Illy’s Road To The Good Life

Aussie hip hop stalwart Illy is currently riding a wave of momentum thanks to his latest release, The Good Life. As he embarks on an ambitious nationwide tour, complete with a deluxe edition and a fresh set of collaborations, the Melbourne-born artist is celebrating not just chart success, but personal growth and creative reinvention.

“It’s just been a little while between drinks on the regional run,” he says. “I’ve always looked forward to getting back out there. That kind of touring, it’s always been a big part of what I do.”

Regional audiences in particular are central to Illy’s ethos. It’s not just about venues or ticket sales, it’s about meeting people where they are. “If there are people that want to see a show, you don’t take that for granted. Go out there and meet them. It goes hand in hand with releasing music.”

But not every route is easy. When it comes to South Australian fans, frustration bubbled up recently after Adelaide was added to the tour.
“We’d just played Adelaide like six weeks earlier. We didn’t want to go straight back, and Mount Gambier just didn’t line up with the other western Victorian dates. I’ve caught a bit of grief online, South Australians definitely let me know their displeasure,” he laughs. “But we’ll be back. Adelaide’s basically a second home, my girlfriend’s from there, some of my best mates too. It’s absolutely on our hit list.”

Illy acknowledges the sensitivity some cities feel when tours pass them by, especially repeatedly.
“I’ve seen the frustration firsthand. For me, this was just the one time it didn’t work out. It’s never personal, it’s scheduling, cost, logistics. Regional runs are tough. You’ve got six people to move, accommodation, gear, venues… costs spiral fast, especially if you can’t drive to the next spot.”

Despite all that, the response to The Good Life, both the original and the deluxe edition, has made it all worthwhile.
“I put a lot into this album,” he explains. “It wasn’t safe. It wasn’t formulaic. I didn’t just repeat what I’d done before, I took risks.”

The record topped the ARIA charts, but beyond the accolades, what’s struck a chord is the emotional depth and sonic shift.
“I’ve leaned more toward melodic songwriting in recent years,” Illy says. “Maybe people saw it coming, but it still felt like I was putting myself out there, opening myself up to criticism. The reception was pretty overwhelming in a good way.”

The deluxe edition of The Good Life offers a more intimate take, featuring acoustic versions and unreleased gems like Freehand.
“I love ‘Freehand.’ It’s more of a rap song that didn’t quite fit the original album, but I didn’t want to hold it back. Same with the acoustic version of Good Life, I really loved that arrangement. These were songs I felt strongly about, and with the tour happening, it just made sense to share them.”

Behind the scenes, the album was shaped in large part by Illy’s creative partnership with Johnny Took from DMA’S, a collaboration that blossomed during the COVID lockdowns.
“I’ve known Johnny for years, festivals, shows, the usual circuit. When touring shut down and we were both stuck in Melbourne, he reached out. He had a studio and said, ‘Let’s work.’ A lot of the songs on the album came from those sessions.”

The process was organic. Many tracks began as piano-driven chord progressions before evolving in the studio.
“Production-wise, where the songs end up is so far from where they start. Usually, it’s keys, not guitar. But Johnny’s a killer guitarist, so this time a lot of them started with him strumming. Then it takes on a life of its own.”

Outside of Took, Illy assembled a powerful set of guest artists to elevate the album’s emotional core. But landing those voices wasn’t always easy.
“Pretty much every song was written before the singer featured,” Illy says. “It was just a matter of finding someone whose tone matched the vibe, someone who could do the song justice. Locking in those features took the longest.”

One track, “Kids” featuring Sofia Reyes, took nearly two years to finalise.
“We tried a few international artists, but the process was slow. Some sent back vocals that weren’t complete, or didn’t quite hit the mark. We’d ask for redos, it just dragged out. Eventually we got it right, but yeah, that one was a saga.”

Another standout collaboration was with rising Australian talent Tones and I.
“She’s unreal,” Illy grins. “Like a little sister from the same part of Melbourne. Insanely talented. It’s been awesome seeing her finally get the recognition she deserves. I really hope we work together again. I think that’s probably going to happen.”

With the tour now in full swing, performing most of the album’s tracks plus fan favourites from previous records, Illy is already sketching out what comes next.
“I’ve started pulling together chord progressions, rough sketches. The tour is pretty full-on, so I don’t think anything new will drop before the end of the year. But I’ll be chipping away in between dates. I’ve got to keep it moving.”

Reflecting on The Good Life, Illy is clear: this record marks a creative turning point.
“It pushed my skill set out. I didn’t take the easy path. I didn’t just recycle old ideas. I really focused on songwriting, big choruses, layered melodies. I’m proud of that.”

Does that mean the next album might be another pivot?
“I don’t know,” he says, considering the question. “I’ve been seeing things in hip hop that excite me again, stuff that I hadn’t felt in a while. I think maybe it’s time to shift back to rap a bit. But we’ll see.”

Part of that is influenced by what he’s seeing around him, both good and bad.
“I’ve always liked melody, and I’ve spent the last few albums really pushing that. I’m comfortable writing choruses now, as much as verses. That was a goal. But now that I’m there, maybe it’s time to swing the focus back to bars.”

He’s also motivated by a sense that some of what’s passing for hip hop right now feels tired.
“There’s people out there doing it by rote, it sounds uninspired. And I figure if I’m going to judge, I should throw my hat in the ring and show I can still do it better.”

Among recent releases that have caught his ear are Kendrick Lamar’s latest offering, and the anticipated new album from Clipse. Locally, he’s looking forward to the new record from Hilltop Hoods.
“That one’s coming soon. Should be out by the end of the month,” Illy notes.

As for what’s next after the tour?
“Once it wraps up in mid-November, I’ll be back in full studio mode. I’m hoping to have something finished, maybe even ready to release by early next year.”

In the meantime, Illy remains focused on giving audiences across the country a show that reflects where he’s at as an artist, as a songwriter, and as someone who never takes a stage for granted.
“Live shows are everything,” he says. “It’s where the songs really come alive. Touring The Good Life has been about reconnecting with the fans, with the music, and with the reason I started doing this in the first place.”

For Illy, The Good Life isn’t just a title, it’s a journey of reinvention, rediscovery, and reaching people wherever they are. And from the look of it, he’s only just getting started.

Interview By Rob Lyon

Tickets to the Good-er Life Tour are on sale now. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.illyal.com/tour