INTERVIEW:
Zkeletonz
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THE business of promotion…
can be a rather tiring and never-ending one for a musician. They put in so much effort and do their very best to get their music to as many people as possible. I have been lucky enough to grab some time with Zkeletonz as they tell me about their latest single, Always, and what inspired its creation. I ask whether they have favoured memories from their time in music; how the band got together – they reveal whether more material is coming.
I asked the guys about touring and possible gigs; which musicians they count as idols; which new artists they recommend we check out – the guys select a song to end the interview with and tell me how they spend time away from music.
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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?
Been resting in our graveyard between touring stints for the new single, Always; spinning yarns about POSTPOP and the importance of calcium. Richer Sounds, you know; the stereo shops?! They just made us Band of the Week in association with Q Magazine. We liked that!
For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?
We are the POSTPOP purveyors, princes; pioneers! We provide strong, persistent rhythms and attractive, distinctive melodies. Shake your bones to us…
Always is your latest track. Can you reveal the inspiration behind the song?
Sometimes, a partner moves in and you stay up very late partying, fighting or doing an intense mix of both! So, our singer Gav and his girlfriend used to stare out across the street from our apartment to the big art studios opposite producer Ed’s bedroom.
Artists in there used to paint and set up photoshoots so late that he would get annoyed by the lights. We couldn't understand why the artists would want to be on camera so early in the morning! Their building has been totally demolished now (for luxury apartments).
You have built momentum from previous singles, Trouble and Don’t Cover It Up. Can we see any new material arriving later this year?
Absolutely. The first-ever Zkeletonz E.P. is coming this summer.
The likes of Channel 4 and Radio X have supported your music. Given the fact you are new the industry; how important is that kudos?
Remember the movie Almost Famous? It famously featured Tiny Dancer by Elton John and a fictional band, Stillwater. Well; Stillwater keep telling journalists they ‘play for the fans, not the critics’...until a journalist gets them on the cover of Rolling Stone! We’re similar. Do we make music for P.R. kudos? Hell, no! Are we happy when we get some? Hell, yeah we are!
How did Zkeletonz get together?
Impromptu Hallowe’en-party-instrument-jam of course.
Which musicians do you all count as idols? Did you all grow up in musical households?
Our parents were all creative but none played or performed professionally in the end. So, we’re from ‘sing-along-to-albums-loudly’ households rather than ‘home-studio’ ones! One of our dads drew Rupert the Bear for a bit; no joke. But; I don’t think Rupert has put any records out himself?!
Our idols include Prince, David Bowie and The Human League - and our household is extremely musical now because we self-produce there!
I believe you have an annual Hallowe’en party. What does that usually entail?!
Absolute debauchery on synthesizers and guitars followed by a load of balls-and-boobs-out Disco and Techno, with a fancy dress contest in the middle. It’s always free and it’s in a really old pub where Samuel Pepys wrote his diaries and, more recently, Sean Paul shot a video with Clean Bandit.
A consistently culturally-relevant venue.
Do you have any gigs lined up? Where are you heading?
To Brighton twice for The Great Escape and to Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen in London on Sunday 6th May. Free entry.
What do you hope to achieve in 2018?
We just hope to stay fracture, break and sprain-free. That and play festivals. Nothing else.
Have you each got a favourite memory from your time in music – the one that sticks in the mind?
Ed’s was headlining The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch which is owned and run by Vice Magazine. Gav’s was playing Fuse Festival in his hometown of Lichfield in Staffordshire, or being in the local newspaper there and knowing it was gonna land on his grandma’s doorstep that week.
Will’s was crowning Dr. Zoidberg from Futurama the winner of our first-ever annual fancy dress prize!
If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?
French Horn Rebellion do parties called YouTooCanWoo with another band called Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue. Last week, they invited our friends Lejon to jam on stage with them. It was INSANE. Pure optimism unleashed. We’d do that with them around the U.S.A., especially New York.
The rider would be bottomless Cosmopolitans; purple feather boas for all and extra strobes in every venue.
What advice would you give to new artists coming through?
Work insanely hard but mediate your expectations. Smile. Stay positive. Talk to people at shows. Take feedback - even when it’s hard to hear. Write lots of new songs. They’re not too precious: they’ll come and go.
It’s the listeners who decide which become classics, not you!
IN THIS PHOTO: Jazz Mino
Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?
Ed presents a POSTPOP podcast on Boogaloo Radio alongside presenters like Klaxons and Suede. He also makes Techno when he’s not making beats for Zkeletonz or plays Zelda on Nintendo Switch. Gav sings in a community choir and watches documentaries about cults. Will plays Rachmaninoff to his cat on the piano.
Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).
Gav: Scissor Sisters - I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’
Ed: Dirty Projectors – Up in Hudson
Will: Tiga – Woke
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