INTERVIEW: YARD ACT

WE SAT DOWN WITH RYAN NEEDHAM OF HOTLY-TIPPED LEEDS BAND, YARD ACT, FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THEIR FIRST SINGLE THE TRAPPER’S PELTS AND A STRING OF LEEDS SHOWS, INCLUDING SUPER FRIENDZ’ DARK ARTS FESTIVAL, TO SEE WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO DURING LOCKDOWN…

HOW ARE YOU ALL COPING WITH THE CURRENT LOCKDOWN?

I’m currently feeling pretty good but only since I stopped watching the news and started exercising a bit. I’m getting down to writing music now but before that I was a bit all over the shop like everyone else, but I guess existential dread and worrying about the future will do that. I’m aware that there are much more important things happening out there right now but working on music with my pals and doing things like this are giving me a much needed level of normality.

TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THE BAND CAME ABOUT?

I ended up living with James for a few months at the end of last year ‘cause I was in a tight spot and he said I could sleep in his attic ‘til Christmas, which was cool cause we were only really pub mates at that point. We just started hanging out and he showed me tons and tons of writing that he’d done that he was working into spoken word nights and it was just so vivid and strong. I connected with it immediately and got all over-excited, so we started writing bass and drum loops and building songs together, quickly got Sammy and George on board (more pub mates) and we’ve just buoyed along on the wave of that initial energy since then.

WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST EXCITING PART OF THE JOURNEY SO FAR?

I think being in the room and writing together is the best bit at the moment because we’re still all learning how to play to our strengths. This band has very minimal instrumentation, so every part is pretty important, and the challenge is to make it powerful without reverting to the tired old method of loud guitars and volume. Learning to explore that space, harness James’ words and not hide behind noise is pretty unforgiving but it feels fresh to me.

FAVOURITE GIG YARD ACT HAVE PLAYED?

The Dark Arts all-dayer at Belgrave Music Hall is up there because we played early and there were tons of good artists after. I love festival-style bills where you can just turn up and play, no soundcheck, no waiting around all day trying to hit the nerves/looseness sweet spot before playing. Our first gig at the Brudenell Social Club was a bit of a baptism by fire too as tons of friends turned out to hear what we’d been up to.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING TO RECENTLY?

The Wants album, new Strokes record, revisting ESG, new Squid single, Harkin’s debut album, little bit of Suede cause I’m reading Brett Anderson’s autobiography, Babe Punch new single, Working Mens Club album leak, and always Stereolab.

WHAT’S BEEN KEEPING YOU OCCUPIED DURING LOCKDOWN?

We’ve done a couple of live streamed sessions for virtual festival type things, they’re a bit odd if you aren’t into being filmed and the production quality is obviously a bit crap but the Dork Homeshool one was well done. Bit of Video chat quizzes, Jigsaws, reading loads, writing a bit, trying to think of ways to not go bankrupt and mainly STAYING ALERT.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YARD ACT?

We’re finishing writing our debut album, so we’ll get stuck straight back into that after lockdown. We got the next single recorded before all this happened so we’ll release that in a month or so, but yeah, playing shows and the rest of it is anyone’s guess still at the moment.

Listen to The Trapper’s Pelts on all streaming services now.