Scholarly conceptual pieces and unexpected collaborations have become cornerstones of the solo work from MC Urthboy, aka Tim Levinson, cofounder and frontman of The Herd. Politically charged and socially engaged, Urthboy's music ranges from pop songs to work that borders on soundscapes. His own career has run in parallel to that of his band since the early '00s, with 2012's Smokey's Haunt proving the most popular of his solo albums so far. His mainstream collaborators have included Josh Pyke and folk legend Paul Kelly.