To the uninitiated No Comply is a skate trick, but it’s also the name of one of New Zealand’s most exciting up-and-coming hip hop acts.
Fynn and Ethan Blackwood are two Auckland-based brothers who have made some big moves in 2020. Fynn owns the mic, while Ethan is the brains behind the beats. The duo’s debut single Tic Tac Toe injected a much-needed dose of uplifting fun into the local music scene while New Zealand was in lockdown. Now the lads have followed up their memorable debut with their latest drop She Likes, an indie rap gem with electronic influences that has us hitting that replay button over and over.
Both brothers have a rich musical history long before they started releasing music together. Fynn was previously a part of Lakes & The Magic Band, while Ethan has become a coveted producer in NZ - you might be familiar with his production on Harper Finn’s festive bop Sun Down.
We sat down with the two brothers to talk about their new single, growing up in a musical family and what else they’ve got cooking.
How are you feeling now that She Likes is finally out and with the world?
Fynn: Very happy about getting it out there! We’re stoked because this was another one that we’d written quite a while ago - around the same time as Tic Tac Toe, which was yonks ago.
Ethan: Like two years now!
Fynn: It’s been through so many different variations and versions - just like Tic Tac Toe - so to have it finally down is pretty cool.
Ethan: And now it’s all going to be fresh stuff from here, which is super exciting as well!
Speaking of a couple years ago, how did you guys get into music? Are your parents musical?
Fynn: Yeah they are! Especially Dad’s side. Mum always had jobs around music, working in radio (Hauraki) and stuff like that, Dad worked in a record store. But yeah, Dad was a drummer and his Dad was a pianist, and it goes on and on.
Ethan: I remember so clearly when I was about six years old, for Christmas, Dad got Fynn a real shitty little acoustic guitar and got me a little shitty drum kit, and I wanted to be like Fynn so I was like “naaaaaaah I want a guitar,” and then I just didn’t pick up drums and we just both ended up playing the guitar.
Awww your dad was trying to get one of you into the drums! Sibling rivalries huh?
Ethan: Yeah, gutted.
Fynn: He wanted us to form a band.
Well, he must be pretty stoked with you guys now! How’d the journey transition from playing acoustic guitars as kids to beat production and rap?
Ethan: I got heavily into rap when I started skating in like, Year 7, and there was just so many ties with old school hip hop and street culture, so on skate parks I started listening to Biggie and Wu Tang and that really fuelled my skating. With production, I split my Achilles in half and had six months off, so I just decided to learn how to make beats.
Fynn: For me I was listening to rap all the way through. Metal and rap were all I listened to. Then I started writing poetry and more sing-y stuff at the beginning of high school. I transitioned from poetry to rap in maybe 2012-13 and started performing in 2014. The first stuff I began performing was literally just poetry flipped on its head. That’s how I got into it.
What is She Likes about?
Fynn: She Likes is about going to parties and seeing the same group of dudes trying to hit on chicks and acting way too cool.
Ethan: Cringey dudes.
Fynn: Just real cringey and you can see they’re not being themselves, and I just go to parties and I’m like “man, why don’t you just be yourself, cause you look like a tool. Maybe she would like you if she likes that attitude of yours.”
Got a good game then Fynn.
Fynn: Oh nah, I was the weird dude in the corner. I was just having a happy time. I like being kooky. I just look at it and think come on man, everyone sees that. Or maybe they were being themselves and they’re just dicks…
Ethan: Yeah, true.
Fynn: I feel bad for those ladies though.
Was there a specific group of girls? Anyone in particular?
Fynn: No like specific parties, I just noticed it was a trend. You know it was either like one guy, or a group of three.
Ethan: Specifically.
Fynn: And I was just sitting on the outside of this, hearing: “Oh yeah so wuh yuh doin?” While they’re drinking out of a tall McDonald's cup with ten of them stacked, posing as though they’re American rappers drinking lean, like we know that’s Coca-Cola man.
Let’s go back to you being kooky, can you tell me about the She Likes video?
Fynn: That’s just an acid trip that we replicated. Wait, can we say that?
I think after about the first five seconds, it’s pretty clear what the video is inspired by. You’re good.
Ethan: Not condoning the use of psychedelics, it’s good for some people, it’s not good for some, but for some it’s…
Fynn: Amazing.
Ethan: It’s amazing.
Bath time seem like a real good time for No Comply?
Fynn: Bath time is a great time. It’s relaxing, it’s cleansing… It’s mind-altering. We basically just wanted to replicate a trip from once upon a time. Possibly inspired by real life experiences… We had a good friend, Jason Delaveau, who is amazing with tech and was real keen to take on a project like this. He just chucked a green screen up in the garage and found an old bathtub. We did two days of filming, and then he actually went over to London and has been working on it over there.
Ethan: I was still in Wellington so I just had to screenshot selfies and Jason chucked them into the video.
It works so well! I love how your videos now kind of have a running theme of colourful chaos!
Ethan: We want to keep it up!
Fynn: We’re just trying to keep as many of our friends involved too.
Ethan: We know so many talented local creators, it’s awesome.
So now that She Likes is out, what have you guys got cooking? What’s next?
Fynn: We have three tracks on the way that we want to bang out monthly, and then we’re keen to put an EP together. This new track is obviously more poppy and dance-influenced, and the next one we want to release after goes back to the roots, '90s hip-hop, old school Flava, which I’m excited about. It’s called Boom Bap. I like the energy.
What about tours, shows, festivals?
Ethan: Can’t say anything about festivals… yet! We’ve got a sold-out show at The Tuning Fork on July 17th, it’s just with a bunch of friends. And our mates’ parents. It’s going to be so funny when we rock up in speed dealers and a wig and start swearing.
Fynn: I think some of them are going to be in for such a shock.
Ethan: But then Harper [Finn] can mellow it out.
Fynn: Yeah, so we’re playing with The Basement Collective. Teto is on the decks, she’s wicked. I saw her set at Rhythm & Vines Festival last year, she was mean. Then there’s us, we’ll be alright, and Harper Finn who is always a pleasure.
And where do you see yourself in five years?
Fynn: The top, g. Nah, hopefully just competing!
Ethan: Being able to just sustain rent from our music would be incredible. That’s my idea of making it, just being able to live off it.
Fynn: Not millions, just being able to have a little bit of pocket change at the end of the week so you’re able to go get a pie and a beer.
Ethan: Yeah, rent money, and pie money. That would be nice.
