LP Walkthrough: Dallas Woods - Julie's Boy

Having dropped a string of singles over the last few years, playing sold out shows all around Australia as well as playing Bluesfest, Groovin’ The Moo and supporting Sampa The Great, not to mention co-writiing Baker Boy’s Gela, Dallas Woods has somehow found the time to ready his debut album Julie’s Boy, out today. 

Named after the title he held as a young boy in the East Kimberley, where his mother Julie was a legendary matriarch, Julie’s Boy is a beautifully well-rounded hip-hop release, touching on trap, grime and classic boom-bap sounds, while Woods’ versatile vocal delivery showcase his skills as not just an MC - but as a writer. 

To find out more about each track on the record, Woods was kind enough to go in-depth and wax lyrical on the meaning behind each track - give Julie’s Boy a spin while you found out more about each track below!

1. Ole Man (Produced by JUJO & Tentendo)

Ole Man, Ole Man, Ole Man. So, if you're familiar with the Kimberley, you know that every single place in the Kimberley has the the staple the punch line the sound in Windham is Ole Man and it's not a disrespectful thing like saying oh that's like you know Ole Man Ole Man and you don't even know like Ole Man listen you know if there's something you say to start come you know conversation or ended like Ole Man depends on it it has so many different meanings and something I grew up saying so it was only right for me if it was gonna be Julies Boy the first song had to be Ole Man. And you know, the song is like Ole Man Ole Man, you don't know me is like, unless you you know, underneath that mango tree at St. Joseph's. You don't really know me, you know, like, I'm talking about my brother from data like rocks and glass and oval, you know, walking around the hottest inhabited place in Australia, really growing up in such a beautiful place by just being around the most beautiful people.

So Ole Man, Ole Man, Ole Man, it's just a shout out to you know, all my people in Windham also, being vulnerable in the sense of, you know, I've had my slip ups and, you know, I've ventured off in the wrong direction. Known not ashamed of it. not proud of it as well, but it is what it is, you know, like I said, I'll give you me all the time. And it's just letting all of them up. No, I've never forgot where I come from. Who I Am. And what I do this for so Oh, man, it's just a bit of fun but, but a shout out to Windham and ek AKA AKA, you know, well, you know, judo, we're gonna talk about him a bit today because that bro is an absolute beast, to tendo does seem to be the absolute missing piece to anything that happens. You know, he's just got the ear for it. Absolutely amazing what he does. Don't want to sound cliche, but every instrument you name it, he plays it is the tender Batman thing. But, you know, I just want to say a big, big, big shout out to dopamine as well, for the mixing, you know, this whole project is mixed by dopamine and I don't think he's, he's missed. And I don't think he will.

But you know, at the end of the day, Judo My Baba, thank you, you know, we recorded this song in my lounge room at home like literally deserted and and played it recorded in like an hour and a half. And that wasn't due to the fact that I was prepared. That was due to the fact that the energy in the room was right. And that's something that doodle always brings. First of all, I just mentioned a few names and I want to shout out them. That's a bad man thing. That's some oh man, big shout out to the G funk. You know, I'm from Western Australia. I'd like to believe that I'm a West Coast sort of person. So well, West Coast raised me pretty much and that's in all aspects music in the actual place. Big shout out to the West Coast. What's worse?

2. Grime (Produced by Jerome Farah)

I have been blasting UK grime artists over the last couple of years and really getting inspired by their craft and technique. Grime is my nod to that scene and it's me flexing and leaning in on that style. I really connected with Jerome Farah in the session and pushed myself to really embody fastest rhymes and heavy hitting punch lines. I wanted to make a song that will go off live and get the crowd bouncing at the same time giving a shout out to my family and my team.

3. Colorblind (Produced by Pip Norman)

Well, the crazy thing is labs only made a song during that time. And that was 400 Plus murders. Now it's over 500 plus murders, no conviction, it is crazy, that it's actually escalated to that now, even before the songs even been released, you know, like you said, I've always been an advocate for, you know, Aboriginal Affairs, and especially when it comes to, you know, police brutality and, you know, racism, and you know, stigmatise, like state stigmas around all the, you know, what people would think when it comes to Aboriginal people, like, I hate saying this or that, like, it's just so far from proof, you know, I do live in both worlds, and I've seen it from both sides. 

And, you know, I've just always wanted to be a voice for people that get the wrong end, you know, and, and I was very blessed to be able to make the song with PIP Norman, and no, can't bounce, people know him as well. Absolutely amazing human being, you know, and gun producer, you know, this big come out. And when I was listening to it, it just made me feel like I wanted to go marching. I wanted to go and stand with my people. And, you know, put out that energy where it's like, this enough is enough, you know, we don't want to say no more of this, because there's so many families and beautiful people out there that are living with no clarity or no, no closure, because of what's happened and the government continue to do what they do. And, you know, I refuse to be silent when these things are happening quite regularly when we're actually thinking about it. And just to spread this out to the wider Australia, because, you know, as much as we can all say, allies and there's some some people actually that naive, they don't know what's going on. 

So it's just more about education and bringing people on board with what we're trying to achieve and make sure that there's not another, you know, life taken or having to be lost by police, you know, sort of protocols that they claim to be right and just by the book, but really are just a reasonable reason excuse to Get Away with Murder So, and big shout out to my brother smiles on the scratching. I was very blessed to have him on board and I love everything you do my brother, keep doing what you're doing and it always smiles in the scratching. You don't play the devil's advocate. I am in heaven, simple as that.

4. RASTA (Produced by Pip Normal & Tobiah Fahkri)

 So this is another one of those tracks that I wrote quite a while ago and just couldn't part ways with because, you know, I love the energy of it. You know, I originally made it with the little boy Tobias and you know big shout out to barstool you know, what he's doing in this success. You know, Bob, when I when I revisited it, I wanted to re recorded it. And when I finally got to what I wanted to sort of elevate it to a more of a newer place and you know, thankfully I had people next to me, Pip Norman, and you know, we were able to keep quite a bit of the structure and the you know, the foundation Tobias left and be able to make it a little bit more into this. 

This trip this this journey that you take with the song and you know, pretty much the quarters, where you from, where you're from, who your mom who your mom, who them is who they miss, that's my squad, that's my squad. So sort of, like, you know, wherever you go, like, you know, and it's such a beautiful thing. Okay, where are you from? I borrow your mom. And I feel good to be able to say above and then be like, I cool. So this this is this is not only a shout out to my first nations brothers and sisters out there, this is a shout out to everyone who reps where they're from, and loves their culture and their heritage and just you know, with that on the sleeve with a badge of honour, you know, that's that's where I'm from. That's my peoples. 

And without any arrogance about it, just just just respect for who they are. And yeah, this is Rasta. So, big shout out to my bro Tobias big shout out PIP Norman dopamine once again like I said, dopamine mixed all these amazing tracks and you know roughly just a journey. This is like my festival song. You know? Just enjoy it. Just get on there. Let your body do what it has to do. And what was fun farm Yeah, Windham from Kingston. You know what it is? Keep talking yada yada. Same, same but different. Ya know?

5. Vanilla Coke - featuring Jordan Dennis (Produced by JUJO)

You know, I was very blessed, not the last lockdown, but the lockdown prior to that, you know, I had a choice to either quickly jump on a train and get back to Catherine Lane before 12 o'clock. And, you know, the boys were like, Hey, come stay with us for, you know, the lockdown and let's make some music. And, you know, I'm absolutely amazed at what came out of that couple of weeks. Just just, you know, Jordan and, and Judah, just absolutely, I've not really been in the studio with people that worked that in tune, and that quick in the sense of quality levels, and, you know, our respect both of them for the talents and their craft. 

So it was just a good environment to be around. And, you know, we made so many amazing tracks and different genres. But also, one thing that never changed was the quality and the heart that was put into it. And, you know, vanilla Coke was just one of them things where I was like, Hey, I got this idea. And instead of being like, one of them is cool, let's do another thing. It was like, I That's dope, give me give me, you know, an hour of this didn't take an hour, but you know, got into it, dude killed it under production. Jordan absolutely killed it on reverse. And just the energy he brings to us bring in that new school, you know, lyrical, absolute energy that just shows all three of us shine in our own way. And it's not taken away from anyone else. It's just adding to that feeling and, you know, end result of the song. So vanilla code is just about all the stigmas and you know, all these people faking to be what they want. For no reason. 

There's no need to do that. Like, you know, being authentic and being you every style is something that I hold dear. So obviously, we live in an opinionated, industry and opinionated world. This is what I love. I love people being done feeling comfortable within the skin, and being able to showcase that no matter what platform they put on. So yeah, vanilla coke

6. The Source (Produced by Willie Tafa)

Bro Willie tougher, you know, I think if you don't know his name you've been sleeping because he's held the same, especially with the drill scenes for the last couple of years, you know, someone who just being able to have a beat produced by him was just a privilege in general. And I look at it as like a, you know, a moment like, Yeah, that's really tough was beat, absolutely love what he does love him as a human, you know, best times and, you know, to be able to show my run, not rendition, my my version of what I think drew would sound like if it was a West Australian style. 

And, you know, obviously I really embodied that whole, you know, no, no, no x given, if you'd say that, or just the unapologetic, and, you know, we all we all have our own version of the street, where we're all from, and this is my version of what I grew up with. And, you know, obviously, it's one of the things that, you know, I don't like to champion but it's also just something that I've lived through. And, you know, at the end of the day, part of my story and being authentic is just telling stories about my life. And I think source really sums that up and to be able to put it in like a context of what my lingo would be or how chan like it was where I'm from and to be able to hit that with a beat from the brother mentally tougher. I'm truly blessed. So big shout out, Willie, toughen your source. Get it

7. Is What It Is (Produced by Andrew Burford)

Well is what it is, you know, I was very blessed to work with Bella my nanny Burfoot. You know, amazing producer, amazing human, you know, the whole experience with him was amazing. And I'm so happy we got this out of it. And, you know, it's just pretty much me flexing. This is one of them little cheeky ones that is more from me than anyone else, you know. So, you know, I tried to sort of flex on the Creole that I speak and being able to speak in a language that not the everyday person will get my wound from, they'll be like, a mob butter really talking about some stuff, you know, and really getting a move just, it was like, like I said, it's more for me than anyone else. And you know, absolutely. 

You know, think that everyone that I look up to in the music industry has that one song where they get a bit cheeky, there's no harm about it, this experience and I can do this, I don't feel that but I get it Come on. It's hip hop, it's rap, you get to do what you want. And you get to be able to showcase what you feel your your talent is and mine is just being able to spit and to be able to like, you know, keep the lyrics coming in. It is what it is. This is how I felt about it, you know, and it was a lot of fun making the song The Beat slept, you know, the energy around making dish was beautiful. You know, shout out to Andy Buffett's management as well for making this such a amazing thing. To be able to have this you know someone on my project and really feel like a belongs is a beautiful thing. So yeah, it is what it is.

8. Bob'N'Arly - featuring Jordan Dennis (Produced by JUJO)

Oh Baba gnarly man mounting absolutely love this song. This, this has been a hook that I've sang to myself for so long and, you know, to be able to send it to Jordan and Jordan be able to be like eight left, let me let me do this and hear him sing no doubt this brought to life, how I actually envisioned and I was already like, that was just like to set the mood. You know, I'm just so so blessed to be able to, you know, have this song on my project. I believe in the song so much, it's gonna be another single, and you know, judo and Jordan. Like I said earlier working with them, it's just a blessing. 

And, you know, I really do believe that the music speak for itself and the quality of it speak for the environment and the energy that was around in that room, you know, when we're making it. So this is just pretty much like to sort of version this shout out to all the people I know, that are out there doing the nine to five, and really kicking goals in their life and being you know, stand up human being for their families and the people around them, and feel like they're not getting that nod of approval or anything we see that we do. And it's just one of those and other ways also, like, you know, I keep talking about it, authenticity. You know, you know, if it ain't me, then it's dumb. Like, if it ain't me, then it is them because I'm being someone other than myself. 

And I feel like, you know, judo and Jordan both really feel the same way when it comes to how they approach music, too. It's like, what I'm giving you is me regardless of any other reason, this is me. And I shall come ride with me. You want to hear my story? I'm telling it, you know, so Yeah, Bob and Ollie. We like to make weird names. You know, so, yeah, this is this is my shout out to what I think a reggae song would sound like with a bunch of cool cuts on you know, just just just doing Cool Cat things. So yeah, Bob Marley.

9. Moonboot Freestyle (Produced by JUJO)

Well first of all, I love this track for the the reason when I first heard Jujo sample Ricky's you know, voice and what he did after I regardless of all I was gonna be on it I already love this track. I was just like burry absolutely nailed it. Like for me, this is the top of hip hop God, I worship like this old school, boom bap sort of like hard hitting sample base, but to be able to have that sample actually within our, you know, camp and being able to do it in such a professional way where each team and each party's, you know, with it and actually get, you know, Ricky's blessing to us, it felt so much like, it wasn't just us ripping off the internet, it was like, this is a legit song now, you know, so, you know, Judo my brother, come on, you know, you killed it with this one here. 

I just try to try to just Just do what I do best. And that's, that's just bring, bring the energy, bring the punch lines. And, you know, I don't like to have favourites or anything. But, you know, I was in a moon boot at this time, you know, sort of why i called Moon boot freestyle, but I wasn't, you know, pretty unhappy place not being able to get up and move around and stuff. So to be able to make this this really, mentally was such a beautiful thing for me at that time. And to be able to have this now and look back on it. And, you know, obviously a lot more mobile now. And even like when men do door, you know, even you know, recent shows that we have shorter internet and chucked it out there and seeing the people faces when they hit that drop. It validates exactly what we thought about it when we made it. 

So you know, I can't be any more happy and just blessed to be able to finish my project off with this song. Moon freestyle, and, you know, thank you to Ricky and his team, my team for making this you know, get across the line. And to do it in a way where it feels like there's just nothing but love between everyone and yeah, this is a shout out to all my hip hop lovers out there. Whether you're tagging whether you're breaking whether you're you know on the mic, whether you're DJing like, you know, this is this is just for me personally is when my love for hip hop is really, really showcase So, yeah, Moon boot, baby.

*all tracks Mixed and Mastered by Dopamine

Dallas Woods' new album Julie's Boy is out now

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