Hermitude

Hermitude are an Australian electronic hip hop group from the City of Blue Mountains, active since 2000. The group consists of Luke Dubber and Angus Stuart, who also use the names Luke Dubs and Elgusto. They later reside in Sydney.

Background and members

Dubber and Stuart grow up in the Blue Mountains and begin playing musical instruments at a young age. They also perform together with Stuart’s sister Aja in a funk and jazz group called Funk Injection from their early teens. Dubber studies contemporary keyboard at the Australian Institute of Music and earns an Associate Diploma.

Stuart also DJs and plays percussion with Paulmac and The Dissociatives, and works with The Bird, Wes Carr, Explanetary, The Herd and Upshot. He also appears as a DJ at clubs and events. Dubber works as a full-time musician and plays keyboard in Explanetary, Vassy, Funk Injection and Guache.

Style and recordings

Hermitude use drum programming, sampling and mixing alongside turntablism, keyboards, bass and percussion, with occasional vocal contributions. Their recording style is instrumental-led, with only a small number of vocal tracks across their albums.

Among the tracks mentioned are “Alleys to Valleys”, from the album of the same name, which features MCs Urthboy and Ozi Battla of The Herd, along with Joelistics. “Music From the Mind” appears on their later album and features Blu MC. The group is associated with Elefant Traks and works across electronic, hip hop, post-dubstep, trap and wonky.