SUPER-Hi and NEEKA are “Following The Sun” and Talk About Their Collaboration
The weather may be chilly where you are, but don’t be dismayed: the days are getting longer, and the seasons are turning. Soon enough, it’ll be time for those midday joyrides, trips to the beach, outdoor parties, and the sort of carefree exploration that only happens during the summer. And if you can’t wait to feel the sunshine, SUPER-Hi and NEEKA
The musicians in SUPER-Hi are radiance specialists. Their sense of balance is impeccable — they create tracks that are wistful and danceable at the same time. No matter how smooth and chill the sound, their songs always jump. In their alternate identity as the hitmaking production team Red Triangle (David Guetta, Charlie Puth, Alesso, 5 Seconds Of Summer), they’ve demonstrated an aptitude for house-shaking, party-starting electronic dance music, but they’re sure hands with acoustic instruments, too. “Following The Sun” rides along on a propulsive electronic beat, and it’s decorated with a gorgeous, twinkling synthesizer, but the entire track is underpinned by an irresistible ukulele groove. The result is a production that feels timeless, equally suitable for clubs, beach bars, and nights around a bonfire. Already certified Gold in Germany and Australia, “Following The Sun” is a radio smash across Europe – and it’s now breaking in Australia and New Zealand. Having reached more than 135 million streams, the song has reached the Spotify Top 200 in Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia, as well as the Shazam Top 200 in 48 countries (and #1 in Australia and #2 in New Zealand!).
The track is a collaboration with the accomplished singer-songwriter duo NEEKA, who’s worked with Drake and James Arthur, to name just a few of their creative partners. They’ve penned a lyric that celebrates summertime fun and explores themes of release, aspiration, romantic longing, and personal fulfillment. That tone is extended to the gorgeous clip for “Following The Sun,” which chronicles the perfect summer day. The camera follows a pair of beautiful young women on a ride through the south of France in an open-topped jeep. We watch them take in the sunshine, walk through the forest, and leap into the blue Mediterranean from a rocky shore. The cinematography throughout is nothing short of spectacular: wide blue European skies, long ribbons of road through gorgeous countryside, crystalline blue water, handsome architecture in the towns the pair pass through. But the truly engrossing thing about the clip is the chemistry between the two actresses. Their affection and mutual admiration are instantly apparent. Wherever they’re going next, it’s clear that they’ll be going together.
How did SUPER-Hi come to be?
SUPER-Hi was conceived in lockdown, we were pitching for DJ’s because we thought that they would be the only ones releasing music consistently, and we kept writing this indie dance music that kind of sat in its own lane but came really naturally to us. After a couple of the records got cut we thought ‘hey we love making this music and it sounds like nothing we’re hearing, so why not put some records out ourselves?’ The plan was to put out a song a month and see if any connected… the first song we put out was Following the Sun and the rest is history – it’s been a crazy journey!
What has it been like working with some of the biggest artists of modern music?
It’s honestly amazing. We get to hang out with the coolest people and help them create in an environment no one else gets to see – when someone is at their most relaxed and open that’s when the most honest music is made… it’s awesome and we feel lucky and humbled on a daily basis. As we speak we’re sitting on a plane mid-Atlantic; flying to see one of the biggest artists in the world to talk about the album we’ve spent a year making… who else gets to do that!?
How would you describe the sound and spirit of SUPER-Hi?
It’s indie dance music, real instruments, and sonically uplifting – we’ll leave the sad songs to other people. We just want to make people happier.
What was it like creating “Following The Sun”? What made NEEKA a standout artist to sing it?
NEEKA is made up of 2 amazing writers/ singers that we have written with lots in the past. One happens to be my sister! Following the Sun was such a fun session, mostly created over zoom. We wanted to make a song to escape what was going on at that moment (it was mid-COVID) and remind people that the world was out there waiting for us all to return to. I think that’s probably why it connected because it bought everyone together in spirit even though we were apart.
How was it like creating the visuals for the “Following The Sun” music video? What do you hope listeners will feel after hearing “Following The Sun”?
The visuals were tricky because we weren’t allowed out of the country. We saw the treatment and instantly knew it was perfect – we’re obsessed with road trips so the vision for the video was exactly what we felt when we wrote the song. It’s about escaping reality, going on an adventure and letting go… after all, life isn’t about the destination, it’s all about the journey right?
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About the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
