STACK April 2016 Issue 138

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Enduring trio Hilltop Hoods are taking their orchestral project Drinking From
The Sun,Walking Under Stars Restrung on the road this month; MC Pressure
discusses that ambitious self-punishment with Zoë Radas.
HILLS ALIVE
MCPressure admits there may be
some stress-related messing of
pants involved in the lead-up to
the Hilltop Hoods’ 50-piece orchestral tour
endeavour this month – but despite the
evolution of the ’Restrung’ concept, which
they’ve trod before, he almost feels like a
professional this time around.
“I used to make the mistake, when I was
younger, of reading message boards,” the
buoyant rapper tells us. “It was soul destroying,
I tell you. There was all these people on there
saying ‘F-uck, you’re making a classical album,
you sell-outs.’ Who do you think we’re selling
out to, the classical scene? ‘Cause there’s so
much money there,” he chortles. “Of course
you always hope that it will be [successful], but
we were far more confident coming into this
Restrung than the last one.”
The meshing of those two domains –
classical and hip hop – has been an ongoing,
illuminating exercise for the enduring three-
piece. “[The classical scene] is so different
from the realm in which we exist as hip hop
artists,” Pressure explains. “I definitely know I
have a lot to learn still, even after working with
them twice.” He remains floored by the history
and scope of the cultural arena in which these
musicians operate: “I just fell off my chair when
they told me how much one of the lady’s violins
was worth,” he says. “The instrument is owned
by someone else – I don’t know, some Duke in
the 17 th century commissioned some artisan to
have it made – and [the violinist] is sponsored
and entrusted to play it. It’s essentially a
museum piece. Some of these violins are
worth millions, literally. They’ve got their own
backstory and you’re thinking, ‘Oh my God, can
you see this rusty microphone that I’m rapping
into? Yeah, it’s… just a microphone.’”
The boys will be performing with
the symphonic orchestras
of each Australian capital
city they visit, as they
traverse the country;
visit MUSIC FEATURE
12 APRIL 2016
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