British artists join forces for first time
Leeds outfit Yard Act have collaborated with icon Elton John on a brand new studio version of “100% Endurance” — the euphoric closing track on their critically acclaimed 2022 debut album The Overload. Recorded at Parlour Studios and Metropolis Studios, “100% Endurance” is produced and mixed by Ali Chant.
Explaining how the collaboration with Elton John — a fervent champion of new music of all genres via his own Rocket Hour show on Apple Music 1 — came about, Yard Act frontperson James Smith said, “Within our camp we have a saying: ‘Mad shit happens when you do art’ — it means what it means. You make stuff because you want to make it, and you throw stuff you’ve made into the world because you’d rather share it than not, and then you leave it alone and let it do its thing. That thing you did can take you to places you didn’t intend to go with it, but it’s out of your control really. You have no control over the mad shit. It just happens (when you do art). Elton John saw our stuff, and he started telling the press he thought we were good, and then we chatted on the phone and after a few calls I said ‘Elton, do you want to come to the studio and play piano on a tune?’ because, fuck it, it doesn’t matter if he says no. Anyway, he said ‘yes’, so it doesn’t matter that he didn’t say no. I don’t know what else to say. He’s brilliant. Switched on, hilarious and an amazing musician.”
John adds, “From the first moment I heard Yard Act, I fell in love with James’ lyrics, and the way he’s delivered the song. Their sound is such a breath of fresh air. When James called and asked if I would come into the studio, I instantly loved the idea. I started out as a session musician in the late ‘60s, and I absolutely loved it then. It was such a thrill to be thrown in with musicians I’d never met before, it pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I became a better musician. During lock down, I had the time on my hands to really start doing that in a concerted way again, and I fell in love with the challenge and the process all over again. They’re a very special band, with a massive future ahead of them, and I’m honored they’ve let me be a part of their journey.”
The original version of “100% Endurance”, the latest single lifted from The Overload — which charted at No. 2 in the UK and was officially the biggest selling vinyl debut of the century earlier this year — came accompanied by a video directed by longtime collaborator James Slater. The video stars multi-award-winning actor and fan of the band David Thewlis, who said of the experience, “I’ve told my agent I’m only doing Yard Act videos from now on, though next time on a tropical island or a big yacht.” The song also represents the first time Thewlis has filmed in his hometown Blackpool.
Yard Act recently announced their biggest headline show to date at London’s O2 Kentish Town Forum on December 1st, following an entirely sold out tour in February and March this year, and recent shows supporting Jack White. They will return to the US this fall on their headline tour, stopping in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington, DC and more. The band was recently awarded the Grulke Prize for Developing non-US Act at SXSW this year, playing no less than 10 completely sold out shows at the festival. They also made their US TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
