It’s been a while since Sheffield has witnessed a true ‘scene’ emerge. Pockets of artists and DIY collectives have come to the fore in the last couple of decades, but not since the mid-noughties, when an indie guitar renaissance exploded out of North West Sheffield, riding gleefully on the coat tails of a certain bunch of High Green oiks, has a well-defined collective of musicians and artists been front and centre of the city’s creative consciousness.
There are, of course, numerous explanations for the perceived lack of collective identity in the city’s musical vista; not least the ever-changing landscape of how music is now produced and marketed, and the fact that the word ‘scene’ is sometimes thought of as a dirty word, manufactured by music hacks (like me here, probably) to sell papers. Often, even when there is objectively a scene, the founding members don’t like the idea of it and bristle at their own lack of individuality.
That could all be about to change; or rather, it has changed, and we’re just about to catch up to the doings of a collection of musicians who, thanks to their longstanding friendship and talent, are breaking down the barriers of their respective genres to work collaboratively on each other’s tracks.
Lying down on the job. Drastic//Automatic live. Photo credit: Lia Tiggs
This is not a revolutionary concept, of course, but what makes this unusual and something to get excited about is the breadth of genres combining. Dystopian punk is seamlessly combined with rap and electronic, as they all seem to want to get along (makes you sick!)
At the centre of all this creativity and momentum is a band we have featured (mainly cos I think they’re great) several times, following a chance encounter with their set at Get Together festival back in 2023.
Drastic // Automatic’s dystopian noise punk and electric live sets have gained notoriety in the city and the lynchpins and founding members Sean Hession and Sissy Green are, well, everywhere at the moment.
Drastic//Automatic’s Sean Hession and Sissy Green. Photo credit: Bobby Mercury
Ahead of an incredibly busy Fringe at Tramlines programme (there’s an argument that they’re the hardest working musicians at this year’s Fringe, a title Femur and Django have previously laid claimed to) and ahead of the release of their latest EP on 24th July, we sat down with the pair in the garden at Shakespeare’s to discuss collaborations, lineup changes and the evolution of Drastic’s sound.
“There’s definitely a scene”, says Sissy as he sucks on a role up, fresh from quitting his day job this very morning in order to focus on music and production: “It’s like Sheffield’s Odd Future, man, we’ve got every component of it. We grew up listening to all those collectives, and Odd Future is a really good example. It was so many different influences coming together, and in Sheffield that’s happening, just from people hanging around the right places, at the right times.
“There was a moment when it all switched, and we just started writing together and working on each other’s songs.”
Drastic frontman and guitarist, Sean added: “We’re all in our mid to late 20s, and when we were teenagers, Youtube started getting really good. Collectives like Odd Future were groundbreaking because the visual media component was strong and it felt like there was an independent value to it, but with really 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 do it!”
Sissy continued: “We could easily start a label tomorrow and it would be great. Everyone is contributing to the music and featuring on each other’s tracks already. It’s almost like collaboration makes us stronger, and we all just really like making music with each other.”
Sissy shot by Jacob Flannery
The crew loosely consists of Powerdrill, Mucarelli, God’s Favourite Characters, Dusthouse, Mickey Nomimono, Richard Carlson Band, Bait Britain, Sissy’s partner Soph, and Sissy’s little brother, Matty, with former Drastic drummer, Benji recording it all with his trusty camera.
“There doesn’t feel like there’s real competition between us all.” Says Sissy, “It exists in Sheffield, but we’re not involved in that. We want all of us to do well, so the spotlight comes back on the city. We were mates first, before the music, so we all know and love each other.
“It’s a shield, and strength in numbers – and also protection from competition.”
New lineup, who dis? Photo credit: Jacob Flannery
Sean said: “We feel very comfortable with each other and know each other so well, it’s inspiring all of our art. Every week, we’re making something and it’s sick!”
This amplified work ethic has led to an all-new Drastic EP, which is released on the 24th July, in time for the Fringe at Tramlines, and is the first release since former drummer Benji Wilson left the band to concentrate 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’s out there doing his photography thing now, it turned out to be a good outcome; We did lose 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 changed how we write and record. Now, we work with Ali from Power Drill, who’s like a brother to us. He’s a drumming ninja, and he’s injected a real bulk to our sound.
“He’s a busy guy, so it’s transformed how we write. Sean and I write demos and then we work on them collaboratively with Ali. Our home demo setup has got really good. It’s created a different sound that isn’t as loud and is a lot more pop-led. We were a bit worried about it, but we’ve taken them to Ali and now they’re like Drastic songs; it’s different, but better.
Sean added: “I actually really liked our songs. But I was getting to the point where I just felt like the novelty of them kind of wore off. You should always be asking yourself what’s next?
Drastic // Automatic’s new lineup including Powerdill drummer, Ali Wain. Photo credit: Jacob Flannery
“A lot of the first EP was our first material and the songs mostly sound like little sketches that became tunes immediately. Most of the songs don’t have vocals in the chorus because we were 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, particularly making rap tracks with the likes of Mucarelli.
Sean explained: “Me and Liam (Mucarelli) started hanging out more again last year while I was trying to figure things out. I didn’t want to be one of those artists that plays the same sound and the same set over and over; I wanted to challenge myself.
Sean shot by Jacob Flannery
“It was going back to a really basic format of making tunes; writing the first thing that came to my head. A lot of the bars ended up being religion based and that’s kind of turned up in the new Drastic stuff.”
Sissy jumps in: “Writing those Catholic sin bangers!”
Sean continues: “What I find strange about this new set of tunes, particularly with the lyrics, is that they’re all finished! Before, I would just do some lalala’s live, or just freestyle, or even be writing them in the toilets before the show!”
Photo credit: Lia Tiggs
Sissy adds: “Clean’s the wrong word, but it’s a bit more precise. It doesn’t need to be more complicated for them to be good songs.”
The new, slightly more polished Drastic // Automatic, plan to play everywhere for the remainder of the year, starting with an EP launch (their last recording with Benji) and The Fringe at Tramlines showcase at Shakespeare’s on Saturday, 27th July.
For more deets about upcoming shows, and to buy the EP, head over to their socials here.
