At the very core of The Hundreds lies a deep connection to hardcore and punk music. From graphic t-shirts to company slogans, The Hundreds’ co-founder, Bobby Hundreds, has interwoven the principles of the two music genres into the fabric of the brand, and to this day, finding new generations of punk and hardcore music brings a rush of inspiration. For this same reason, we couldn’t be more excited to bring forth our collaboration with the London band, High Vis.
High Vis doesn’t fit neatly into a pre-existing category, they’ve carved out a lane of their own. Combining elements of UK punk music with hardcore and indie rock influences, every song within their repertoire represents a fusion of genres that resonates with listeners across the globe, making it easy for listeners to connect to the music and lyrics sung by band frontman, Graham Sayle.
The collaboration holds a special place for Sayle, with his partner Marina Inoue designing the collaborative graphic that’s printed across a sweatshirt and graphic t-shirt. We sat down with the artist ahead of the collaboration to talk about the graphic created by Marina, London’s music scene, and Buc-ee’s. The collaboration is available for purchase now on TheHundreds.com so get it while it’s here.
SANDY MOSQUEDA: High Vis plays in this interesting space that falls between genres. In effect, creating a lane of its own. You share the same bill as a variety of different artists. What is it about your music and presence that speaks across audiences?
Graham Sayle: I couldn’t really tell you exactly what it is that people connect with, but we definitely feel really lucky with how the whole thing has been received. We didn’t start the band with any aspirations or goals. For years we just existed in a sort of ‘nonspace’. People didn’t know where to put us, and it wasn’t until lockdown that people started to pay attention to what we were doing. We were just making music that we wanted to play, trying not to limit ourselves to traditional genre constraints.
“I like the idea of drawing from places that aren’t aesthetically traditional punk/hardcore.”
The artist Marina Inoue designed this collaboration. Can you tell us what she means to the band, and what your (collective) inspiration was for this T-shirt graphic?
I was a fan of Marina’s work way before we met, she was behind a lot of iconic flyers and artwork for bands like Trapped Under Ice and King Nine. I’m very lucky to be her husband and co-defendant. The design was based on the nostalgic rave artwork of the 90s that I grew up with. I like the idea of drawing from places that aren’t aesthetically traditional punk/hardcore. Merging iconography from seemingly opposing subcultural spaces.
What’s the scene like in London currently? How has London played a role in your sound?
London’s scene is really healthy and shows are always packed and rowdy. There’s so much going on alongside each other that traditional subcultural barriers are being broken down. Spaces are having punk shows gigs in the afternoon on to banging all-night raves. London has always been such a melting pot of diversity that it’s absolutely informed the music we make.
You gave this quote during your Forbes interview, “I discover bands on the internet, but I never think anyone would discover our band.” How do you pinpoint the moment you realized the band was getting high traction? Was it a specific post or song?
I think the response to ‘Blending’ was the moment we clocked that the band was bigger than we ever could have imagined. People showing us their ‘Trauma Bonds’ tattoos and explaining their connection to the song was a pivotal moment for me.
You just completed your first-ever North America tour. What was the weird shit you saw during your America stops?
We saw so much cool shit through Texas and the midwest. Buc-ee’s is the maddest place I’ve ever been. Swimming in Barton Springs in Austin was a highlight and New Orleans is absolutely off its head.
“However we move sonically, our shared background in the hardcore punk scene is at the core of our existence.”
u/brambroco on Reddit said High Vis is like if Oasis and a hardcore band made a child. How does that make you feel? Do you agree?
Haha I mean it’s a big compliment! We grew up with Oasis and they’re a band that is etched into our history. I always try to approach this band with the same energy I would if I were singing in a straight-up hardcore band. However we move sonically, our shared background in the hardcore punk scene is at the core of our existence.
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