Everyone Says Hi today releases their self-titled debut album through Chrysalis Records. Everyone Says Hi sees ex-Kaiser Chiefs’ songwriter/drummer and multi-platinum musician Nick Hodgson adopt the lead singer/guitarist/frontman role for his latest project.
He’s accompanied by some familiar faces in the form of Pete Denton on bass, Glenn Moule on drums, keyboard player Ben Gordon (ex-members of The Kooks, The Howling Bells, and Liverpool’s The Dead 60s respectively), alongside Leeds-based guitarist Tom Dawson.
To celebrate, they play Rough Trade’s brand-new Denmark Street store tonight before embarking on a run of in-store dates at independent record shops up and down the country. Remaining tickets are on sale now.
The album is released off the back of the band’s appearance on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch last weekend, marking their TV debut performing their latest single, ‘Lucky Stars’.
Speaking about the release, frontman Nick Hodgson says: “This album was meant to be. It pulled me out of a world of co-writing with other artists, a world that had begun to make me feel pretty bad. It made me feel excited by music again. It made me get back in a band and go on tour again. As soon as I sat in the van on the first day of our first tour, I realised this is what I’m meant to be doing. I’m a band guy.
The songs on the album are very personal, no filter. It’s exactly what I want to say, even though they’re a collaboration with the rest of the band and Justin Parker, they’re exactly the songs I wanted to make. I wanted to make an album I could listen to at night on record. I wanted it to fit in with the other records I like. It needed good melodies, warm recording, smart lyrics and above all, the songs couldn’t be too fast.
So, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Put it on, turn on a lamp, stick your phone in the freezer and listen up.”
Everyone Says Hi released their debut single, ‘Brain Freeze’, in April last year, described by NME as “psychedelic lounge rock hinting at recent Arctic Monkeys and Tame Impala”. This was swiftly followed by a pair of sell-out headline dates in Leeds and London before a second track, the electric torchlit ballad (and album opener), ‘Somebody Somewhere’, followed in the summer.
Further single releases include ‘Only One’, as well as ‘On the Same Side’ (originally written for Liam Gallagher) and the widescreen ballad ‘Lucky Stars’, each coming with radio support from BBC 6Music. The new album also features highlights such as ‘Did I Just Fall In Love’, a smooth, cinematic track with lyrics written about the first time Nick laid eyes on his newborn baby, jangly guitar laden ‘Holding On To Let Go’ and the nostalgic ‘I Wish I Was In New York City’. The record was produced by Nick at London’s Snap Studios and at his home studio.
Listen to ‘Everyone Says Hi’ – BELOW:
Everyone Says Hi is the fruits of a multi-platinum musician deciding to draw a line and start afresh. Back to the same bedroom floor where the first tentative notes were played, holding the same guitar that was played way back when, back to forming a band with trusted friends, and back to booking the sticky basement stages where teeth were first cut. But whilst you can metaphorically wipe the slate clean on most things, you cannot unlearn what you already know. If emotionally driven, arena-ready songs come almost second-nature, you’d be foolish to ignore the gift you’ve been given.
The band’s name is lifted from a David Bowie song of the same title. What you hear across the album’s 10 tracks is beautifully sculpted songcraft performed by some very experienced players. Not so much showing ‘promise’ here, but instantly delivering bonafide ‘big songs’ that belie the band’s status as relative newcomers.
Nick has long been a songwriter in high demand. Since leaving his teenage band back in 2012, he has co-written for the likes of Dua Lipa, You Me At Six, Duran Duran, George Ezra, and Holly Humberstone, and collaborated on tracks alongside Mark Ronson, Kygo, and Shirley Bassey. Having racked up over 5 million cumulative album sales globally, Nick now focuses on a new challenge. You wouldn’t bet against him.
Album tracklisting: Somebody Somewhere / Lucky Stars / Only One / Brain Freeze / I Wish I Was In New York City / On The Same Side / I Wasn’t Dreaming / Holding On To Let Go / Tried And Failed / Did I Just Fall In Love
Everyone Says Hi Live Dates (2025):
31st January – Rough Trade Denmark Street, London
1st February – Pie & Vinyl, Portsmouth
2nd February – Sound Knowledge, Marlborough
3rd February – Rough Trade, Bristol
4th February – Banquet Records, Kingston
5th February – Rough Trade, Nottingham
6th February – Crash, Leeds
7th February – Jacaranda, Liverpool
Be the first to comment