Former songwriter and guitar player for Allusondrugs, Damian Hughes, has set up new project Hypnosister. The project plays Little Buildings in Newcastle this month so Lee Allcock caught up with Damian to talk about attracting the attention of XFM, why he left Allusondrugs, and going DIY.
So, why did you decide to leave Allusondrugs to start your new space-rock project, Hypnosister?
I’ve always had a really clear idea about where I want to take things and a determination that I’ll do those things no matter what. Sometimes people around you can decide that they aren’t getting their own way and dig their heels in making it difficult to move forward. As with any relationship that has gone bad and no longer works, the best thing to do is get out and carry on with your life. Hypnosister is a continuation of what I’ve been doing for years, uninhibited and unhinged.
Having released only a handful of singles and having played just a short run of shows earlier this year, you’ve already attracted the attention of the likes of XFM’s John Kennedy. You must be pleased with how things are going…
People seem to be connecting with the music and I’m really happy about it. Honestly, even if no-one wanted to listen to this music, I’d still be making it because just I love doing it. But one of the main aims of getting this music out there is to bring people together. There are so many things in the world right now that pull people apart. There’s a lot of hate and division, but music and art have this incredible power to bring people together. If people can connect with each other through my music or take something positive from it then that’s massively important to me.
Why did you decide to write, record, and produce your new self-titled debut EP entirely by yourself?
I like to be really hands on and I love learning new things. I think it’s a great thing for anyone to learn to do as much as they can on their own and be as self-sufficient as possible; the more things you can do yourself, the more power you have and the less you have to rely on other people.
You’re playing Little Buildings in Newcastle this month, so what can gig-goers expect from your set?
Well first let me say that the people of Newcastle and the North East at large have always been super nice and welcoming of my past endeavours which I’m so grateful for and can’t wait to be graced once again with your unmatched hospitality and share my new music with you. I’ll be playing songs from my new EP (released July 27th) and a few more songs that people haven’t heard yet. The set takes a few twists and turns that you aren’t going to expect – it’s a bit of a journey.
Hypnosister plays Little Buildings in Newcastle on Saturday 18th August. Tickets are priced at £6.00 on the door.
