New Zealand hip hop group, Home Brew, has released their first album in over a decade, titled ‘Run It Back’. The album was released on December 8, marking the band’s first official release since their self-titled number one album over 10 years ago.
Tom Scott, a member of the group, joined Kara Rickard in the studio to discuss the new album and the long break between releases. Scott expressed his pride in the album, calling it a “beautiful thing”. He explained that ‘Run It Back’ revisits the group’s origins but also reflects their growth and new perspective on music.
Scott shared that the group now understands that once they create music, it belongs to the people. He emphasized the importance of letting go of ego and self-criticism. The lyrics in the new album frequently touch on difficult times and processing trauma, which Scott said was a central theme in their work.
He explained that Home Brew was always a way of processing their trauma through music, comparing it to the blues. He also revealed that the album is a break-up album. Some of the group’s earlier songs, which Scott once found too emotionally raw, have taken on new meanings for him after fans interpreted them in their own ways.
During the 11-year recording hiatus, Home Brew worked on other projects. Scott said that this was the right time to return to Home Brew. He shared that over the years, he has found it easier to embrace all aspects of himself, rather than compartmentalizing and playing certain characters. He concluded by saying that he now feels like he knows how to be every part of himself, even if it took 11 years to realize this.
