On January 14th, 2025, Chief Hyena released his long-awaited album ‘What a Lot of Rot!’, a project born out of sheer frustration and creative release. This alternative album reflects the journey of an artist desperate to get his music out into the world before he lost himself entirely. The culmination of over a year’s work, ‘What a Lot of Rot!’ is the raw sound of an artist who has embraced the freedom of modern technology while still staying true to his analog roots.
The driving force behind the album was simple yet urgent: Chief Hyena needed to get his music out before the pressure of years of creative blockage led him to madness. “Enough of thinking, dreaming and talking, it was time to just simply do,” he says. With a career rooted in the analog days of music, he made a conscious choice to combine old-school analog sound with the endless possibilities of digital tools, allowing him to explore every creative avenue without the restrictions once dictated by time and cost. Inspiration for the album came from all corners of Chief Hyena’s life: the chaotic atmosphere of his Liverpool upbringing, the deep influences of classic rock and punk, and his time spent reading George Orwell’s dystopian novels. The album’s mood echoes this literary influence, with a sonic landscape that feels both modern and dystopian. Yet, it’s the timeless idea of seizing your ambitions and taking creative risks that fuels the heart of What a Lot of Rot!. The process of creating the album was as unorthodox as its title suggests. Written predominantly on guitar, the sound grew into something larger, incorporating keyboards, bass, small jazz kits, and even the occasional uninvited contribution from the household washing machine and boiler. The music was born out of experimentation, mistakes, and a pure sense of enjoyment, and the recording process itself became an act of catharsis for the artist.
“The album is about following your ambitions with everything you’ve got, no matter what,” Chief Hyena reflects. “Life is too short to not do something with the time you have. I wanted to make an album that reflected that energy and sense of urgency.” The album took over a year to write, compose, and record, not including the inevitable failures and trials that preceded the final product. Despite the chaos, What a Lot of Rot! is an album of joy and liberation, a celebration of an artist finally free to make music on his terms. With an eclectic mix of styles and sounds, this project is a direct reflection of Chief Hyena’s life: unpredictable, challenging, and completely authentic.
Born and raised in Liverpool, UK, Chief Hyena cut his musical teeth in the turbulent climate of the late 20th century, where he was deeply influenced by both the political landscape and the evolving musical scene. After learning guitar from the older kids on his street, he was immersed in a wide variety of music, from Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin to The Pixies and The Clash. Through a series of collaborations and bands, he explored numerous musical styles, from the early ska/punk scene to the emerging grunge sounds of the ’90s. After facing the ups and downs of the music industry, including a brief but memorable stint busking in New York, Chief Hyena returned to Liverpool to form the successful Lo-Fi band The Binmen. However, health issues and bad luck sidelined the group, forcing him to focus on family and work. Now, with his children grown and his ambitions reignited, Chief Hyena has returned to music, releasing What a Lot of Rot! as a personal and creative breakthrough. This album is the culmination of his journey and a promise to himself to never leave his dreams unfulfilled again.
Influences
Roy Harper, The Pixies, Ventre de Biche, Ethel Cain, The Dead South
