Darwin Fringe

Introducing Donnovan ‘Tha Trigger’ Mears, an established force in the world of hip hop. Born in 1984 in Alice Springs, and hailing from New Zealand descent, Tha Trigger embarked on his rap journey at the young age of 15. Inspired by legendary artists like Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, and Onyx, as well as films such as Poetic Justice, Higher Learning, and Brown Sugar, he honed his skills and found his unique voice.

In 2005, Tha Trigger’s musical aspirations led him to enroll in a Certificate II Music Course at ASHS, where he learned the art of producing and engineering beats from scratch. It was during this time that he formed the group ‘Eternal Crusaders’ with Stephan ‘644’ Carl Dick and Daniella Rhodes. They made a memorable debut, supporting renowned acts like Hilltop Hoods, Pete Murray, and DJ Lenno at Alice Springs’ Bass in the Dust. Unfortunately, circumstances led the group to part ways just two weeks later.

Undeterred by the setback, Tha Trigger relocated to Darwin in 2007, determined to pursue his music career. It was there that he connected with sound engineer Matthew Cunliffe of Kakadu Studios, thanks to Brendan ‘Threat 3’ Seleck. With the support of his close friends Jonas ‘ULFA’ Lewin and Waide ‘Big Sulk’ Terepo, they formed the group E.O.A. (Elements of Alliance) and delivered electrifying performances at popular Darwin nightspots like The Vic Hotel, Hot Potato, and Brownsmart Theatre. Their pinnacle moment came when they supported renowned American hip hop group The Outlawz on their ‘Spirit of Tupac’ world tour at Discovery Nightclub.

In 2011, Tha Trigger decided to venture into a solo career, charting a new path with fresh tracks, album details, a dedicated marketing and management team, and a new producer, Taylor Williams. He established valuable contacts in the music industry, including renowned figures like DJ Lenno, the official managers and agents for Australia’s X Factor contestants, and Brotha D, the founder of NZ hip hop and RnB label Dawn Raid Entertainment. His knack for collaborations earned him the moniker ‘the collabo man,’ having worked with esteemed artists such as Deach, Lil Mase, Sid Diamond, Mareko and Poetik. These collaborations will feature on Tha Trigger’s highly anticipated second album, ‘Staying in My Lane,’ while his debut album, ‘Liberating Greatness,’ is set to release in early 2012, with plans for an album launch party in partnership with The Deck Bar’s promotional team.

Looking ahead, Tha Trigger’s goals are focused on achieving successful releases and sales for his first two albums, securing major local and national gigs to promote his music, gaining recognition from audiences worldwide, and, most importantly, using his hard-hitting lyrics and raw hip hop beats to convey messages of truth, hope, and reality. He aspires to inspire younger artists, just as his mentors did before him.