Connie Mitchell and Angus McDonald of Sneaky Sound System have learned the meaning of hard work after collaborating with some of the biggest names in music. Mitchell contributed vocals to two tracks on Kanye West and Jay-Z's album Watch the Throne, a project that involved recording sessions in a Sydney mansion with West, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé.
Mitchell described the experience as eye-opening, noting the relentless work ethic of the superstar artists. 'They don't stop. Their success is no fluke,' she said, recalling how West would take ten-minute power naps before resuming work. 'It cements the fact that this is what you should be doing.'
McDonald expressed pride in watching Mitchell perform in front of such an audience. 'When Connie was in that room, it was like she jumped up a couple of levels. She was so at ease. It honestly seemed like she was the star in the room,' he said.
The duo's new album, From Here to Anywhere, marks a shift towards a more straightforward club sound, stripped of guitars and aimed directly at the dance floor. McDonald explained the change: 'It felt right. More honest. Less frills. We wanted to throw away the guitars, get back in the club.'
Despite its club-friendly nature, the album also features deeply personal tracks. Mitchell described the song 'Remember' as particularly raw, saying, 'It was really hard to write. Even harder to sing. But it does exactly what I wanted it to do, which is make you feel that way.'
