Nick Hodgson talks all things Everyone Says Hi
The band are set to perform at BST Hyde Park today.
Photo: Press
From drumming in the Kaiser Chiefs to songwriting for artists across all genres, Nick Hodgson holds many impressive credits to his name. Now, he returns with his debut album and new band Everyone Says Hi.
The album offers ten immersive, dreamy songs to get lost in. Everyone Says Hi combines thoughtful lyrics with nostalgic rock ‘n’ roll instrumentals that feel both retro and futuristic.
Nick Hodgson began his music career drumming for the Kaiser Chiefs in the early 2000s. Over the years, Nick has written for many artists, such as Dua Lipa, Alfie Templeman and Shirley Bassey, to name but a few. It’s clear that his decades of experience have culminated in this debut album.
Q: What inspired you to start the band Everyone Says Hi?
A: I’ve been in bands since I was 11 years old, so I’m very comfortable in a band situation. It became very obvious to me after writing, recording, and rehearsing my latest songs with everyone that it needed a name, and it needed to be a proper band.
Q: Throughout the album, there’s a beautiful mix of string instruments and a dreamy sound that’s almost nostalgic, psychedelic, and futuristic at the same time. There’s an obvious link to David Bowie with the name — and the sound, to an extent — but what genres or musicians would you say inspired your work?
A: I’ve written a lot of music and written and produced for lots of different people. But when I sit on my own and write something, it tends to fall into the kind of thing you’ve described here. I think it’s underpinned by a lifelong love of The Beatles that spreads through to Bowie, Tame Impala, The Flaming Lips, Beck… anything with a bit of a ‘weirder’ angle to it.
Q: In the past, you’ve written songs for impressive artists across a range of genres. Have any of your past projects had an influence here?
A: No, the main take from writing songs for other people to sing is that it feels much better to write for myself!
Q: You’ve said before that you write a lot of your songs in your Leeds flat. What is it about this space that allows you to get creative?
A: It’s either a cosmic landing space for melodies or it’s just a place where I’m on my own. I don’t live there, you see, so when I’m there it’s just me and it’s quiet, I pick up the guitar I’ve had since I was 15, and songs come out. Who knows!
Q: The lyrics of Somebody Somewhere are interesting. Could you explain the story behind this song and what inspired it?
A: The lyrics were inspired by a sad time in my life when my dad died, and at the same time as that happening, getting trolled about Kaiser Chiefs on Twitter. The point is, you can write nasty stuff on the internet, but you have no idea what the person receiving it is going through at that moment.
Q: What was your favourite song to write in Everyone Says Hi?
A: My favourite songs to write are the ones that kind of write themselves, the lyrics just tumble out. For this album, that song was Somebody Somewhere, because it was so clear what it was about, and it affected me so directly — it just came out.
Q: It must have been fantastic to debut the album. How did you find your tour earlier this year?
A: It’s always a bit nervy releasing albums, but this one was good. We did a little in-store tour, which was really good. It was all stripped down to acoustics; very intimate, lots of chat with the audience. I love chatting; the gigs are just an excuse to chat, really.
Q: How does it feel to be supporting Neil Young in London on Friday the 11th? How did the opportunity come about? Has his music been a source of inspiration for you over the years?
A: His music is very influential to us. We all love him. We first supported him a few weeks ago in Dublin, his crowd were very into us, which was good. I got the feeling that they were really into music and were listening to the songs as opposed to wanting a lot of theatrics and jumping around. I’m not sure how we got picked, to be honest, but I think he listened to us and approved.
Q: What can we expect next from Everyone Says Hi?
A: Festivals in the summer, and then continuing to record the next album. It’s going well, hopefully there’ll be new music later this year.