Richey Hackett is a British recording artist and musician from Dudley in the West Midlands. His music covers many genres including alternative rock, synth pop, electronica, industrial and, more recently, ambient music.
Over the last 14 years he has released 12 albums, including his latest record A Space For Your Dreams. He is currently signed to Vulpiano Records, an independent collective netlabel, who have released all of his work since his seventh album, Void Songs.
Hackett is also the second member of industrial pop duo Us Frail Gods, who released their debut album in March 2020.
He currently lives in Birmingham with his wife and daughter.
He says: "“Of all their records, New Adventures In Hi-Fi has always been my favourite R.E.M. album. It perfectly encapsulates the band’s gift for melody, their powerful live sound and the beauty of Stipe’s vocals and poetry. So I knew that I had to choose a song from that record if I was going to cover R.E.M.
Something about “New Test Leper” has always touched me on an emotional level that I can’t quite define or even necessarily understand. It’s just a song I’ve never been able to get out of my head ever since first hearing it. I knew that I could provide a genuinely personal take on this one, where as with other R.E.M. songs the most I’d be able to offer would be little more than a karaoke cover version. It’s a bit haunting, a bit emotional and it’s from the heart.”
richeyhackett.bandcamp.com