Josh Hamilton by day, HMO by night, Nowra High teacher sets the beat

By night he's mixing beats, composing string arrangements and laying poetic vocals at his home recording studio in Kiama.

Known as HMO, the composer, producer and MC has decided to cement himself in the hip hop world after many years of playing in rock, funk and soul bands.

He's just released a new single titled Fake, and features Gerringong vocalist Grace George (aka "Gee Mary").

"I'm not much of a singer, but I've always been a songwriter," he said. "I love constructing songs, I love going in the studio and making songs from scratch and I also love writing lyrics."

Creating urban tunes is just another way for artistic self-expression for HMO, which includes social and political messages.

One cause the creative is highly passionate about is preserving live music, and encouraging the community to support the industry.

"I'm stoked to be part of one of the most honorary professions in the world [teaching] but how can anyone make money [as a musician]?" he asked.

"I wear many other hats - I'm a sound engineer and I'm a promoter and there is no way to make money now physical sales have declined.

"I had a chat to one promoter and he said 'music is like water now, people think it's free. They go to the tap they get it and it's free, but someone's actually paying rates and there's systems in place to get that water to them'."

HMO knows he will probably earn far more money teaching young people music rather than practising it himself.

"I just don't know what the future of music holds and it kind of scares me and for my [students] and the future generations," he said. "It's not like you choose to love music, it chooses you.

"It's like your fate to be a really poor musician who is extremely happy but spiritually enlightened in their life and happy within their souls."

The artist is preparing to release his second EP, Eternity in an Hour, in May, with a tour off the back of it. To listen to some of his music, visit: www.hmomusic.com