With Body and Soul getting underway this weekend, Tn2 Magazine is catching up with the festival’s hidden gems.
In the early 90s, Sean Dickson found fame as the former lead singer of the alternative Scottish band The Soup Dragons. Today, he is known as Hifi Sean – a stalwart of Ibiza and Manchester house scenes. Tn2’s Emily Nolan spoke to the new wave DJ about nervous breakdowns and learning to count to four ahead of his Body & Soul set.
Your album Ft. has been described as “electric psychedelic soul”. How would you describe what you want a listener to think or feel when listening to your album?
It was a kind of musical journey into my loves – past, present, and future – using my record collection and tastes. Like, curating a musical art show to present my personality, hence all the artists involved. I have bought their records somewhere down my timeline. I would like the listener to feel they are getting to know me by listening to it.
You have been candid and honest in past interviews, not shying away from discussing your personal life. Do you want your fans to feel like they have an insight into your life and deeper insight into the music you play and create? Or would you regard your music as separate from your personal life?
Let’s be honest, in the old days, people had a diary and had a nervous breakdown if someone read it. These days they have a nervous breakdown if someone doesn’t, as everyone is pretty open about their lives on social media. I have always believed in telling the truth and not hiding. You will eventually get found out if you’re faking it somewhere along the line.
As your career has changed and your life has changed, has your approach to making music changed?
Not really. If I don’t finish something and want to listen to it myself on an endless loop, then no one else is going to. It’s all about getting that musical hard-on that you can’t really put into words.
What are the three songs you listen to the most?
On my album? It would likely be ‘Monday Morning Sunshine – Sunset dub’. From Ft. Excursions (the dub album of Ft.), ‘A kiss before dying’ and ‘In love with life’ from Ft.
What is your favourite lyric of all time?
“I got a Rolls Royce, cause its good for my voice” (T-Rex – ‘Get It On’)
What advice would you give to an amateur DJ looking to break into the scene?
Learn to count to four and have good taste.
What one song always gets you pumped to party?
Let’s Start A Dance – Hamilton Bohannon . . . the clue is in the title.
When it comes to what you wear while performing a set, do you have any favourite outfits or pieces of clothing?
Something airy as its gets sweaty.
You recently tweeted about a statement someone made to you – “You’d probably be taken more seriously as a DJ if you hadn’t been in a band”. Do people say that to you all the time?
Yeah all the time, social media was invented for DJs to moan wasn’t it?
Going back to the tweet again, what’s your view?
Well yeah, if I was some new kid on the block I would be deemed as some kind of trendsetter, but I have been involved in so many trends over the years I am trended out.
If you could relive any performance you’ve done, which one would you pick and why?
Barbarella’s in Croatia. A closing set as the sun came up, I caught someone’s eye and we joined together in the track and had a dance together – was a perfect moment.
Can you remember your first ever time performing a DJ set in front of a large crowd?
I was 15 playing old northern soul and funk. Someone came up and asked to look through my box of 7″s. I turned around and they nicked half of them.
What’s your earliest memory from your music career?
Double cassette recorded – Roland Tr808 – Roland SH101 synth – doing Human League & Soft Cell cover versions in my bedroom.
If you could try out any other type of music, what would it be?
Arabian nose flute ensembles.
If you could create a song with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose?
Billy Mackenzie from The Associates.
Do you have a favourite song on your album Ft. excluding the hit ‘Testify’?
My fave at moment is ‘In Love With Life‘ with Yoko Ono. The words are so needed right now in the daily world we are living in.
Are you methodical or sporadic in your approach to making music?
Both. Sporadic first. Then have 3 mental breakdowns and an anxiety attack about it and then put it out.
Can you give a backstory to how you created one song of your choosing on the album Ft.?
‘A Kiss Before Dying’ with Alan Vega. We recorded 100% electronic and then I added the orchestra after to make the track seem like it was two parts to a tragic war story. It was based on the vibe of Apocalypse Now and if [‘A Kiss Before Dying’] was the soundtrack to it.
Of your entire body of work, is there any song or album that stands out as being particularly poignant?
What I am doing right now for the next year: making an album with one of my favourite singers [David McAlmont]. It is so not a club or dance album but a journey into a more electronic psychedelic soul. Think if Marvin Gaye, Prince and Flaming Lips had an orgy and had babies . . . this would be that troubled child.
Any favourite snacks for when you’re in the zone creating music?
Tea. Lots of cups of tea. And the odd dark choc ginger cookie.
Are there any musicians/bands that your fans may be surprised to know you listen to?
No one is surprised by what I listen to. Let’s just say the highlight of my year so far will be next week: seeing Burt Bacharach live with the London Symphonic Orchestra . . . swoonathon.
HiFi Sean will appear on the ABSOLUT stage at Body & Soul this weekend.
Food and Drink Gem:
If you’re feeling a proper foodie breakfast, don’t miss the ABSOLUT Brunch running from 12-2pm on the Saturday and Sunday of this year’s Body & Soul festival. Expect a delicious brunch burger washed down with the likes of an Espresso Martini or Bloody Mary. The ABSOLUT bar will also be serving up some expertly crafted cocktails all weekend for when you’re feeling fancy.
Psst . . . still looking for a Body & Soul ticket? Weekend and Sunday tickets are still available here.
