ARIA award winning Hip Hop artist releases new song for Government domestic and family violence campaign

Back Around, an original song created by Illy with music composer Nick Martin for the ‘Stop the Hurting – End Domestic Violence’ campaign, will be released for the first time today and offered for free download on www.qld.gov.au/stopthehurting.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said back-up vocals on the song are performed by Queensland-raised artist Mi-Kaisha, a 16-year-old Pop, R&B, Soul and Contemporary Indigenous singer/songwriter.

Back Around is central to the Queensland Government’s Stop the Hurting youth campaign, which features a competition asking Queenslanders aged 12 to 17 years to write lyrics on the theme of domestic and family violence to feature in the final verse of the song. The prize also includes a VIP In-Studio experience with Illy when the final verse is recorded.

The competition offers Queensland youth an opportunity to make their voices heard and help break the cycle of domestic and family violence.

Ms Fentiman saidmusic and poetry are great ways for young people to express their feelings and have their voices heard.

“I am thrilled that Illy, one of Australia’s leading Hip-Hop artists, plays a prominent and active role in the campaign,” she said.

Ms Fentiman said young Queenslanders aged 12 to 17 years are a critical group if we are to stop the cycle of domestic and family violence and achieve generational change in behaviour.

“We know that if we want to turn around the awful statistics on domestic and family violence we have got to change the culture that underpins it – and that starts with young people,” Ms Fentiman said.

“It’s great that we have seen so many entries into the competition, each representing young people who have engaged with the issue and are standing up against violence.

“We are bringing this issue out from behind closed doors and ensuring that all Queenslanders – including young people – know that they can speak out and say Not Now Not Ever to domestic and family violence.”

The state-wide campaign was developed in collaboration with Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to gain an in-depth understanding of their perceptions, effect real change and shift attitudes in relation to domestic and family violence.

The final version of the song incorporating the winning lyrics will be released later in the year.

To download the song and find more information on the ‘Stop the Hurting’ competition and campaign, visit www.qld.gov.au/stopthehurting  

ENDS

Media Contact:       Ron Goodman            0427 781 920

Artist Biography

Illy (Alasdair Murray)

Illy, born 6 September 1986 (30 years old), is an Australian ARIA award winning Hip-Hop artist.

He studied law at Monash University before dedicating himself to a career in music, rising to fame in 2016 with a string of hit songs (including “Papercuts” and “Catch 22”) from his fifth studio album, Two Degrees. Illy’s music and social media express his support of social issues, especially those impacting women.

Mi-Kaisha

Queensland-raised Pop, R&B, Soul and Contemporary Indigenous singer/songwriter, 16-year-old Mi-Kaisha launched her career on The Voice Kids 2014 and X Factor in 2016. Since then she has gained further accolades performing alongside Jessica Mauboy on the soundtrack of the hugely successful Australian film “The Sapphires”.