Indie-Rock Band, The Hi Tops Announce Debut Album, Lips, Hips, and Counterfeits With New Single, “Waking Up”
Calgary band, The Hi Tops, announce their debut full-length LP Lips, Hips, and Counterfeits, and share an animated music video for lead single “Waking Up”.Â
The Hi Tops melds their indie/rock implosion with dashes of modern psychedelia, hard-rock, shoe gaze, alt/rock, and grunge. But at the end of the day, the band are bound to no specific genre. With an innate motivation to consistently create, and create what they want, The Hi Tops have released songs that carry their own groove and their own swagger. Every idea is explored to the fullest and adapts and evolves from its conception.
“Waking up is a song about the joy and meaning that a relationship can bring to someone’s life. The song’s chorus woefully whispers that “Waking Up is such a bore, but when I’m with her I know what it’s for”, implying that she gives me purpose. A melodic soundscape wraps the humble message and effortlessly lets the song flow through its structure, while the vocals pleasantly guide the listener through the feeling of being in love.” the band shares.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
The Hi-Tops began in the summer of 2019 and since then have accumulated over 100,000 Streams on Spotify Alone, and opened for acclaimed Canadian Acts such as Marianas Trench, IllScarlett, LA Witch, The Honest Heart Collective, Ron Gallo, Whale and The Wolf, and Skating Polly. In 2023 we also embarked on an independent cross-Canada tour from Calgary to Montreal. We were recently nominated for and won the YYC Music Award for 2023 Rock Recording of the Year for our debut EP “Whoever Gets It, Gets It”. We provide an eclectic rock and roll sound that is sprinkled with modern psychedelia. Our sonic essence is constantly evolving and explores all genres. This is evident on our Sophomore EP “Characters” which further enhances our understanding of modern Psychedelia, while staying true to our alternative hard rock roots. We just recorded our first full-length record “Lips, Hips, and Counterfeits” at OCL studios and are looking to release it independently June 14th, 2024.Â
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
“Waking Up” is an alternative rock groove centred around the joy and meaning a relationship can bring to someone’s life. The sound is a melodic soundscape that carefully guides the listener through its structure. It is one of our favorite songs to perform live and is a staple in every one of our setlists. The song was written in October of 2022 and we finally got to record it in September of 2023 at OCL studio with the amazingly talented Josh Rob Gwilliam. The music video was created by our long-time friend Daylon Nicol and is a psychedelic visualization of the song’s message and vibe.Â
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or
creative routine that you follow?
My songwriting process is honestly something that changes with the day. Some days it starts with a guitar riff and I look to build on that, others it’s a melody or a phrase that starts in my head and builds from there. “Waking Up” was written on a day when I had happened to hear Mr. Brightside on the radio. I really liked the Idea of a fast yet melodic riff being played high up on the neck while a powerful thumping bassline backs the root note. I brought it to band practice that day and the song was practically finished within a few hours.
In terms of creative processes that I follow, the only regular method I use is to play and to write every day. Oftentimes the ideas I come up with never live to see the light of day, but just sitting down and flexing that creative muscle keeps me motivated to keep improving and keep writing. That’s why when an idea like “Waking Up” comes around, you tend to appreciate it so much more.Â
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
First off, we are opening for Australian Garage Rockers DZ Deathrays on March 22nd (The day we are releasing “Waking Up”) and are beyond stoked to be sharing the stage with them. We are also looking to embark on a U.S tour in September of 2024 but are currently working through the financials and looking to attain our Visas to do so. We will be releasing two more singles titled “Easy Riding” and “Breakapart” on April 18th and May 31st respectively which will each come with their own music video. Lastly, we will be hosting our Album release party on June 14th at The Blox Art Centre in Calgary Alberta.
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
2023 was just such a massive year for us in all honesty. We went on our first Canadian Tour, got to open for so many amazing established acts (Marianas Trench, IllScarlett, Whale and The Wolf, The Honest Heart Collective, Skating Polly, L.A Witch), and won a YYC Music award for our first EP “Whoever Gets it, Gets It”. I wouldn’t consider any of these to be turning points, but I think we just have been working so hard for the past few years that we got to reap some of the rewards for our consistency. We put so much effort into consistently growing as musicians and as people that this past year just kinda affirmed how hard we have been working.Â
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
There are so many to name but I’ll list a few of my personal favorites: Whale and the Wolf, The Honest Heart Collective, In Search of Sasquatch, Niku, Free the Cynics, King Bull, Uncle Strut, Roll The Bones, and Darryl Saves Lives, all rip so hard.Â