New label Fifty Records is launching into the scene with Austin, Texas based D.R.O the first artist to join its roster. The debut release is named the ‘DRO EP’ but is satisfyingly closer to a full-length record featuring 10 tracks available as a digital download and limited vinyl release via bandcamp.

D.R.O – a combination of his initials – says, “I recently graduated from college where I studied psychology, and I really wanted to explore Type A and Type B behaviors and represent them on separate sides of the record.” This fortunately doesn’t hinder the mixtape flow of the EP but there is a tension to the A-side whilst the flip offers up a more hopeful world. Featuring original raps and beats by the 22 year old artist, this record is alive with the crackle and flutter of sample culture and illbient atmospheres. D.R.O’s kicks and snares bounce and roll, high-hats tick and splash; drumming up the hours spent tuning beats, and curious samples found digging for gold.

D.R.O’s rap delivery is diverse and moves between the screwed grooves of ASAP Rocky and the straight-up flows of Eminem. Top-notch production and effects takes them to the next level yet unsurprisingly D.R.O says “the instrumentals are probably my favourite tracks on there. You can just feel them and interpret them however you want. At first, I thought it was risky to have an instrumental as the first track, but I decided to do it.” That track is called ‘Freestyle To This’, and D.R.O adds, “I like the idea of people really freestyling to it, and getting what they want out of it.

Another standout track is ’40 0z. to Freedom’ feat. MARS: a slow burning beat joint blending soft jazz guitar with a lush synth pad, and the two rappers playing out an introspective stream of consciousness. Also of note is ‘Ubergrappes’ feat. A Giraffe and a Half, a soaring instrumental refrain of illbient breaks carrying the listener onwards to the blissful ending of ‘To: You’.

Sydney based label boss Casey van Reyk has secured the debut vinyl release with artwork by Ricardo Tomita limited to 200 copies. In late 2013, she joined forces with Jitwam Sinha and Nigel Mphisa to start independent record label The Jazz Diaries. Since then, van Reyk explains “I just knew his [D.R.O’s] music had to be heard, and I really wanted to release it, so I decided to start my own label.” A champion in the Sydney EDM scene, van Reyk says Fifty Records has a manifesto that allows each artist to have full creative control. As van Reyk explains, “We don’t want to lock artists into doing something they don’t want to do. We really want to nurture them.”. Budding producers can find Fifty Records on facebook and Soundcloud.