up With an impressive roster of past collaborations such as Yoko Ono, Crystal Waters, and Bootsy Collins, UK’s own HiFi Sean along with producer David McAlmont have created a unique palette of alternative electronica.
Uniting their diverse musical experiences such as contributing to 90’s alt-rock unit The Soup Dragons (HiFi Sean) and frequent collaborator of Bernard Butler (David McAlmont), the duo are gearing up for the release of their sophomore album ‘DAYLIGHT’. Following their acclaimed 2023 debut, ‘Happy Ending’, the exhilarating suite of twelve songs on ‘DAYLIGHT’ celebrates, expresses, and explores the colours of summer.
Planetary caught up with them in the studio to ask them about their newest collaboration:
Planetary Group: Tell us about your latest release. How did you come to create it?
Hifi Sean and David McAlmont: Our new single is called ‘Sun Come Up’.
It is from our forthcoming album ‘DAYLIGHT’.
Released on first day of summer June 20th.
This year 2024 we are releasing 2 albums! One on first day of summer ‘DAYLIGHT’ and one on first day of winter ‘TWILIGHT’.
Both albums are fully immersed in those seasons.
We recorded and mixed the album in my studio like an explosion of creativity. Was a wonderful experience.
The single ‘Sun Come Up’ is a full overdose rush of sunny delight.
PG: Share a bit about your musical journey, from when you first started making music until now.
HS&DM: When I was a teenager I was in a band and had a real rock n’ roll time. Since that band I have been a producer and also a DJ working on an album called ‘Ft.’ a few years ago with people such as Yoko Ono, Bootsy Collins, Fred from The B-52’s, Crystal Waters, Alan Vega etc.
I also worked on that album with the visionary and genius of David McAlmont and through that we became good friends and that experience of friendship led to us making music… a bit like you did when you were a teenager starting a band with your friends.
I love how organically it all happened.
David has so much in his discography that you have to discover.
Go searching NOW.
PG: Let’s talk about the music that you love. Pick one album for each category below and tell us a bit about it!
1. An album you grew up listening to:
HS&DM: T-Rex – The Slider. One of my family had this album and it would end up in my bedroom for good and as a
young child it fascinated me.
The sleazy grooves the chugging guitars the swopping strings.
I was hooked by the nursery rhyme style lyrics and the charm it oozed.
I actually had the joy of working with Mickey Finn the percussionist from T-Rex later in my music life. He told me the best story; I asked him what is the most rock’n’roll thing you have ever done. He replied ‘at the height of T-Rexstacy I could not be bothered crossing the road so one day so I flagged a taxi and paid him to do that for me’.
Ha genius!
2. An album that inspires you as an artist (I’m sure there are many, but
pick one of your choosing):
HS&DM: The League Unlimited Orchestra – Love & Dancing. As a young man my brother had this album and it blew my mind. It was like music from outer-space and from that moment I knew I had to have a synthesiser and drum machine and had to make electronic music.
It was also my introduction to the word ‘dub version’ and boom there I went.
3. The album you currently have on repeat:
HS&DM: Been driving a lot recently and Tame Impala – Currents is that road album.
I air drum all the drum fills, obviously with both hands on the wheel and eyes fully on the road.
PG: What do you want people to take away from your music?
HS&DM: The promise of reality. To have the trust in where we want to take them as we do like to take the listener on a journey.
And the faith in us to be their long musical friend.
PG: What’s next up for you?
HS&DM: The release of ‘DAYLIGHT’ on the first day of Summer, June 20th
TWILIGHT’ on the first day of Winter, Dec 1st.
The 2 albums that I think personally are the best music I have ever had the pleasure to be involved in.
And if I can keep thinking this about the current project we are doing then we are 100% doing it RIGHT.
PREACH!
