A new documentary spotlighting the life and career of legendary drum ‘n’ bass MC Stevie Hyper D is set to be released at the end of 2024.
The Journey of HYPER: The Stevie Hyper D Story
The team behind the documentary, titled HYPER: The Stevie Hyper D Story, are now calling for donations to a Kickstarter campaign to get the project over the line and onto the silver screen after spending more than a decade in the works.
Exploring the Life of Stevie Hyper D
HYPER chronicles the story of British MC Stevie Hyper D, real name Stephen Austin, from his rise to fame in the drum ‘n’ bass and jungle scenes to his untimely death in 1998. Watch a trailer below.
Director’s Vision
The film is directed by Jamie Ross-Hulme, who has previously worked on a documentary charting the rise of jungle MC Navigator. Jamie was approached in 2012 by Darrell Austin, Stevie’s nephew and now co-producer of HYPER, to ask for help working on another legacy-charting film.
Read this next: A brief lesson in the origins of jungle from MC Navigator
Emotional Impact
Speaking to Mixmag, Darrell explained: “[Making this film] was emotional for me. But what was so positive was that we really feel that we ended up showing how influential is, to those who may not know who he is, but also those who do!”
“Initially the film started as a tribute film to Steve’s legacy, but evolved into much more,” he says. “I really had to dig deep to bring a new element to the story, it was quite possibly one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
Legacy of Stevie Hyper D
As well as a retrospective insight into Darrell’s close relationship with his uncle, the film looks at Stevie’s pioneering MC style, his signing to Island Records in 1996, and how he became one of the most respected figures in drum ‘n’ bass and jungle, later influencing a whole legion of artists.
Documenting Challenges
HYPER also documents the “pressures of relentless performing” that Stevie faced, and how a heart attack “extinguished his potential, leaving a gaping hole in his family and the burgeoning jungle scene”.
Interviews and Insights
The film includes interviews with the likes of Andy C, Harry Shotta, Jammer, Navigator, Gorgon City’s Matt “RackNRuin” Robson-Scott, and plenty more.
Read this next: Why dance music needs to pay more respect to MCs
Community Support
“The response from the drum ‘n’ bass scene and the wider UK music scene to be involved in the film, was overwhelmingly supportive,” director Jamie Ross-Hulme tells Mixmag. “As well as the OG drum ‘n’ bass jungle crew we have icons from UK garage, grime and house.”
Calling for Support
To get the project finished, the crew behind HYPER are now asking for donations to their fundraiser, aiming to raise £35,000 to fund “music clearances, archive and legal costs, and produce a fantastic special edition Blu-Ray.”
The Deeper Story
“The main goal for this film was to solidify his legacy,” says Jamie. “It wasn’t until we were deep in production of the film, that we realized we had a deeper story, that was Darrell’s own emotional journey retelling his perspective on Stevie’s story and his own process of dealing with grief.”
Donate to the Kickstarter campaign here, and check out a poster below.
FAQs
Q: When is the documentary expected to be released?
A: The documentary is set to be released at the end of 2024.
Q: What is the fundraising goal for the Kickstarter campaign?
A: The crew aims to raise £35,000 to complete the project.
Credit: mixmag.net
