Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: Xylophone Yacht Zombies, namely, Kevin, Mark, Steve, Steve B, Tony B and Pete all went to the worst schools in South London; Roger Manwood, Selhurst Boys and William Penn (AKA Billy Biro). Roger Manwood, for example, featured on a mainstream UK TV show regarding violence towards teachers! Music was an opportunity only kids in richer households got to have. We are working class and have all struggled to get equipment, time, and space to learn to play. We are still learning, by the way. Nothing has been easy. We all loved Rock music and are old enough to have seen many of the greats at classic live concerts; Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Stones etc. We also grew up with and were friends with New Wave of British Heavy Metal Bands like Angel Witch and Marquis De Sade but we, much as we tried, are not at all metallic, we are eclectic even alternative or as some say, psychedelic. We all have various influences Steve B is a jazz drummer and his brother Tony B can hold his own in a Reggae band.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Xylophone Yacht Zombies in three words?
A: Mad, Acidic and Enterprising. These three words were literally pulled out of a hat to name our first band Mad Acid Enterprise. If I was use one word, it is Eclectic!
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: We have so few fans we resort to poster campaigns. Kev has been putting XYZ posters in places like the Pizza Rock café in Las Vegas (whilst on vacation) and I put some in Crystal Palace Park in South London, which is not so silly as there are some major music festivals held there. We struggle with social media so would welcome Bored City fans to spread the word, whatever that is, good or bad (laughs). We depend on the internet and people we meet when we walk the dog. Our musical journey is boldly going where we have never been before.
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘Hawaiian State Flag’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Once upon a time, Steve was walking past the USA Embassy (the old one) in Grosvenor Square, London, where he admired all the US State Flags, proudly on display. Then he noticed something familiar about one of them and was deeply puzzled. A British Union Flag on the top left canton of what he discovered was the Hawaiian State Flag. So, he read some history books (it was before Wikipedia, remember) and the story of how the British never colonised Hawaii but maintained a close relationship with the Hawaiian King emerged. The Hawaiian People were occupied by the Brits but for just five months. Then the King wrote a nice letter to King George the Third (actually a nice chap) his British Counterpart and a British Royal Navy ship was sent to declare Hawaii independent and apologise for taking over illegally! The Hawaiian King adopted a Brit flag and combined it with stripes to represent all the Islands of Hawaii. So, when the USA made Hawaii a State, only 65 years ago, the state flag was already designed. In Hawaii 50 and Magnum PI the State flag is embarrassingly hidden at the back tucked away out of sight. However, In Parks and Recreation, the Indiana State Flag is everywhere. “Boo Yah hoo sucks” says the Brit. The fact is the “Hawaiian State Flag” is super cool and more should be made of it. The other tracks on the EP also have a story if you are sitting comfortably! “When Churchyards Yawn” is a direct steal from William Shakespeare, Hamlet Act 3 scene 2, to be precise. OK we did twist the words to fit and thank God he is out of copyright! It is a very Gothic Rocker as a result. “All these Ghosts” the next track is a close to Reggae as old white guys dare go. It is inspired by Steve Butcher’s amazingly spaced drumming and Kevin’s whirling keyboards to create a song about living life to the full. Plus, the Ghosts get a right to reply! The final song is “Slow motion catastrophe” inspired by the words of Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki when he met with William Shatner. Basically, we need to move from Oil and Gas as time is running out and the song fades off with Steve singing “bye bye polar bear”. Sad but true rock and roll anthem. Sorry you did ask!
Q: What is your favourite track from the EP, “Hawaiian State Flag” and why?
A: All These Ghosts (part one and part two) is superb as all the XYZ team are inventing lovely creative tunes. We have had this track upgraded into Dolby Atmos so you can sit in the middle of the drum kit and experience the whole track with Kevin’s keyboards swirling around in your head
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the EP?
A: A solid year of song writing, searching for inspiration, honing what works, throwing away what doesn’t. Then two rehearsals in Autumn and it is into Golddust Studios, Bromley, Kent with Mark Dawson to get the magic recorded in November. Then add voices and a few overdubs all in one day! Later we return for the real black magic of mixing. Record release and the build up early in the new year. The Artwork kind of paints itself!
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for Xylophone Yacht Zombies so far?
A: I think the first song we ever recorded back in 2008 “London Town” stands out because we decided at short notice to add a new middle eight with a Hip Hop rap from two friends who kindly travelled to us in Crystal Palace South London from the wilds of East London. (Other side of the river Thames) Sorelle James, AKA Thought Thief and Snai Kai (another Steve) also known as DARK ANGLE – the UK’s most intelligent Hip hop crew. Added their magic. The end result proves cross genre can and does work!
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: It is always going to be London Town but with the Hawaiian State Flag EP we have reached a new creative high.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Xylophone Yacht Zombies’ unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: We are followers of David Bowie’s approach in trying to do something creative every day and David’s use of randomness can be applied to provide inspiration. We have song writing binges in the pub, where a pair of scissors and lots of paper are vital tools (Not to mention Beer). We use WhatsApp to share ideas and to collect what we might do to develop songs. Everyone can provide an idea and often they can be merged and developed when we apply a sort of collective mind meld to the process. We cannot help our musical culture, but we do try to find new ways to express ourselves. For example, some of our track’s feature, Vuvuzela, Banjo, Ukulele, Saxophone, Congas, and sleigh bells! The studio is where the major edits happen as we play live and tweak afterwards.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for Xylophone Yacht Zombies, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: We are still building a catalogue of songs and hoping one becomes a biggie, we all want to be recognised for our art. But it’s the creative act we enjoy and what keeps the band together is summed up as fun! I do dream of getting both our drummers “The Butcher Brothers” on a big stage with two full kits for a monster live sound. Obviously, we hope the musical journey takes us to Hawaii and our message for our fans is follow us out of a sense of curiosity.
