GET TO KNOW GIVITIMY
Image: Jade D’Amico
From his freestyle rap roots, a BROCKHAMPTON-esque group and now the launch of his solo career, Campbelltown native Givitimy is known for his smooth songwriting, clever lyricism and plenty of personality.
We sat down with Givitimy (aka Timothy Maurice) to chat all about his musical journey and the release of his upcoming Conscious track ‘Sound Off’.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY.
I started producing music as an early teen. At first I was just looking for a hobby, but over time it became a means to communicate. I always struggled to express myself, so when I started writing music I felt a big weight lifted off my shoulders. Now if I didn’t know how to say something to someone, I could just write it.
Since then I fell in love with song writing. Music helped me overcome many obstacles in my life, and it actually helped me to articulate my thoughts and make me a better person today.
What artists inspire and influence your music? Where else do you draw inspiration from in your music?
Kanye West is an easy influence for me, I was brought up on his music and ‘Late Registration’ was the first record I ever owned.
Anderson .Paak is also a big one, being a producer, rapper, singer, drummer as well. I can’t help but be inspired by his versatility, especially in an environment when doing more than one thing is often frowned upon. If I want to do some emotional RNB singing and accompany it with some braggadocious punchline heavy rap, and I have the skill set to do both, then why wouldn’t I? I guess I’m inspired by artists that push boundaries.
FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER HEARD YOUR MUSIC BEFORE, WHICH OTHER ARTISTS WOULD YOU SAY YOU’RE SIMILAR TO? WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE PACK?
I would say artists like A.GIRL, BLESSED, B Wise and Mason Dane are in a similar category as me.
What sets me apart from most artists is my lyrical ability and rhyme patterns. I’m also not afraid to try something different in a lot of songs, to the point where you may not even recognise that it’s me. I LOVE experimenting with different voices and genres.
the track you’ve developed for the conscious program, ‘sound off’, drops on may 4. What is the song about? What was the writing and recording process like?
I aimed for this song to have high-performance energy. In this current climate of Australian music, I want to be somebody who speaks from the heart and makes people think. The aggressive nature of the song is directly linked with my frustration as an Egyptian male raised in South-West Sydney and always feeling unheard - whether by authorites, peers or my own family.
In the forthcoming music video, I play on the idea of Arabic/Muslim communities being misjudged and labelled as criminals at first glance, when in reality we have so much love and wisdom instilled in our hearts, and that is expressed through our art, our children, religion and so many different ways. More than anything I hope this song can make waves in the Australian music scene, and inspire other artists to “Sound Off” and say what they really feel in a way that’s fulfilling to them.
‘Sound Off’ by Givitimy is available to stream everywhere on May 4, 2022.
Find Givitimy below: