While his debut album has been a longtime coming, a release date isn’t too far away for Melbourne rapper Seth Sentry.

With a slew of guests for the likes of 360, Horrorshow and Pez in the three years since he dropped debut EP, ‘The Waiter Minute’, Seth is now primed for an extra busy second half to 2012.

You dropped ‘My Scene’ earlier this year... the first single from your much anticipated debut album. Where are you at with it, and is there a release date on the horizon?

Close enough to be able to listen to the songs on my iTunes. Such a good feeling. No release date as of yet.

Musically, how is the record shaping up?

I guess it's kind of an extension of ‘The Waiter Minute’ EP. There's obviously been some natural progression considering it's been four years, but I'd say it's still in the same vein.

Wikipedia says you were working with producer Matik in 2010... are you still collaborating with him? And do you have anyone else handling production duties?

Yep, still with old mate Matik. But this time I have a couple with Styalz Fuego and a few with Trials. 

Who else have you collaborated with, if you can drop names?

For the album? So far it's just me. I always hate when dudes force features and I figured if it was gonna happen it would be a real natural thing. It just didn't happen this time so it's all about me, ha!

Personally, has it been frustrating for you with the long gestation period for this album?

Sometimes frustrating. I guess once I decided it was go time and things didn't happen at the pace I wanted it was annoying. But I understand. I'm the one that spent two years playing video games and smoking weed.

‘The Waiter Minute’ EP... how much have you drawn from that project with the new material, if any?

I guess it was a learning curve. I'd never completed a project before that and I learnt a lot from it. I also did everything on that from the ground up in terms of marketing and release. So yeah, learned a lot.

‘The Waitress Song’ lifted your profile immensely... has that added any extra pressure to your own game, knowing that there are expectations particularly given the long wait for the album?

Yeah I guess so, but I try not to think about that sort of shit. That sort of stuff can make a bloke not wanna rap again.

While the debut Seth Sentry album is still to arrive, you’ve been mega busy over the years dropping verses for a range of emcees etc. How have your relationships, particularly with Pez, strengthened your own creative pursuits?

I love doing feature verses with mates. It has definitely helped me maintain some momentum as well.

You’re on the bill for Sprung Festival, the country’s only hip hop festival; it must be galvanising for the local scene to have such an event on the calendar?

Yeah it's crazy. I reckon this sort of thing would not have been possible a few years back. Plus being mates with a lot of the dudes on the bill, it's gonna be a big catch up!

Not to start territorial wars, but Brisbane getting the jump on the southern states for a hip hop only event... would you have expected Melbourne to have already put on an event of this scale?

Brisbane 1 Melbourne 0.

Seth Sentry the MC... how would you describe your style to an alien?

Down to earth.

Seth Sentry will be joined by Hilltop Hoods, Illy, Pez, TZU and many more at Sprung Festival, at the RNA Showgrounds, November 10. sprunghiphop.com.au