Hit

Written by Steve Hillier

Date Written April 2011

Place Written Hove, Sussex

Originally Sung By Sarah Blackwood

Features Roland Jupiter-6 & System-100M, Yamaha CP-70B

“I made you”

I didn’t have much to write about in my own life in 2011. Things were pretty solid, I was about to move house, I’d reduced the amount of work I was doing outside of making music to nearly nothing, the second Dubstar reformation was drifting along, so…

I wrote about Sarah. I’d done this before, notably on I’m Conscious Of Myself, but this time felt different. There was plenty to write about, plenty to say. And it felt important to say it.

Hit was written at the very tail end of me working as a pro-writer, the Scandinavian influences on the music are clear and present for all to hear. I’d been listening to the electronic pop emerging from Eastern Europe and incorporated that into the arrangement. There’s also an Ultravox reference in the melody and vocals. I’d been a huge fan of the band in both incarnations and finally got to meet Midge Ure in Copenhagen last year. Strange it’s only now in 2020 that I can hear their influence on my writing for Dubstar loudly and clearly.

There are several versions of Hit. The Tim Mason version, my original demo and a further refinement I’d made in 2013 to update the sounds a bit. Plus I wanted a reason to use my Roland Jupiter-6 (for the last time, sadly) and Roland System-100M. Sounded awesome. I’m confident this song will see the dance floor in some form one day, if not through Dubstar.