The popular three piece have been recording at Ladder Factory Studios with local sonic genius Sam Bates and decided one of their new tracks could do with something different to really bring out the best. So why not put in a call to one of your heroes right?
Jim Blair, vocalist and slide guitar wizard in Hip Route, said: “We wrote the tune ‘Shout Out’ about a year ago. It’s a song about celebrating life as you never know what’s going to happen or what may lay around the corner.
“We then laid a version of it down at The Ladder Factory Studio with the very skilled help of Sam Bates at the end of March 2016.
“While we were listening to it during the mixing stage I turned to Jon (bass) and Steve (drums) and said “You know who would sound awesome on this right?” They both replied “Gary Stringer?”.
“Hip Route had done a few support slots in the past for Them Is Me (the band that Gary and Jack Bessant put together while Reef were on a break) and I had done some solo support slots for StringerBessant (their acoustic project).
“So the next day I thought well you don’t know if you don’t ask man! I got a much quicker reply than I ever expected from Gary asking if he could have a copy of the track but that he was very busy at the moment.
“A few more exchanges of messages were had over the next few months and then in January this year it all became very real, very fast! :-)
“He came to The Ladder Factory studio and laid it down! I can honestly say you’d be hard pressed to find a nicer, more professional fella. I still couldn’t quite believe that I was watching Gary Stringer from REEF (one of my all time favourite singers and bands) singing my lyrics on a tune Hip Route had written!
“The tune will eventually end up on our next record that has the working title of ‘Angels and Devils’.
“But until we’ve got the funds to finish the album we will, for now, be releasing ‘Shout Out’ (feat. Gary Stringer!) as a download only single from all the usual places. No firm date as of right now but it WILL be within the next month or so! Followed by a video not long after.
“Keep an eye on/like our Facebook page/Instagram/twitter etc for a release date, all our gigs and other Hip Route shenanigans.”
facebook.com/HipRouteBand / hiproute.com / twitter.com/HipRoute / instagram.com/hiprouteband
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