83. Dean Peters

Creating music has always been Dean Peters’ biggest passion, but he’s now taken it a step further, mentoring young people who want to follow similar paths.

For the last five years, the 22 year-old Templestowe resident, who is also known as Mythic, has been heavily involved in the local music community, participating in, and even forming, music groups that bring likeminded young people together.

He has performed at local events and festivals, including Banyule’s YouthFest and Malahang Community Festival, and thanks to this experience, has earned more responsibilities.

“I’ve performed at YouthFest twice and Malahang twice, and at the last YouthFest [in September], I got asked to host the open mic sessions,” he said.

“There were two sessions, the first one didn’t go so well, but the second one was really popular, before I knew it, it felt like half the festival was there.”

At this year’s Malahang in November, rather than performing like he normally would, he hosted and stage-managed the music festival.

He said while he was more accustomed to performing, hosting events had been a good learning experience.

“It’s unfamiliar territory for me, I’m used to playing and doing my rapping, but now instead of remembering lyrics, I have to remember who’s playing and details about them,” he said.

But he said his main focus was still his solo career.

He released his first mix tape to the world last year, and is currently in the final stages of putting together an EP, which will be called ‘Castle’.

“I’ve recently released a single called ‘Talk Like This’, and that was like the trailer to my EP,” he said.

“I’m probably about 70% through it, I’ve written all the lyrics, all the beats are made, we’re just in the final stages, with photo shoots and music videos to be done.”

He said his EP would have poppy, hip hop vibes, with no crazy beats, but nice melodies over the top.

Dean described his music as “conscious hip hop”.

“The issues I’m addressing are only surface level when it comes to my personal life, but I go a bit deeper when it comes to social issues and issues around the world that I like talking about,” he said.

Those issues included mental health and the gap between first world and third world countries.

He predicted that these issues would be explored more deeply as the years went by.

“I’m still young, there are still going to be a lot more issues that arise,” he said.

“Even after five years of writing, I don’t think I’ve written everything there is to write about myself.

“The further you go into your soul, the deeper you get, and the more you learn about yourself.”

He said music is a perfect outlet to deal with any issues he might be facing.

“When I feel anxious or angry, which can be a mental and a physical thing, I write about it, that way I feel like I’ve been able to express it,” he said.

“Anger has probably been an issue for me for about four or five years, whereas anxiety is something I’ve started dealing with more recently.”

He said he also raps about positivity.

“My main musical influence has always been Bliss n Esso, they’re constantly spreading messages of peace, love and unity,” he said.

“That’s something they always take with them, and it’s something I try and take on board as well.”

He credited the support of friend Matt Casey to getting his EP to where he had wanted it to be.

“He’s incredible, he makes the beats, records my vocals, does my videos; he pretty much does everything except write the lyrics,” he said.

He was also grateful for the support of Jets and the hip hop program New Hope, where he had been given guidance in writing and music production, and provided with a space to rehearse and gig opportunities.

Another collaboration he was excited about was the upcoming ‘What’s Good Cypher Volume 1’ group project he was working on with rappers from around Melbourne.

“We make a beat and then each rapper writes their own verse,” he said.

“That’s currently in the works, everyone’s done their own writing, we just need to record it.”

Dean has also completed a Diploma in Audio Engineering and Music Production at Collarts.

He said he was eager to get his EP out in March next year, and that his generation’s ability to use social media as an outlet to get started in the industry was a double-edged sword.

“I see it as valuable because it’s a good way to get your name out there, but the fact that it’s so easily accessible means you’re going to have ten rappers out there rather than just one, it can be very saturated,” he said.

“There are a lot of extremely talented people out there that aren’t getting noticed.”

But Dean’s dreams are perfectly in tact, and he said he’ll do whatever it takes to achieve them.

“The goal is to be a paid and working performer and rapper,” he said.

Words: Joely Mitchell

Photo: Sean Porter