Sheffield’s Weird Future – The Magazine Exposed

It’s been a while since Sheffield has seen a real ‘scene’ emerge. Pockets of DIY artists and collectives have come to the fore over the past two decades, but not since the mid-nineties, when an indie guitar revival exploded out of North West Sheffield, riding merrily on the coattails of a certain group of High. Green oiks, has a well-defined collective of musicians and artists who have been front and center of the city’s creative consciousness.

There are, of course, numerous explanations for the perceived lack of collective identity in the city’s musical outlook; not least the ever-changing landscape of how music is now produced and marketed, and the fact that the word “scene” is sometimes considered a dirty word, manufactured by music hacks (like me here, probably) to sell works . Often, even when a scene objectively exists, the founding members don’t like the idea of ​​it and get confused by their own lack of individuality.

All this could be about to change; or rather, it has changed, and we’re about to catch up with the actions of a collection of musicians who, thanks to their long-standing friendship and talent, overcome the barriers of their respective genres to work collaboratively on each other’s tracks. .

Lying at work. Drastic//Automatic live. Photo credit: Lia Tiggs

This isn’t a revolutionary concept, of course, but what makes this unusual and something to get excited about is the extent of the genre mash-up. Dystopian punk is perfectly combined with rap and electronic, because everyone seems to want to get along (it makes you sick!)

At the heart of this creativity and drive is a band I’ve featured (mainly because I think they’re great) several times, following a chance encounter with their set at 2023’s Get Together festival.

Drastic // Automatic’s dystopian noise punk and electric live sets have gained notoriety around town, and pioneers and founding members Sean Hession and Sissy Green are, well, everywhere right now.

Drastic//Automatic’s Sean Hession and Sissy Green. Photo credit: Bobby Mercury

Ahead of an incredibly busy Fringe at Tramlines schedule (there’s an argument to be made that they’re the hardest-working musicians at this year’s Fringe, a title previously claimed by Femur and Django) and ahead of the release of their latest EP on 24 .^th July, we sat down with the pair in the garden at Shakespeare to discuss collaborations, line-up changes and the evolution of Drastic’s sound.

“There’s definitely a scene,” says Sissy as she wishes for a role, fresh from quitting her day job this morning to focus on music and production: “It’s like Sheffield’s Odd Futures, man, we got every component. from her. I grew up listening to all those bands, and Odd Futures is a great example. There were so many different influences coming together, and in Sheffield that happens, just from people being in the right places at the right times.

“There was a moment when everything changed and we started writing together and working on each other’s songs.”

Drastic lead singer and guitarist Sean added: “We’re all in our mid to late 20s and when we were in our teens Youtube started to get really good. Collectives like Odd Futures were innovative because the visual media component was strong and felt like an independent value, but with very high production values, and I think we learned from that.

“For all of us, if we’re not making music, we’re not living – I have to!”

Sissy continued: “We could easily start a label tomorrow and that would be great. Everyone contributes to the music and already appears on each other’s songs. It’s almost like the collaboration makes us stronger and we all really enjoy making music with each other.”

Sissy shot by Jacob Flannery

The team consists of Powerdrill, Mucarelli, God’s Favorite Characters, Dusthouse, Mickey Nomimono, Richard Carlson Band, Bait Britain, Sissy’s partner Sophie and Sissy’s younger brother Matty, with ex-Drastic drummer Benji recording everything with his trusty camera.

“It doesn’t feel like there’s any real competition between all of us.” Sissy says: “It exists in Sheffield but we are not involved in it. We want everyone to do well, so the spotlight is on the city. We were friends first, before music, so we all know and love each other.

“It’s a shield and strength in numbers — and protection from competition, too.”

New line, who makes? Photo credit: Jacob Flannery

Sean said: “We’re very comfortable with each other and know each other so well, it inspires all of our art. Every week we do something and it’s bad!”

This heightened work ethic has led to a new EP, Drastic, which will be released on the 24th.^th July, in time for the Fringe at Tramlines and is the first release since former drummer Benji Wilson left the band to focus on his photography.

Sissy said: “We were very comfortable with the minimalist thing and knew how to write Drastic songs together in the studio. When Benji left the band, because he is now there taking the picture, it turned out to be a good result; We lost the best drummer ever, but we gained a photographer and a videographer.

Former Drastic//Automatic drummer Benji Wilson. Photo credit: Lia Qin

“But at the same time, it’s been really good for us because it’s changed the way we write and record. Now, we work with Ali from Power Drill, who is like a brother to us. He’s a drumming ninja and has injected a lot of weight into our sound.

“He’s a busy guy, so he changed the way we write. Sean and I write demos and then work on them in collaboration with Ali. Our home demo setup turned out really well. It created a different sound that isn’t as loud and is much more pop-led. We were a bit worried, but we took them to Ali and now they’re like Drastic songs; it’s different but better.

Sean added: “I actually really enjoyed our songs. But I was getting to the point where I felt the novelty of them had kind of worn off. Should you always be wondering what’s next?

Drastic // Automatic’s new lineup including Powerdill drummer Ali. Photo credit: Jacob Flannery

“A lot of the first EP was our first material, and the songs mostly sound like little sketches that became songs right away. Most of the songs don’t have vocals on the chorus because we’re still figuring it out.”

According to the duo, the new material promises big hooks and big choruses, and Sean and Sissy put that down to their collaborative efforts with other people, especially rapping with the likes of Mucarelli.

Sean explained: “Liam (Mucarelli) and I started going out more again last year while I was trying to figure it out. I didn’t want to be one of those artists who always play the same sound and the same set; I wanted to challenge myself.

Sean shot by Jacob Flannery

“It was going back to a really basic format of songwriting; writing the first thing that came into my head. A lot of the bars ended up being based on religion and that kind of came through in the new Drastic stuff.”

Sissy chimes in: “Writing those damn Catholic bangers!”

Sean continues, “What’s weird about this new set of songs, especially with the lyrics, is that they’re all done! Before, we would do some lalala live, or just freestyle, or even write them in the toilets before the show!”

Photo credit: Lia Tiggs

Sissy adds: “Clean is the wrong word, but it’s a bit more accurate. It doesn’t have to be more complicated for them to be good songs.”

The new, slightly more refined Drastic // Automatic plan to play everywhere for the rest of the year, starting with their EP release and The Fringe at Tramlines run at Shakespeare’s on Saturday 27th.^th July.

For more details on upcoming shows and to purchase the EP, check out their social media here.