Nick Hodgson is back in the band with Everyone Says Hi: "I think I've been repressing the performer in me"

As the drummer of Kaiser Chiefs, a songwriter extraordinaire and a solo artist, Nick Hodgson has pretty much done it all, but for his latest project he's going back to his roots and starting a brand new band, EVERYONE SAYS HI. Read and listen with our latest Hype playlist cover feature.

Words: Stephen Ackroyd.

Drummer? Songwriter? Frontman? Nick Hodgson defies easy categorisation. In Kaiser Chiefs, he was the driving force behind some of the biggest indie anthems of the 00s, cutting a chaotic swathe through a scene that was remembering that, actually, not every cool band has to come from New York City. It might have been nearly twenty years ago now, but in some ways, between t'Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys, it was the last point that popular culture truly bowed to the sound of the northern indies.

But we're not here to talk about the past. Nick has long been more than just the singing stickman. He's been a songwriter extraordinaire, working with everyone from Dua Lipa to George Ezra to Alfie Templeman. He's even got Shirley Bassey and Duran Duran on the CV. In 2018, he released his first solo album - a somewhat under-appreciated gem that features one of the best songs he's ever penned ('Suitable', in case you're wondering). Basically, he's done a lot.

And now he's got a new band.

This time around, Nick is taking on a new guise - the bone-fide frontman. Now, he's front and centre stage with a guitar, introducing a fresh but familiar sound. Everyone Says Hi emerge with a blend of experienced musicians and a clear vision, promising a sound that reverberates with echoes of the past while forging into new musical territories.

Nick is clearly energised by his new bandmates, each bringing a rich history. "It's me singing and playing rhythm gui