Hard-Fi

Hard-Fi

Hard-Fi are an English indie rock band from Staines-upon-Thames, United Kingdom. The group forms in Staines, Middlesex in 2003 and remains active. Its continual line-up includes Richard Archer on vocals, Kai Stephens on bass guitar, Ross Phillips on guitar and Steve Kemp on drums.

Style and origin

The band’s sound and lyrics are closely tied to Staines, a suburban area southwest of central London. They are associated with indie pop, indie rock and post-punk revival, and are often placed within the broader indie rock scene.

Chart success and albums

Hard-Fi first achieve wider chart success with the single “Hard to Beat”, followed by “Cash Machine” and “Living for the Weekend”, all of which reach the UK singles top 15. Their debut album, Stars of CCTV, is released in 2005, receives critical acclaim and later reaches number one in the UK albums chart after initially peaking at number six.

Their second album, Once Upon a Time in the West, is released in 2007 and enters the UK chart at number one in its first week. Killer Sounds follows in 2011 and includes the singles “Good for Nothing”, “Fire in the House” and “Bring It On”. “Bring It On” also appears in Football Manager 2012.

Recognition and other releases

Stars of CCTV receives strong critical attention, with NME naming it album of the year. It is also nominated for the Mercury Prize and two BRIT Awards: Best British Group and Best British Rock Act.

The band records “Like a Drug” for Twilight - Breaking Dawn and later releases it as a single. In 2014, Hard-Fi issue their first compilation album, Best Of 2004 - 2014, which draws tracks from their previous albums. They also release the studio-recorded EP Don’t Go Making Plans, led by the title track and including “Always and Forever”, “Don’t Need You”, “I Know What You Want” and two remixes of the title track.