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HS: Moving on to your band’s projects, what can we expect from Straight No Chaser in comparison to A Tale of Two Cities?
H: I think, you know, what’s the same is me. You get the same guy, just two years later. To me it’s almost like part two. The first album is me very much in my flat in London – having a cup of tea, making beats, and writing songs on the piano. This album is the sound of someone who has traveled and had a lot of late nights and early starts from Hawaii, to Hollywood, to Hackney, to Houston. I’m trying to think of places that began with H. Plus touring around Europe and UK with the Glow In The Dark tour, it’s just the sound of someone whose played in some big, big rooms full of people - just two or three years later. Sonically, this record is bigger, it’s punchier, less ornate I suppose. There’s a delicacy to some of the beats though. You hear a Spanish guitar and so on. But punchier is the major difference.
HS: There’s been talk of you writing Straight No Chaser in only two months and how your break-up (from a longtime girlfriend) contributed to the album. Is every lyric a direct response to your break up and is that how you mentally approached this collection of songs?
H: No, I didn’t plan it to be. It’s not the whole album but it’s definitely a break-up record. I was writing lots of songs and for some reason those pertaining to loss and leaving people behind shouldered their way to the front of the album. I’ll also write little political things or whatever. It’s weird. I’ve said to people don’t break your relationship off to make an album but if you do, make sure to make an album, you know like – GET TO A STUDIO NEAR YOU.
Mr. Hudson stops to enjoy a cookie.
HS: What’s your favorite track off the new album?
H: Good question. It changes. At the moment, if I had to pin it down, I’m a big fan of “I knew you were trouble.” Partly because it’s working really well live and it keeps getting bigger and bigger.
HS: In terms of your maturation, is this a track that you are just happy to play or something you are proud of musically and lyrically?
H: All of the above I’m glad to say. It’s opens with this repetitive synth line; it’s almost like me tipping my cap to paranoid. Then the song kicks in and it goes off on some weird, rolling stone, Joe Cocker just letting it rip. The album is soulful and poetical, lyrical; but this one is wow, just big. I’m singing higher and louder than I was on the first album.
HS: Sounds dope, I’m excited to hear it.
H: Yeah, the song hasn’t even leaked yet.
HS: I try to wait to for music to hit the shelf. I appreciate process of CD purchasing.
H: Yeah, totally and now a days the leaks aren’t even mp3’s. Their like mp1/2’s, often sped up or slowed down, not necessarily the mixed mastered version. It’s a shame because people aren’t getting the quality the artist puts into it. We’re actually putting our album out on heavyweight white vinyl. It will be a really nice object to have in your house. People should get something for their $15-20 dollars.
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