Drapht breezes in to party

With touring around Australia an uncertainty, a top Perth rapper is getting ready to party in the North West. Drapht, also known as Paul Reid, will be venturing to the North West this month as one of two Perth-based artists touring regional WA as part of the Back on the Road series, supported by Perth-based rap trio Downsyde and up-and-comer Complete. The ARIA award-winning rapper will perform at Exmouth’s Whalebone Brewery on August 20, then at Mermaid in Dampier on August 21, followed by Port Hedland’s The Pier on August 22 and Broome’s Roebuck Bay Hotel on August 23, before heading to the Goldfields and the South West. Drapht said he wasn’t initially planning on touring this year as he was busy working on new music, but he jumped at the opportunity after COVID-19 placed national and international tours in limbo. “It feels a bit surreal because I was planning on touring next year after I finish putting together my next record,” he said. “When the opportunity arose I thought about whether or not I’d be able to go to the Eastern States next year depending on how it all pans out, so I couldn’t say no and I’m really looking forward to going out and playing some shows when I don’t think anyone in the world could say the same.” He said he was particularly excited to return to Broome for the first time in about six years. “I love Broome, I actually did my first two years of school in Broome,” he said. “My dad, who was a jazz drummer, drove the family up when I was about six or seven years old because he was part of the team that was building the Cable Beach Club and he played some music up there as well. Coming back to Broome will certainly bring back some fond memories but I definitely don’t miss the cyclones.” Drapht said fans could expect to hear a mixture of his back catalogue and some new songs, along with great tunes from Downsyde and Complete, an “incredible” up-and-coming MC. “I’m very excited to play some new stuff to test them out with the crowd,” he said. Tickets are available via oztix.com.au.