DIwhy

Album: UK Grim (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "DIwhy" is Sleaford Mods' satirical take on artists who boast that they're creating music on their terms. They think they're more credible going down the DIY route, but in reality their output is a louder and more aggressive version of what's already out there.

    You look like Fred Dibnah and your haircut's crap
    You're in a shouty band, you're not original, man


    The hip-hop driven song exposes the hypocrisy and lack of originality of many "edgy" artists.
  • The song is also a reminder that substance is more important than style. "DIwhy" opens with Williamson saying:

    Excuse me mate, you've just dropped one of your tattoos
    I just seen it over there


    "I walked by one bloke, and he's got a ladder on his thigh. A ladder. There seems to be a uniform with certain underground music people and tattoos," Williamson told Mojo magazine. "I got into trouble with a load of DIwhys, noise artists on Twitter last year, arguing about Spotify. I put up a post, 'stop being so f---ing edgy - just work around it.' Everyone knows it's s--t. Grow up."

    "And all of them techno noise artists with 2000 followers piled in," he continued. "'The special people,' as Jeff Barrow Of Portishead calls them. That's who 'DIwhy' is about. You look on their feeds and you get the impression they believe that there's something bigger than reality. It's the curse of Twitter - people lose their bearings. Your music is not very good and you look like everyone else. That's not Spotify's problem."
  • "Diwhy" takes aim at "post-punk dross" acts that came in the wake of Sleaford Mods. NME asked Williamson if he's expecting any backlash for the song.

    "I don't think there will be. People have had a pop and I can't see them coming at me again – they’ve exhausted themselves and I've exhausted myself. The battleground has been deserted and all we can see now are a few swords and severed limbs," he said.

    "These people view themselves as some kind of Spartans for music social justice and some kind of moral high ground," Williamson continued. "They're just as bad as anyone else. I didn't get into this game to sit in the top room of a pub playing to four people forever. If they're feeling a bit pissed off because we travelled through their scene and knocked them all dead – then what can you do?"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.