Career
Early years
Appearing as “MC Nad”, Scalper started off his musical career performing in the underground hip-hop crew Made In Britain (M.I.B.). Their track ‘Break The Crunch’ took the group to number five in the Kiss 100FM (UK) Underground Rap charts in 1991.
Later in the decade Scalper worked under the moniker “Nad-Made in Britain”, as a member of the British-based multi-ethnic hip-hop world fusion music group Fun-Da-Mental, as a live vocalist. The group were well known for their heavily political attitude and energetic fusion of Eastern and Western musical forms.
The first solo release under the Scalper name was the self-titled “Scalper’ EP, released in 1997 on Flo Records. This was followed by a second Flo Records release titled the ‘7th Thief’ EP in 1998.
Scalper also was the live vocalist for the UK Hardcore noise/beat outfit 2nd Gen (Novamute) from 1997 till 2001.
Leaving Fun-Da-Mental in 2000 to pursue a solo career, Scalper went on to release a set of EPs under a number of pseudonyms, as well as providing vocal, writing and arrangement work for the likes of Sonic Area (FR), Larvae (USA), Zodiac Project & Trace Elements (CH), Fujako (Belgium) and touring extensively. The third Scalper EP When The Angels Fight was released in 2002 on the Clockwork Recordings record label.
2007 onwards: Move to New Zealand, Flesh & Bones and Butchers Bakers
Scalper made the move to New Zealand in 2007, after first visiting with Fun-Da-Mental for the 1997 WOMAD festival.
Basing himself on Auckland City’s west coast Scalper began working creatively in his new home, leading to the release of 2010’s Flesh & Bones on February 8. The album, which was distributed by local label Border Music, was very well received by New Zealand press, who labelled it “beautifully formed…finely tuned” and “What could be New Zealand’s most polished and accomplished album for 2010” Album opener ‘Black Glory’ reached number five on the Kiwi FM (NZ) charts soon after the release of Flesh & Bones. In the same year Scalper supported King Kapisi on his nationwide ‘Hip Hop Lives Here’ tour.
2011 saw Scalper support legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy on the New Zealand leg of their ‘Fear of a Black Planet’ world tour, performing in both Christchurch and Auckland.
Scalper released his sophomore album Butchers Bakers on March 19, 2012. The album, which was self-released as a digital-only package, saw Scalper take an exceeding personal approach to his songwriting, leaning heavily on experiential narratives. This release was also well received, with national newspaper The New Zealand Herald claiming it was “so good, not to mention unique to be coming out of this country, that we should claim him officially as one of our own.” Coming off the release of Butchers Bakers Scalper has now shifted focus to his live performances, following up with shows throughout Auckland, Dunedin (supporting Boots Riley) as well as in Sydney, Australia.
Currently has been working in the studio and putting the finishing touches to the third Scalper album ‘The Emperor’s Clothes’. It was released on vinyl LP on www.jarringeffects.net April 18th 2015.
The new album was received very well by the NZ Music media with 4 Stars given from the NZ Herald. Many of the tracks were play listed on the 4 major Independent radio stations in NZ (95 BFM, Radio1 Dunedin, RDU Christchurch and Radio Active in Wellington). Radio play also in France, Australia, UK and Canada.
There are 4 videos made for 4 songs from the album, Puppets, My Blood Your Blood, Lunatics and Perfume which are available to watch on the Scalper Youtube channel.
Scalper then toured “The Emperor’s Clothes’ in 2015 with very successful shows in Switzerland, France, Berlin and London (Supporting the mighty Dálek on the UK leg of their European tour 2015).
The Song Trojan Horses was released in December 2016 as part of the Scalper Cuts EP, which was a sampler with 2 songs from each previous Scalper album plus the new song Trojan Horses. This EP was released through Quixote r.p.m (FR) introducing a new chapter in the Scalper journey.
Scalper returned to New Zealand and started working on the next EP & album slated for release on…EP-2017 & LP-2018 respectively on Quixote r.p.m (FR).
Scalper left Aotearoa on the Tuedsay 18th April 2017, arrived in Paris 19th April 2017 and spent 3 months on the road for the Scalper tour 2017. The tour culminated in 3 showcase dates at Printemps De Bourges 2017, dates in Paris, Nancy, Le Mans, St-Etienne, Clermont Ferrand then onto the Southeast Asia leg of the tour in Hanoi, Vietnam and 3 dates in Bangkok, Thailand.
During the stay in Nancy, France, Scalper wrote 2 new songs and they inspired 2 fresh new videos for them directed and produced by talented young director Romain Zawadski.
Returning to New Zealand in August 2017 Scalper began to work on the ‘Want’ EP which was then released in December 2017. Alongside the EP two new videos were also released, they were the videos for ‘Want’ and ‘Rooks Ravens Magpies Crows’. They were both shot in Nancy France by Romain Zawadski.
Preparations then for the Scalper ‘Want’ French Tour 2018 starting in April 2018 with dates across France. After the great shows and sometime arduous travels the final dates were in South France in Rodez. There Scalper was working with an organisation called Prodiges. It was here that he met co-founder of Prodiges Cisco Esteves who is a music producer and head honcho of the Dora Doravitch label in France. They work with underprivileged and marginalised children to heal and nurture their beings through art and music. With three performances for the children at 3 different schools that were really enjoyed by the children there. This culminated in 2 Scalper gigs for Fete de la Musique Rodez 2018 which were on the main stage in the old town square.
After seeing Scalper perform and hearing the music, Cisco invited Scalper for an artist residency during August 2018 in Tangiers Morocco. Upon accepting the invitation, they flew to Tangiers and over 5 days and nights in the desert heat in lush surroundings and recorded 4 tracks which would become ‘ The Tangiers Sessions’ by Scalper Vs Cisco. Released in June 2019 on Quixote Music and available online.
Work had already started on the fourth Scalper studio album which is pencilled in for 2020 and wanting to have a little something in between the release of that. So Scalper invited three artists to remix the track ‘Want’ from the Want Ep : Remixes by 2nd Gen, Eva3 & RiotMiloo from the UK respectively, and Ramintra from Bangkok, Thailand who Scalper met while on Tour in Bangkok in 2017. You can hear or buy these on www.scalper.bandcamp.com
The “Want More’ Ep was released on December 12th 2019 and includes original vocal versions and full instrumentals alongside the 3 remixes.
Following the Want More Ep Scalper has been back in his studio writing the lyrics and producing the music for the next musical releases. As yet untitled a new album is in the works.
It’s been a tumultuous last couple of years with deaths in the family and life in general but all energies are revitalising and a purposeful spirit is glowing.
Scalper will release ‘Dust‘ which is the first track off the new upcoming Scalper LP ‘The Beast and the Beauty‘ on 1st October 2020 with the video for Dust on the 7th October 2020. The Dust single will be available to buy on the Scalper bandcamp page and all other digital music platforms from the 1st October 2020.
The Beast & The Beauty album was released on 31st October 2020…Available to stream and buy HERE