Yard Act | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
Genres | |
Years active | 2019–present |
Labels | Island, Zen F.C. |
Members |
|
Past members |
|
Website |
www |
Yard Act are a British rock band from Leeds, West Yorkshire, composed of James Smith (vocals, lyrics), Ryan Needham (bass), Sam Shipstone (guitar) and Jay Russell (drums). [1] Their debut album, The Overload, was released on 21 January 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. [2] They released their second album, Where's My Utopia?, on 1 March 2024.
Prior to forming the band, vocalist James Smith and bassist Ryan Needham had both been members of other Leeds-based bands. Smith was a member of Post War Glamour Girls and Needham played in Menace Beach, two bands that released a split EP together in 2016. [3] After the release of the EP, the pair began discussing forming a band together, a plan that eventually came to fruition in September 2019, when the pair moved into a house together in Meanwood. They soon recruited guitarist Sammy Robinson and drummer George Townend who played together in Treeboy & Arc. [4] During this period, Robinson departed from the group, leading to the recruitment of Sam Shipstone. [4] Prior to the announcement of their debut album, the band had only released a total of four singles independently. These singles were then compiled onto an EP, titled Dark Days, released in 2021. [5]
Their debut album The Overload was released on 21 January 2022. [6] [7] The group was "one to watch" in the BBC's Sound of 2022 shortlist. [8] The group was also named one of Paste's "Best New Artists of 2021". [9] On 1 July 2022, a re-recorded version of "100% Endurance" was released featuring a collaboration with Elton John. [10]
Their second album, Where's My Utopia?, was released on 1 March 2024.
Critics have categorised the band's music as post-punk [11] and indie rock, [12] often making use of elements of 1970s Italo disco, '90s hip-hop and early 2000s indie rock. [4]
Their lyrics are often political, discussing opposition to topics including capitalism, gentrification and social class, told using "dark humour and cynical storytelling". [12] Their lyrics also take a surrealist style, such as on the song "Payday" from their first album.
Current
Former
Yard Act discography | |
---|---|
Studio albums | 2 |
EPs | 2 |
Singles | 14 |
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [3] |
AUS [13] |
BEL (FL) [14] |
SCO [3] | ||
The Overload | 2 | 89 | 148 | 1 | |
Where's My Utopia? |
|
4 | — | 156 | 5 |
Title | Details |
---|---|
Dark Days |
|
100% Endurance (Elton John Version) |
|
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"The Trapper's Pelts" [15] | 2020 | Dark Days EP |
"Fixer Upper" [16] | ||
"Peanuts" [17] | ||
"Dark Days" [18] | 2021 | |
"The Overload" [19] | The Overload | |
"Land of the Blind" [20] | ||
"Payday" [21] | ||
"Rich" [22] | 2022 | |
"Pour Another" [23] | ||
"100% Endurance" [24] | ||
"The Trench Coat Museum" [25] | 2023 | Non-album single |
"Dream Job" [26] | Where's My Utopia? | |
"Petroleum" [27] | ||
"We Make Hits" [28] | 2024 | |
"When The Laughter Stops"
[29] (featuring Katy J Pearson) |
Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Anchor | Reeperbahn Festival International Music Award | Yard Act | Won [30] |
2022 | NME Awards | Best New Act in the World | Nominated [31] | |
Best New Act from the UK | ||||
2022 | SXSW | Grulke Prize 'Developing Non-U.S. Act' | Won [32] | |
2022 | Mercury Prize | Album of the Year | The Overload | Shortlisted [33] |
Yard Act | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
Genres | |
Years active | 2019–present |
Labels | Island, Zen F.C. |
Members |
|
Past members |
|
Website |
www |
Yard Act are a British rock band from Leeds, West Yorkshire, composed of James Smith (vocals, lyrics), Ryan Needham (bass), Sam Shipstone (guitar) and Jay Russell (drums). [1] Their debut album, The Overload, was released on 21 January 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. [2] They released their second album, Where's My Utopia?, on 1 March 2024.
Prior to forming the band, vocalist James Smith and bassist Ryan Needham had both been members of other Leeds-based bands. Smith was a member of Post War Glamour Girls and Needham played in Menace Beach, two bands that released a split EP together in 2016. [3] After the release of the EP, the pair began discussing forming a band together, a plan that eventually came to fruition in September 2019, when the pair moved into a house together in Meanwood. They soon recruited guitarist Sammy Robinson and drummer George Townend who played together in Treeboy & Arc. [4] During this period, Robinson departed from the group, leading to the recruitment of Sam Shipstone. [4] Prior to the announcement of their debut album, the band had only released a total of four singles independently. These singles were then compiled onto an EP, titled Dark Days, released in 2021. [5]
Their debut album The Overload was released on 21 January 2022. [6] [7] The group was "one to watch" in the BBC's Sound of 2022 shortlist. [8] The group was also named one of Paste's "Best New Artists of 2021". [9] On 1 July 2022, a re-recorded version of "100% Endurance" was released featuring a collaboration with Elton John. [10]
Their second album, Where's My Utopia?, was released on 1 March 2024.
Critics have categorised the band's music as post-punk [11] and indie rock, [12] often making use of elements of 1970s Italo disco, '90s hip-hop and early 2000s indie rock. [4]
Their lyrics are often political, discussing opposition to topics including capitalism, gentrification and social class, told using "dark humour and cynical storytelling". [12] Their lyrics also take a surrealist style, such as on the song "Payday" from their first album.
Current
Former
Yard Act discography | |
---|---|
Studio albums | 2 |
EPs | 2 |
Singles | 14 |
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [3] |
AUS [13] |
BEL (FL) [14] |
SCO [3] | ||
The Overload | 2 | 89 | 148 | 1 | |
Where's My Utopia? |
|
4 | — | 156 | 5 |
Title | Details |
---|---|
Dark Days |
|
100% Endurance (Elton John Version) |
|
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"The Trapper's Pelts" [15] | 2020 | Dark Days EP |
"Fixer Upper" [16] | ||
"Peanuts" [17] | ||
"Dark Days" [18] | 2021 | |
"The Overload" [19] | The Overload | |
"Land of the Blind" [20] | ||
"Payday" [21] | ||
"Rich" [22] | 2022 | |
"Pour Another" [23] | ||
"100% Endurance" [24] | ||
"The Trench Coat Museum" [25] | 2023 | Non-album single |
"Dream Job" [26] | Where's My Utopia? | |
"Petroleum" [27] | ||
"We Make Hits" [28] | 2024 | |
"When The Laughter Stops"
[29] (featuring Katy J Pearson) |
Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Anchor | Reeperbahn Festival International Music Award | Yard Act | Won [30] |
2022 | NME Awards | Best New Act in the World | Nominated [31] | |
Best New Act from the UK | ||||
2022 | SXSW | Grulke Prize 'Developing Non-U.S. Act' | Won [32] | |
2022 | Mercury Prize | Album of the Year | The Overload | Shortlisted [33] |