ESSCAY

Simon Kertonegoro was concieved in Bali and brought back to Australia to be born in Paddington hospital, Sydney. Complications during delivery resulted in his first 2 weeks of life being spent in a deep coma that doctors feared he would never wake up from. After awakening from his comatose state Simon spent the next two years in Sydney living at his grandparents house with his mother, Judith Shelley a singer and painter.



At the age of 2 Simon and his mother moved to Bali to be close to his father, Madi Kertonegoro a writer, poet and Prince of Java. There they enjoyed a peaceful and serene existence in the once quiet town of Ubud. At 7 years old family issues led to a series of damaging disputes between Simons mother, Prince Sumadi and his new family. Fleeing the country in search for a less turbulent environment Simon and his mother eventually settled in the quiet beachside paradise of Byron Bay.



During his teenage years Simon felt like an outcast in the midst of a culture that he could not understand. His new step dad, a problem gambler and a drug addict had them living in poverty for the next 11 years. Simon spent most of his teenage years feeling alone and worthless resulting in chronic depression and a craving for suicide.



At the age of 15 Simon discovered his natural talent for writing rap lyrics and started working with his new found comrade Styalz Fuego. Looking to create a new life as a recording artist Simon moved to Melbourne at the age of 19 and delved into the local music scene. There he met Lee (Leegit) Lambert and they created the local Hip Hop conglomerate poetically titled "The Midnight Militia"



2 time Dolphin Award winner, Esscay has performed for crowds of 7000+ at Byron Bay's Main New Years Eve Stage in the year 2000. Affectionately labelled "Prince S.K." by his mother, Simon Kertonegoro spent the following 10 years of his career creating some of Australias most groundbreaking underground records and captivating audiences throughout Melbourne and Brisbane.



With an unrelenting drive and a powerful demeanor Esscay stands before an audience and flashes a smile that can only be the result of pure joy and satisfaction. He loves his audience and he is the first to admit that they're the only reason he is not a suicide statistic.



As he raises his right hand and creates a peace sign with his fingers he calmly announces to the crowd "Did you know Hip Hop saved my life?". As the words echo throughout the venue, it's unlikely the crowd understands how much these words truly mean to him.



Free Downloads at http://www.midnightmilitia.com