Somehow, someway, music kindles collaborations and friendships in some fairly unlikely places. In this case, you can indeed believe the headline which eludes to the fact that the rocket man himself, Elton John, will be lending his twinkling keys to a new edition of Yard Act’s song “100% Endurance”.
Elton John as it happens is a big fan of the Leeds-based band and has made his feelings clear as to why this match made in heaven came about (see below). The track in question comes from Yard Act’s debut album The Overload which dropped in January this year.
The band’s singer James Smith delved into how this whole thing came to fruition; “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.”
Elton John added; “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 honoured they’ve let me be a part of their journey.”
Smith later stated; “That insight, that curiosity and that approach to music is the reason he’s still standing [after all this time]. Elton is a diamond. It was an honour to collaborate with him. My mum is showing off to all her mates and mad shit happens when you do art.”
