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Hip-Hop Lives Here
Slade guitarist Dave Hill has collaborated with former bandmate Noddy Holder’s son on his first solo album.
The seventy nine year old glam rock icon is preparing to share his LP Dirtyfoot Lane, which takes its name from a spot in his hometown of Wolverhampton.
Dave explained that his longtime friend Noddy, who exited Slade in 1992 after twenty six years as the group’s frontman, was the one who suggested that his son Django Holder should produce the autobiographical project.
The guitarist has also honoured his original Slade bandmates, singer Noddy, seventy nine, bassist Jim Lea, seventy six, and drummer Don Powell, seventy nine, with a tribute song on the album.
Speaking with Contact Music, Dave said, “I have made a solo album, a very important solo album.
“It is all true stories, slightly country in style, not Slade, though it still has rock in there. There are songs about my mother, and I have written a song for Slade. It is a thank you to Noddy, Jim and Don, it is called Thanks For The Good Times, and it is a great track.
“Noddy Holder’s son, Django Holder, produces the album. He is thirty years old, he is a fantastic lad, very calm and extremely talented. Noddy suggested him, so I thought, I will give him a go. He was wonderful to work with.
“The album is called Dirtyfoot Lane. It is a real place, I used to take my kids down there and they would play in haystacks. I also wrote a song called Dirtyfoot Lane, and it has a chorus that reminds me of Paul McCartney’s Mull of Kintyre.
“These songs have been in the works for quite a while, and the influences feel stronger now. Django is incredible at creating space within the music, he has a real gift for making everything feel interesting.”
He continued, “I am genuinely pleased with it, and I think the only person I need to satisfy now is myself. My kids have heard a couple of songs. It is quite an original record. It almost feels like reading a book through music. You catch little touches throughout it. My guitar is very present on the album, and Noddy told me it had to be. Nod said, ‘People can argue about your outfits, but they need to hear your guitar playing now.’ Noddy really pushed me to make this record because it was time for me to prove something to myself, which is that I can write songs. I believe I am good at it. It took time.
“It is an album built from memories, but I think it will connect with many people, not only Slade fans but plenty of others. One song is about someone troubled, a suicide, though I do not mention their name. I tell the story and it has an eerie feeling to it. It even has a touch of a James Bond theme to it, completely unexpected for me.
“It will surprise people because they do not know my voice. I am not a great singer, but many singers are not great, they are interpreters who convey emotion. That is common in country music, people like Johnny Cash. Sometimes it is not about having a perfect voice, but about the story you are sharing.
“There are a couple of rock tracks, and I had my bass player sing them because he performs the Slade songs anyway. He can handle them.”
Dave Hill’s Slade are currently touring the UK and performing the band’s most beloved hits, including the 1973 festive classic Merry Christmas Everybody.
Even though this run of shows has been promoted as The Final Tour, Dave has reassured fans that he is not stepping away from live performances, he simply wants to reduce the number of dates.
Dave, who is joined onstage by John Berry on lead vocals and bass, Russell Keefe on keyboard and vocals, and Alex Bines on drums, said, “People take things the wrong way sometimes. I am not doing back to back Christmas tours in the UK anymore. What I want to do instead is put on a couple of special shows, a bit larger.
“I tell the audience I am not retiring, and they clap loudly.
“I am just changing the way I approach the Christmas shows. I played three shows at the beginning of this tour and I was exhausted after the first night, even though it was an incredible gig in Wales.”
For more information and to purchase tickets for Dave Hill’s Slade concerts, visit ticketmaster.co.uk.
Slade Live Dates:
DECEMBER:
10 – Picturedrome, Holmfirth
12 – O2 Academy, Liverpool
14 – O2 Academy, Bournemouth
16 – O2 Academy, Oxford
17 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
19 – O2 City Hall, Newcastle
20 – O2 Academy2, Birmingham
22 – O2 Ritz, Manchester
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For Virginia singer and rapper THEDONRRRM, it’s all about the three Rs: real, raw, and rare.
As his name suggests, the music of THEDONRRRM keeps it real, with lyrics that tell stories from his life. His songs are raw: he doesn’t pull punches or hide from the ugly side of life. And his sound is rare, from the contrast between his singsong melodies and gruff rap vocals, to rhythmic experiments from hip hop/R&B to Brazilian funk.
All these elements can be heard on the new single, “DON’T GO.”
Over the catchy Latin bounce of the Brazilian funk beat, the hook showcases THEDONRRRM’s melodic singing. The lyrics, based on the real pain of a fading relationship, paint a picture of two hearts drifting apart.
She said please don’t go
You can’t leave me laying here alone
Keep telling me that she been hurt before
She feel like I don’t love her no more
The melodies are soft and catchy, and seem to fit the youthful image of THEDONRRRM. But soon, his alter ego appears, represented by deep baritone rap lyrics explaining that he can’t be home because he’s “chasing the cheese.”
I know it hurt when I’m out on the road
I’m missing your love but I’m stuck in that mode
She running to me when I walk in the door
“DON’T GO” is the sixth track off of the album, Call Me After You Hear This. While THEDONRRRM has been releasing music since 2016, this record marks his first full-length release. It may have been a long time coming, but something real is worth the wait.
Born and raised in Richmond, VA as Donovan Bennett, THEDONRRRM was introduced to music by his father, a DJ who helped him build his first home studio in middle school. By high school, he was recording, mixing, and mastering records for himself and others.
Building on that experience, THEDONRRRM is now a sought-after mixing and mastering engineer. With credits including the 4x platinum single “Party Girl” by StaySolidRocky, THEDONRRRM runs his music production business out of his personal studio, 3R’s Studios in Richmond.
But despite his talent at making other artists sound good, his current focus is primarily on his own career as a genre-bending artist. With upcoming appearances on the east coast (including New York City) and music videos in the works, the message is clear: THEDONRRRM is busy making honest, well-produced, and unique music that is well-worth repeated listening. Real. Raw. And rare.
“DON’T GO” and is out now with promotional support from Starlight PR. Listen everywhere, and follow THEDONRRRM at the links below.
Spotify | YouTube | Instagram | Apple Music | TikTok | Tidal | Amazon Music
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