Optamus

{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Optamus | image = | caption = | image_size = 150 | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Scott Griffiths | alias = Optamus Bomb Scott | origin = Perth, Western Australia, Australia | genre = Hip hop | years_active = 1996–present | label = Syllabolix Hydrofunk Records Obese Records Illusive Sounds Opt Shop | associated_acts = Downsyde, Hunter, Drapht, Syllabolix | website ={{url|optamus.com.au/}} }}

'''Scott Griffiths''', better known by the stage name '''Optamus''', is one of the MCs of the Perth-based Australian hip-hop group Downsyde and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.

==Music career== ===Downsyde=== {{further|Downsyde}} Griffiths with fellow Craigie Senior High School classmate Shahbaz Rind (Dyna-mikes ) founded Downsyde in 1996.<ref name="West">{{cite news|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/music/7337192/optamus-primed/|title=Optamus Primed|work=The West Australian|publisher=West Australian Newspapers| last=Schlechte| first=Ted| date=3 June 2010|accessdate=29 August 2010}}</ref> It was the following year that they released a demo cassette ''Behind the Bucket'' which topped the independent charts within a week of its release. Optamus and Dyna-mikes met their third and last MC and producer, Darren Reutens Dazastah at Leederville TAFE. The group further expanded adding Damien Allia (DJ Armee), Mathew Cheetham (Cheeky) on bass guitar and keyboard together with Salvatore Pizzata (Salvatore) on drums to form Downsyde. In 2000 they released their debut album, ''Epinonimous'', this was followed by ''Land of the Giants'' in 2003 and ''When the Dust Settles'' in 2005. The group went into hiatus for three years before releasing ''All City'' in 2008.{{cn|date=November 2022}}

===2010 onwards=== As well as being a skilled MC, Griffiths is a producer. As well as working on beats for Downsyde, he has produced for many Australian acts, including Hunter, Drapht and Bias B.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Optamus|title=Optamus|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=1 September 2010}}</ref> As of 2010 he was running his own local independent label, Opt Shop Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://certifiedscribe.com.au/?m=200707|title=Funkola – Funkola|publisher=Certified Scribe|date=22 July 2007|accessdate=1 September 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803063925/http://certifiedscribe.com.au/?m=200707|archivedate=3 August 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Optamus released his debut solo album ''Forever & A Day'' on 12 June 2010. Optamus is also the name of his group, a trio with keyboardist Chris 'Imposter' Foster and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Jongsma (Moondog).<ref name="West"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heatseeker.com.au/newsdetails.aspx?id=421|title=Optamus launches album this weekend!|publisher=Heatseeker.com.au|accessdate=1 September 2010|archive-date=16 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216001109/http://heatseeker.com.au/newsdetails.aspx?id=421|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album includes a number of guest artists including Hunter, Trials (Funkoars), Drapht, Hau (Koolism), Downsyde and MC Layla.{{cn|date=November 2022}}

Optamus previewed the album to a sold-out home crowd (Rosemount Hotel W.A) and a tour through the southwest in June 2010. ''Forever and A Day'' went on to sell 3500 copies from his website.{{when|date=November 2022}} "Lookaround" became a Triple J single and they toured Australia extensively.{{cn|date=November 2022}}

A second album, ''A Hero's Concerto'', was released on 20 September 2019.{{cn|date=November 2022}}

In November 2022, Optamus collaborated with other First Nations artists Emma Donovan, Emily Wurramara, Drmngnow, and DOBBY to create a song in memory of Cassius Turvey, a Noongar-Yamatji boy who had died at the age of 15 the result of an assault by a random attacker when walking home from school in Perth, Western Australia. The song, titled "Forever 15",<ref name=song/> was played at Turvey's funeral on 18 November 2022 funeral<ref name=funeral>{{cite web | last=Ho | first=Cason | title=Cassius Turvey funeral: hundreds mourn slain teenager and celebrate his life | website=ABC News| date=18 November 2022 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-18/cassius-turvey-funeral-perth-western-australia/101668274 | access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref> and released three days later on 21 November 2022.<ref name=song>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/cassius-turvey-song-forever-15-dobby-emily-wurramara-kee-ahn-drmngnow-3354871|title=DOBBY, Emily Wurramara, Kee’ahn, DRMNGNOW and more feature on song honouring the late Cassius Turvey|website=NME|date=25 November 2022|access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/forever-15-feat-emma-donovan-emily-wurramara-fred-leone/1655295954?i=1655295970|title=Forever 15|website=Apple Music|date=21 November 2022|access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>

==Other activities== Griffiths also conducts workshops for African immigrants and Aboriginal youth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/22/2879862.htm?site=greatsouthern&section=news|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718031048/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/22/2879862.htm?site=greatsouthern&section=news|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 July 2012|title=Downsyde highlights the upside of Narrogin|publisher=ABC|work=ABC Great Southern WA|last=Wilson-Smith|first=Nikki|date=22 April 2010|accessdate=1 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.govo.wa.edu.au/courses-program/aboriginal-education.html|title=Aboriginal Education|publisher=Governor Stirling Senior High School|accessdate=1 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countryartswa.asn.au/cms/cawa/pages/youngpeople/out%20there/outthere_mullewa.html|title=Out There Mullewa|publisher=Country Arts WA|accessdate=1 September 2010|archive-date=27 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927131812/http://www.countryartswa.asn.au/cms/cawa/pages/youngpeople/out%20there/outthere_mullewa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{quote|I run a hip hop workshop program where the participants get to write a song and learn about the hip hop culture and the Australian hip hop culture. For me it's another aspect of what I do as a musician, that makes me feel like I'm balancing the karma from being able to tour and live a life where I get to do something I love, I think this is my 'give back'.|Scott Griffiths<ref>{{cite news|url=http://issuu.com/xpressmag/docs/flipbook_1216|title=Optamus, Forever and a Day|publisher=Xpress Magazine|date=3 June 2010|issue=126|page=45|last=Hayes|first=Josh|accessdate=1 September 2010}}</ref>}}

==Discography== ===Downsyde=== * ''Behind the Bucket'' – Independent (1997) demo cassette * ''Epinonimous'' – Syllaboliks (September 2000) * ''Land of the Giants'' – Hydrofunk/Virgin (HF 30) (March 2003) * ''When the Dust Settles'' – Obese (OBR026) (December 2004) * ''All City'' – Illusive Records (ILL014CD) (4 October 2008) * ''ClassicILL'' MGM / Shakedown Records 2018

===Optamus=== * ''Forever and a Day'' – Opt Shop (SBX023) (12 June 2010) * ''A Hero's Concerto'' – Opt Shop (SBX028) (12 Oct 2019)

===Production=== {{expand list|date=February 2011}}

;Downsyde * ''Behind The Bucket'' – Yirra Yaakin (1997), whole album * ''Epinonimous'' – Syllabolix MGM (2000), tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 When The Dust Settles * ''All City'' – Illusive (2009), tracks 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13

;Clandestien * ''Clandestien'' – Syllabolix (2001), track 4

;Hunter * ''Done DL'' – Syllabolix (2002), tracks 11, 16, 18 * ''Culture of Kings II'' – Obese (2002), disc 1, track 2 ("Jam Roll")

;Matty B * ''The Courageous LP'' – Obese (2002), track 7 * ''Culture of Kings III'' – Obese (2003), track 1

;Bias B * ''In Bed With Bias'' – Wordburner (2004), tracks C1, D3 * ''Been There Done That'' – Obese Records (2007), track 9

;Drapht * ''Culture of Kings III'' – Obese (2004), disc 1, track 1 ("Misunderstood")

;Fdel * ''Audiofdelity'' – Invada Records (2005), track 8

;Hunter * ''Going Back to Yokine'' – Obese Records (2006), track 15

;Omni * ''Batterie'' – NatAural High Records (2007), tracks B1-B3

==Awards== * 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards – Nominee – Best Hip-Hop act<ref name="2003 DMA">[http://www.centralstation.com.au/articles/shownews.asp?newsid=2964 2003 DMA Nominations]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards – Winner – Best Debut Artist<ref name="DMA2003">{{cite web|title=2003 Motorola DMA Winners Announced|url=http://www.dancemusicawards.net/default.html|work=Dance Music Awards|publisher=Dance Music Awards|accessdate=10 December 2011|archiveurl=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20040208130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/40282/20040209-0000/www.dancemusicawards.net/default.html|archivedate=8 February 2004|year=2003}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> * 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards – Nominee – Best Album – ''Land of the Giants''<ref name="2003 DMA" /> * 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards – Nominee – Best Single – "Gifted Life"<ref name="2003 DMA" /> * 2003 Australian Dance Music Awards – Nominee – Best Australian Hip Hop Act<ref name="2003 DMA" /> * 2003 WAMi Awards – Winner – Most Popular Local Original Urban Music Act<ref name="2003 WAMi">[http://www.wam.asn.au/archive-kmw03.htm 2003 West Australian Music Industry Award Winners] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230441/http://www.wam.asn.au/archive-kmw03.htm |date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> * 2003 WAMi Awards – Winner – Most Popular Local Original Music Video – "El Questro"<ref name="2003 WAMi" /> * 2003 WAMi Awards – Winner – Most Popular Original Local Album – ''Land of the Giants''<ref name="2003 WAMi" /> * 2005 WAMi Awards – Winner – Best Live Electronic Act<ref name="2005 WAMi">[http://www.wam.asn.au/wamifest05.htm 2005 West Australian Music Industry Award Winners] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230402/http://www.wam.asn.au/wamifest05.htm |date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> * 2005 WAMi Awards – Winner – Best Urban Music Act<ref name="2005 WAMi" /> * 2006 WAMi Awards – Winner – Best Urban Music Act<ref name=wami-2006>{{cite web|title=WAMi AWARDS CONGRATULATIONS|url=http://www.wam.asn.au/wamifest06.htm|work=WAMi Festival 2006|publisher=WAMi Festival|accessdate=10 December 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060224070435/http://www.wam.asn.au/wamifest06.htm|archivedate=24 February 2006|year=2006}}</ref> * 2007 WAMi Awards – Winner – Best Urban Music / Hip Hop Act<ref>[http://www.wam.asn.au/wamifest07.htm 2007 West Australian Music Industry Award Winners] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722182155/http://www.wam.asn.au/wamifest07.htm |date=22 July 2008 }}</ref> * 2008 WAMi Awards – Winner – Best Urban Music / Hip Hop Act<ref>[http://www.wam.asn.au/wamifest08.htm 2008 West Australian Music Industry Award Winners] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628163438/http://www.wam.asn.au/wamifest08.htm |date=28 June 2008 }}</ref> *2016 WAM Song Of The Year - Buridya Mob - produced and facilitated by Optamus *2017 WAM World Category - Akolkol Dastan Gesa produced and facilitated by Optamus *2019 WAM Song Of The Year Runner Up- Kya Kyana - Lyrics by Flewnt and Graham Dixon produced by Optamus and Inspired by Robert and Selina Eggington (Dumbartung) *2019 WAM Indigenous Category- Kya Kyana - Lyrics by Flewnt and Graham Dixon produced by Optamus and Inspired by Robert and Selina Eggington (Dumbartung) *2019 WAM Hiphop/Urban Category- Kya Kyana - Lyrics by Flewnt and Graham Dixon produced by Optamus and Inspired by Robert and Selina Eggington (Dumbartung)

===Guest appearances=== {{expand list|date=February 2011}} * 2001: "Lord of the Flies" (from Clandestien album, ''Clandestien'') * 2002: "Have a Drink With Us" (from Hunter album, ''Done DL'') * 2002: "Co-Conspiriters" (from Hunter album, ''Done DL'') * 2002: "Jam Roll" (from ''Culture of Kings II'', Hunter track) * 2005: "Dusty Fingers" (from Fdel album, ''Audiofdelity'')

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.optamus.com.au/ Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804212700/http://www.optamus.com.au/ |date=4 August 2010 }} *[http://www.myspace.com/mcoptamus Optamus Myspace Page] *[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Optamus Optamus Discogs Page] {{Downsyde}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Optamus}} Category:Living people Category:Australian hip-hop musicians Category:Obese Records artists Category:Rappers from Perth, Western Australia Category:Year of birth missing (living people)