Be A Man - Hi Sienna

It was a cold, crispy November night and, under the headlights and streetlamps, the mist was setting in like a drunken haze around The Deaf Institute. After chasing Google Maps in search of a cash machine for a solid twenty minutes we finally arrived, drinks in hand, in time to catch the second support act. A neon yellow cocktail dress flanked by a flourish of boy-pink, it could only be Hi Sienna; alternative/indie-pop band from Manchester that, interestingly, can be seen in the video for their latest single, ‘Be A Man’, in which they run around the lovely, grey English countryside.

The song features fluttery guitar melodies that are called back and forth between Poppy-Jo’s vocals. The band do a fantastic job of painting an iridescent pink soundscape as they play around with reverb and levels to set up for an iconic chorus, reminiscent of the likes of Blondie and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which they told me are some of their largest influences. The song is simple enough to be classed as easy listening, but subtle intricacies are placed in funky, rhythmic guitarwork and are layered up behind harmonising vocals. Hi Sienna’s rhythm section fill out the low-end groove and the whole ensemble comes together to create what is clearly a well written song, regardless of how deep down you drill.

I love Hi Sienna’s image. The indie scene is dominated by the weird and wonderful, but they manage to stand out from the crowd – which is especially large in Manchester – in bright colours and absolute sass. Looking like a pack of highlighters, you just aren’t going to miss them. Their playful personas come off consistently at their live shows, in their music videos, on their social media, Hi Sienna are more than a colourful press pack but an insight into their own quirky and fun lives.

While they appear glamourous and high-class at a glance, @poopyjo on Instagram isn’t afraid to have a laugh at their own expense and antics. The video for Be A Man sees them in muddy fields and even crossing rivers in white trainers. They aren’t afraid to get messy to achieve success, even if it means sacrificing clean shoes.

The single release on Spotify is also accompanied by another track, ‘Mr Solo', another funky, bouncy, bassy bop that shows a darker, more intense side to their sound. It’s the kind of song that I imagine would hit harder in a live environment, but as a recording sits nicely behind Be A Man as a more chill, understated bonus track. It also hammers home the fact that Hi Sienna love their catchy guitar riffs and subtle synth waves, and both of these are key ingredients to a potent indie-pop potion that takes small nuances from 80s disco pop with the large influence and knowledge of a modern market.

Be A Man is available on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming sites. Watch the official music video on YouTube and support Hi Sienna by following their social media.