GREENHAT - I'S OPEN
DIY alternative rock forged in South London tube carriages and bedroom studio sessions.
By 40MAG ·
Observation on the Northern Line
GREENHAT is the solo alternative rock project of UK musician Dylan Hyatt Bowles. His debut single 'I'S OPEN' took shape during a crowded South London commute along the Victoria and Northern lines. Spotting an entire tube carriage glued to their phones, Bowles wrote the lyrics on the spot as a direct reaction to screen addiction and social isolation. The song quickly grew into a sharp, noise-tinged rock track that tackles modern disconnect head-on.
Heavy Dynamics and Final Mix
Musically, 'I'S OPEN' pairs Johnny Marr-style arpeggios with heavy, fuzzed-out alternate tunings reminiscent of Sonic Youth, backed by a rhythm section pulling from Killing Joke and Nirvana. Bowles handled the mix himself after deciding to get sober following eight years of 'stonerism'. Mastered by Pete Maher (The Pixies, Jack White), the single moves from quiet verse sections into sudden, explosive chorus bursts, mimicking the jolt of looking up from a phone back into real life.
Analog Gear and Studio Reworks
The recording process behind 'I'S OPEN' moved between London's Fuzzbrain Studios and a home bedroom setup. Bowles tracked initial drum takes in the studio before laying down guitars, bass, and vocals at home. He used two custom lefty Ruby guitars running through a 1969 Selmer Treble N Bass 50 amp, with vocals captured on an old Russian Oktava ribbon mic. After ditching a month-long synth experiment that went nowhere, Bowles went back into the studio on his final rental day to re-record the chorus drums, flipping the beat to full speed to give the track its driving pace.
