01Profile
A Yard Act Photo
Yard Act
Musicians — Leeds
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
James, Leeds.
Describe your style in three words?
Respectable, unassuming - classic.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
One is really tough but I’ll go with Bill Callahan at Leeds Irish Centre a few years ago because I forgot where I was for 2 hours. That’s a feeling I don’t tend to experience too much at gigs anymore, so I always make a note to remember the times I forget.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Wu-Tang Clan freestyling over a 24 hour Can jam, I’m just watching.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
You read stories, like the one about that bloke who ran a caravan park in Devon getting sampled on a Tyler, The Creator track and he only found out when the lawyers belled him to offer loads of money because they had a deadline for the record and they needed clearance from him to use this completely forgotten prog song he'd written in 1970. How ace is that? For that reason alone I’d say the answer is sample culture, and hip hop in general. It’s had a really profound effect on my entire thought process. I believe that all ideas are borrowed, but I also believe every idea to be original within the right context. The notion that everything is connected is important to me. I find stories like this one reassuring; that an honest sound will always find its intended ears even if it evolves along the way.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
That’s really tough too. It depends what I’m trying to gain from the conversation really. Am I spending an hour in their time or are they spending an hour in mine? I’m trying to comprehend if the outcome of the conversation could alter the history of our universe. The ethical dilemmas posed by this question, it's too much for me to handle right now. I feel like I’ve got one shot to save the world and I'm going to cock it up. That said, my gut instinct is to go and convince a young Fred Trump to immediately chop his bollocks off and throw them on a bonfire.
Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
Brudenell Social Club in Leeds because it’s home and I miss Trev.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Thinking about it, the subculture which actually influenced me most was the mid-noughties Scouse Doowop scene so here’s Edgar ‘Jones’ Jones and The Joneses - Great stuff.
Listen, purchase or stream Yard Act's latest track 'Peanuts' via smarturl.it/yapeanuts.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'I Like It' by Gerry and The Pacemakers. We had this in the car on my mum’s Heartbeat cassette, I used to rewind this song back to the start as soon as it finished.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Fix Up, Look Sharp' by Dizzee Rascal. I definitely had no clue how important this was at the time, just thought it was a class song. Dizzee did alter the culture though, massively.
One record you would keep forever?
'To Love Somebody' by Bee Gees. One of the most beautiful songs ever written.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"If I go to the law, another thief is born"
From 'Razzle In My Pocket' by Ian Dury. How the fuck was this a b-side? Top notch narrative story telling.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Paper Planes' by M.I.A. You know.
A song you wished you had written?
'The Barrel' by Aldous Harding. My favourite song in years.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Bang’n On King Dr.' by RP Boo. Self explanatory.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Blindness' by The Fall. Will come as a surprise I know.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Palaces Of Montezuma' by Grinderman. Very underrated sentimental, stones-y pop gem from the dark lord himself.
Any new music you are listening to right now?
'Enough Salt (For All Dogs)' by Crake. Beautiful alt-country from my best friends in Leeds.
'Solar Eclipse' by Otis Mensah. Beautiful jazz-rap from someone I’ve never met in Sheffield.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
James, Leeds.
Describe your style in three words?
Respectable, unassuming - classic.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
One is really tough but I’ll go with Bill Callahan at Leeds Irish Centre a few years ago because I forgot where I was for 2 hours. That’s a feeling I don’t tend to experience too much at gigs anymore, so I always make a note to remember the times I forget.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Wu-Tang Clan freestyling over a 24 hour Can jam, I’m just watching.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
You read stories, like the one about that bloke who ran a caravan park in Devon getting sampled on a Tyler, The Creator track and he only found out when the lawyers belled him to offer loads of money because they had a deadline for the record and they needed clearance from him to use this completely forgotten prog song he'd written in 1970. How ace is that? For that reason alone I’d say the answer is sample culture, and hip hop in general. It’s had a really profound effect on my entire thought process. I believe that all ideas are borrowed, but I also believe every idea to be original within the right context. The notion that everything is connected is important to me. I find stories like this one reassuring; that an honest sound will always find its intended ears even if it evolves along the way.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
That’s really tough too. It depends what I’m trying to gain from the conversation really. Am I spending an hour in their time or are they spending an hour in mine? I’m trying to comprehend if the outcome of the conversation could alter the history of our universe. The ethical dilemmas posed by this question, it's too much for me to handle right now. I feel like I’ve got one shot to save the world and I'm going to cock it up. That said, my gut instinct is to go and convince a young Fred Trump to immediately chop his bollocks off and throw them on a bonfire.
Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
Brudenell Social Club in Leeds because it’s home and I miss Trev.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Thinking about it, the subculture which actually influenced me most was the mid-noughties Scouse Doowop scene so here’s Edgar ‘Jones’ Jones and The Joneses - Great stuff.
Listen, purchase or stream Yard Act's latest track 'Peanuts' via smarturl.it/yapeanuts.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'I Like It' by Gerry and The Pacemakers. We had this in the car on my mum’s Heartbeat cassette, I used to rewind this song back to the start as soon as it finished.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Fix Up, Look Sharp' by Dizzee Rascal. I definitely had no clue how important this was at the time, just thought it was a class song. Dizzee did alter the culture though, massively.
One record you would keep forever?
'To Love Somebody' by Bee Gees. One of the most beautiful songs ever written.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"If I go to the law, another thief is born"
From 'Razzle In My Pocket' by Ian Dury. How the fuck was this a b-side? Top notch narrative story telling.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Paper Planes' by M.I.A. You know.
A song you wished you had written?
'The Barrel' by Aldous Harding. My favourite song in years.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Bang’n On King Dr.' by RP Boo. Self explanatory.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Blindness' by The Fall. Will come as a surprise I know.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Palaces Of Montezuma' by Grinderman. Very underrated sentimental, stones-y pop gem from the dark lord himself.
Any new music you are listening to right now?
'Enough Salt (For All Dogs)' by Crake. Beautiful alt-country from my best friends in Leeds.
'Solar Eclipse' by Otis Mensah. Beautiful jazz-rap from someone I’ve never met in Sheffield.