Gaijin

Welcome to my blog. Check back for updates on the new material I'm working on.

Here's my bio (self-indulgent?):

Gaijin is an MC and producer based in Melbourne, Australia. His lyrics feature an emphasis on structure, storytelling & imagery. Major influences include El-P, Aesop Rock, Atmosphere, Talib Kweli, Common, Gil Scott-Heron, Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway, Awakenings Crew, & Mantra.

Inspired by artists like Blackalicious, Jurassic 5, & The Hiero Crew, Chris Pahlow started rapping in late high school. His first public performance was at a school social in 2003. His mic was cut off only a few minutes into his performance after bottles and glow sticks were thrown at him and his beatbox accompaniment.

In 2004 Chris began performing with Melbourne funk band, King Armadillo. He guested with the band until early 2006, using the name “EOC”, and later “Axis”. Chris added vocal elements to jazz and funk classics like Footprints (Wayne Shorter), Well You Needn’t (Thelonius Monk), & Pick Up The Pieces (Average White Band), and performed in a variety of Melbourne venues including The Hi-Fi Bar, Corner Hotel, Crown Palladium, Kitten Club, & The Purple Emerald.

During the same period, Chris was a regular at Elf Tranzporter’s weekly open-mic night at Babel on Brunswick St (previously The Original Cape Lounge). In these sessions, Chris honed his skills, learning from Elf and the other MCs taking up the mic.

Inspired both by freestyle legends like Supernat, and jazz improvisation, Chris focused on freestyle MCing for the majority of his early career. He frequently traded fours with the members of King Armadillo and other MCs. He also brought a new degree of audience interaction to King A performances, often rapping about topics, words and objects selected by audience members.

In early 2006 Chris began collaborating with what would later become the Nat Bartsch Trio. Chris began working on written material while Nat Bartsch, Josh Holt & Jeremy Hopkins crafted dark, jazz-influenced beats.

Unfortunately, the band was short lived. In March 2006 Chris contracted glandular fever, preventing him from performing and working on new material. Soon after, he decided to quit MCing. He stopped writing, freestyling, and recording. He has not performed since.

Later that year, Chris shifted his artistic focus from music to filmmaking. He combined with filmmakers Steph Brotchie & Maia Tarrel to form the production house D.I.Y Art Films. Together they produced the animated short “Fraught”, which won Best Australian Film at the 2007 Melbourne Inernational Animation Festival and has been shown at festivals around the world. At the same time, Chris continued his studies in creative writing, visual media, & philosophy.

In early 2008 Chris began working on new material using the name “Gaijin”. He is currently collaborating with award winning producer, Liow, and looks forward to working again with old friends. He hopes to return to performing in the second half of 2008.