Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and how your childhoods impacted your musical direction?
A: Xylophone Yacht Zombies (XYZ), that’s; Steve M, Steve B, Kevin, Mark and Pete (and occasionally Tony B – Steve B’s Brother and a fellow drummer) all loved Rock music in the 1970s and 1980s. Learning Music in those days was the few posh kids, with piano and violin lessons, destined for posh schools. XYZ hail from the worst schools the Inner London Education Authority created; Selhurst Boys, William Penn and Roger Manwood. None of these Schools exist today! The Musical landscape was very different it was the time of Glam Rock, Prog Rock, Disco, Heavy Metal, Soul, Funk, Punk was coming along, even one hit wonder novelty acts. TV was three channels and XYZ were smoking or worse behind the bike sheds, kicking a can along the road and trying to earn some money to get a guitar, bass, or drums kit. This was a time when Top of the Pops and the Old Grey Whistle Test on the TV were considered rebellious to parents and teachers alike. Luckily, there were lots of rock venues and the XYZ lads sneaked in and got to see some amazing bands early in their careers. They frequented the Croydon Greyhound, The Croydon Cartoon, The Kingsbury Bandwagon and Lewisham’s Saxon tavern. The saved for instruments then annoyed parents as they learnt their craft in numerous bedrooms and garages. When Steve M got thrown out of one band he joined up with Mark and Kevin and they resolved to write original songs, no covers as there is always someone better at playing “Stairway” then you! Science Fiction, strange overseas places, Vangelis and Bowies song writing influence took hold in Mad Acid Enterprise. Meanwhile Pete and Tony were in several bands like Shame and latterly Mutton Geoff. Steve M worked with Pete and in the early eighties XYZ was born.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of “Xylophone Yacht Zombies” in three words?
A: XYZ in three words that’s easy; Original, Eclectic, Fun. We kind of hope we are the Van Goghs of Rock, probably only appreciated when we kick the bucket and push up daisies.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: Our whole modus operandi is to slowly find fans and gain followers. We rely on kind friends and neighbours following us on Spotify and have risen to the total of 12 monthly listeners!
We may well have more as we are on many distributions, World-wide courtesy of our favourite music recording company EmuBands in Scotland.
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘Bondi Tram’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Many years ago, Steve M knew a Royal Navy Commander who used that old Australian expression “Gonna shoot through like a Bondi Tram” whenever he was about to go somewhere else. It comes from the old express Tram service that stormed through Sydney to Bondi Beach. The last one shot through in 1962! It took Steve M thirty years to commit the concept to paper and working out some music. Then the doorbell rang and a young chaps asked for a charitable contribution. Steve said “we do not do charity on the doorstep”. The young man replied “Where do you do charity? In the Kitchen!” Steve M thought Mmm Thank You and Lone Star State of Mind was starting to form under a deep blue sky and boundless horizon (well in Steve M’s head of course). Pete had been creating stuff on his computer using Pro Tools and XYZ took that Demo and turned it into something Ethereal with Pete using his 12-string acoustic. But then Kevin our keyboard player and a long-time Science Fiction fan said he had a romantic Space opera song about a lovelorn Space man seeking his Rigel 7 green skinned lover on Planet Blue. However, Steve B was noodling away at his drum kit locked in the glass studio booth when our producer Mark Dawson of Gold Dust Studios, Bromley Kent, said “Let’s keep the metaphorical tape still rolling.” Prelude the Planet Blue is our fantastic drummer Steve Butcher exploring the sonics he will use for Planet Blue it has a mystical almost meditation like vibe that meant it could stand on its own as a special bonus track on the EP.
Q: What is your favorite track from the EP and why?
A: Undoubtedly “Bondi Tram”. How many songs open with a jubilee line underground train screaming along the tracks in full stereo from left to right? Bondi Tram is not overworked it is a short song with no lead break, middle eight but it tells the story of an amazing Australian City none of the band have ever been to! Then the tram leaves from your right speaker to your left. A beginning a middle and an end!
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the EP, “Bondi Tram”?
A: XYZ take about a year to produce an EP. Song writing starts in January, songs are developed and shared via WhatsApp. Our superb bass player, Mark Wheeler, is based in Gloucestershire so we rehearse at Pirate Studios in Croydon and connect on-line so he can get the feel for the songs. The day before we go into the studio, we have a full rehearsal with Mark present, so he has to get into the groove very quickly which is something he does very well. At the Studio we settle in and Mark Dawson our engineer and producer is amazing making sure he gets the best out of all of us. Mark is the lead guitarist for Purple Zeppelin, so Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore are his standard and he takes no prisoners.
It can be intimidating but we love cooperating with him as he makes sure we are giving our best and making the most out of our precious studio time.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for you so far?
A: XYZ have never performed live together our unique selling point is our originality. Think Beatles post 1966 very much a studio band. We are not ruling out live gigs remember Steve Butcher is playing full time with top London jazz bands and Mark is with several top bands in Gloucestershire. Steve M, Pete and Kevin lead busy suburban lives and fitting music in with the diary can be very problematic.
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: OK that’s a very difficult one to answer but we did a XYZ wide poll and here are the results:
Steve M: All These Ghosts (part one and two) Single recorded in Dolby Atmos.
Mark : When Churchyards Yawn
Kevin : Bondi Tram
Pete: Plate glass Love and E =MC2
Steve B : Pembrokeshire and All These Ghosts
Tony B ( the Sixth Zombie) Music for James Bond and Plate glass Love.
And why? Well Steve M thinks Ghosts is amazing in immersive sound systems. Mark loves the moody organ opening, then Churchyards rocks nicely. Kevin loves Bondi tram for the crazy opening, with amazing stereo effects. As usual, Pete can’t make his mind up, same as Steve B and Tony B but Steve B naturally loves the Prelude the Planet Blue. The XYZ signature tune we would open up with is Plate glass love which describes a wet moody night in Soho and was written using the David Bowie paper and scissors technique!
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: TOP SECRET – BORED CITY EYES ONLY – XYZ approach to crafting music;
- Never let a mistake put you off. Eighty per-cent is good enough,
- Never have insular genre specific views,
- Relish diversity in music, learn from other genres,
- Study David Bowie song writing techniques, relish randomness,
- Be proud of your own individual sound,
- Always listen for a lyric coming at you from out of the blue,
- Stay together through thick and thin, do not let ego destroy the team,
- Have fun if you recognise you are never going to outsell Taylor Swift,
- Have fun and laugh at yourself!
- Smile and listen.
- Take your time, XYZ are looking many years ahead
PLEASE EAT AFTER READING…..
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 hope XYZ’s legacy is imagination, innovation, inventiveness and indigestion (yes a sense of humour). We dream of the world tour to Australia, Hawaii, Germany, Texas, and Hong Kong. It’s more likely to be Gloucester and Dorchester with a session in Raynes Park. We dream of being a support act at a big happy festival and for people to enjoy our music all over the World. Our message to our fans is please keep listening and pass the smile on to someone else, follow us with a sense of curiosity.
Lots of Love
Xylophone Yacht Zombies
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