Written by : Stacy James (@Stacyjamesofficial)
“HiTech” is a September 2022 release by a group named, you guessed it, HiTech.
The self-titled project is a debut album for the group but not a first time collaboration. This journey started when they were just kids filled with curiosity and love for an art form, and you can hear it in the music. All three have a chance to shine on their own but the synergy throughout is akin to that of a band that’s been touring for ten plus years. Each using their voice as an instrument to blend with the upbeat yet simultaneously mellow beats.
The first three songs create a unique build-up using minimal words for maximum impact.
Cultivating in an explosion on track three “Henny Runtz”. This song fully introduces us to the
group’s distinct sound, self described as “Ghetto Tech”. A music video for this one has recently been released and I would highly recommend it.
Track four “Fitness” somehow manages to up the speed before slowing it down on the next. “I Swear It’s a Bop” introduces us to the first features of the album, KAY and Ziggy Waters
respectively. The five come together for the fifth song, incorporating more layers, vocals, and
beat progressions. Creating something that’s reminiscent of early house music but manages to stay unique.
Track six “I’m Pullin Up” combines the approach of the previous two songs, adding something new while still staying consistent. The next song “In the Field” strips things back down but does some very interesting stuff with the instruments and beat progressions, adding conga drums. Track eight “Milf Milo 6” is a Tik Tok song in the best ways imaginable. Upbeat, catchy flow, and fun wordplay. Creating an endless pit of opportunities to enjoy it.
Track 9 brings in Nila and SDNY who put their own stamp on the album with unique vocals while still complimenting the previous work. The next song “Cashapp” is the most angsty but remains fun and upbeat, reminiscent of the early SoundCloud days. The outro “Funny Fucktits” is the perfect finale and embodiment of the album as a whole. It builds upon every previous sound introduced, producing a roller coaster of a song.
Every genre makes an appearance on “HiTech”. Despite the vast differences in time and
technology, HiTech connects to every branch on the musical tree, resulting in a breath of fresh air. Personally, I’ve always viewed music as its own life form, and this album is the perfect representation of its evolution. They manage to blend the simple with the obscure. Combining bombastic beats with soft spoken melodies. Smooth flows with fun wordplay.
The tempo is pretty much the same throughout, yet they play around in this pocket as if they
were kids in a sandbox. It will wow you how similar yet completely different one song can be
from the next. Creating a consistent listening process throughout but throwing in enough spice that the flavor never goes dull.
“HiTech” is not only the embodiment of the history of music, it’s not only a love letter to music, it’s a love letter to life. Different individuals collaborate to create something for their community to enjoy. No, this album doesn’t have some deep meaning or overlying message, but that doesn’t make it any less important. We all love that music but there’s more to life than constant introspection, and HiTech did a fantastic job reminding me of that. This music can still save somebody’s life, it can still bring people and cultures together. Regardless of content, that’s what this project and music as a whole is about. It’s a Time Machine, and HiTech is out here driving Deloreans through wormholes with their debut album. If you want a glimpse of the future, check out “HiTech”. Out on all platforms now.
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