for anyone, especially the people I mess with.

So we've read your background is Maori and Columbian and you're living in Australia

Day1: (laughs) I'm not Columbian, I don't know where that's come from. I must've told a girl at a bar I was Columbian (laughs) just Maori and Australian.

Cool cool, glad that's cleared up. What does Hip-Hop mean to you on this side of the world? What is the unique flavour when you add Maori and Australian culture into it?

Day1: I feel like the singing aspect comes from my Maori side and then the slang is moreso from the Australian culture so i'm just mixing the two. It's just different, from the accent to the stuff we're talking about, it's really relevant to Australian culture. What we are going through is different to the rest of the world.

We've seen you've only been doing music for a short time, what made you want to get into it professionally?

Day1: Certain things happened in my life and I wrote it down. And then when I started making it into something it sounded good so people around me pushed me towards doing it more. Was just kind of this thing where I did it, tried it and it worked.

So speaking about your writing, you started when you were 9?

Day1: yeah

When you were writing back then was it just poetry or were you crafting lyrics to songs?

Day1: At 9 i already went through a lot of stuff, so I just wrote everything and rhymed what my life was like. Talked about my family and stuff. No beat, just like hip-hop in poetry.

What drew you into Hip-Hop?

Day1: Big influences like 50. All the new age people like PNB Rock, Able and that stuff. I just like the sound of it more so than other genres.

Being a fan of it have you gone back to study and listening to the forming days and classics or do you just stick with what you know?

Day1: I've heard some old stuff from like the 70s and whatnot, but i kind if just stay to the roots of what is more recent, I like the tone more than older generation stuff.

Sticking with what you know ok. Was it your father who introduced you to some of the older stuff? You've mentioned before about his music influence on you.

Day1: My father is really musical. He put me on Michael Jackson, can't remember some of the other ones. He put me one some country stuff too. He was a singer so he's always been musical. Michael was def the main one but yeah he was def on some different stuff.

With what you're doing now do you see past influences being incorporated or are you just dealing in what is the mainstream sound?

Day1: To be honest I try to keep away from getting influenced by other movements. I feel like my music is creating my own sort of thing. The stuff that I talk about is stuff I've gone through am currently living. Not really influenced by the mainstream scene.

So talk to me about your new project, Day Uno, are you sure you're not Columbian?

Day1: yeah Day Uno, the Columbian side (laughs) naw, so yeah that is my debut EP, kind of opening myself. Getting old fans and new fans to understand my story, get to know me more. It's more than making bangers or hits. These are the songs that mean the most to me, whether its girls, my family or just my life. That was the major objective for the EP, just to get to know me.

You've been speaking about the importance of writing about the things you've gone through and the music speaking for your identity. Let's fast forward to the end of your career, and you're looking back over it. What is it you want put in the books about you as an artist?

Day1: I want to be one of the best. I want folks to know I came from and repped my city Brisbane, my area. To leave a legacy behind that inspires the youth like how I was inspired by other artists from America and the UK. The kids who didn't have stuff growing up or don't feel like they've had opportunities given to them. Give them that inspiration and kickstart like oh if he can do it then I can do it. That's the legacy I want to leave behind. Gonna do all I can to make it happen.

You started blowing up in early 2020 and then we got hit with Covid. How has progressing your career been over these past 18 months with things not being "normal"?

Day1: It's taken a big effect. I can't travel overseas, was meant to do that by now. You can look at it one way like oh this is ruining me or you can look at it like Covid gave me the time to settle down and build myself as an artist. Even though things have slowed down a bit I feel like when things are back up that'll be my go time. Def working on my craft and skill and building myself as a person during this time. I'm still young, when this covid stuff blows over I can take over the world. 

What's a preview of what you got coming up?

Day1: I wanna do a tour, hopefully come to New Zealand. Also trying to work on an album, go overseas and get some features. That's the focus.

Ok, last question. Everybody gotta answer... Who is your top 5?

Day1: Drake, Freddo, Tory Lanez, Central Cee, uhhhhhh and Killer Roy

Thanks to Day1 for the sit down time and def make sure you check out his current EP Day Uno.