Line Up

CD & SILENTJAY bring together two of Melbourne's most distinctive voices in contemporary
soul music, merging boundary-pushing artistry with a deep reverence for groove, emotion, and
experimentation.
Emerging from Melbourne's fertile creative underground, the collaboration pairs CD's captivating
songwriting and honeyed vocals with SILENTJAY's expansive production, musicianship, and
sonic vision. Together, they create a sound that sits at the intersection of alternative R&B,
neo-soul, jazz, hip hop, and electronic music—drawing equally from tradition and innovation.
After capturing the hearts of audiences at their debut show at High Note, CD & Silentjay return
to the stage to welcome in the New Year.
CD has swiftly carved her own lane with a cultivated twist on alternative r&b. The soulstress
from Melbourne’s western suburbs has left many enamoured by her provocative mode. Armed
with a honey syrup voice, and an evolved palette that touches influences of jazz, neo-soul and
hip hop, CD uniquely evokes nostalgia while probing forward. She has been touted within inner
circles as one of the next generation redefining Melbourne soul.
After years honing her craft, the singer / songwriter has developed a sound that’s sui generis.
Looking through the lens of contemporary r&b, while further drawing from her Egyptian culture,
she utilises this blender of styles in her musical expression.
Australian born Filipino, SILENTJAY (Alejandro Jay Abapo) has been an inescapable presence
on Australia’s soulful underground. His magic touch cemented firmly on a fertile Melbourne
music scene that has gained recognition the world over. A man of many hats, his creative output
is as versatile as it is impressive, shapeshifting between genres and intuitively pushing music
forward.
The producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist has been a constant figure attached to defining
projects of the past decade from Hiatus Kaiyote to Sampa The Great. All the while his own beat
tapes have garnered a cult-like following. Jay is noted for bringing out an inimitable feeling
whether that be on a twisted free-jazz odyssey or a slick and breezy slice of R&B swing. The
jazz school alumni plays no less than saxophone, piano and keyboard, drums and flute yet is
perhaps happiest chopping up soul samples on a drum machine. His heavenly voice an added
piece of soul-tipped savour in his arsenal. It is in this blender of ability that characterises
Silentjay’s signature sound.