Leeds buzz band and Macca birthday list participants Yard Act have released their debut album Overload earlier this year to overwhelming critical acclaim, especially back home in England. Even Sir Elton John is a fan, and now he’s hopped on a new version of ‘100% Endurance,’ which ends Overload. Produced and mixed by Ali Chant at Metropolis Studios (and recorded at Parlor Studios), this new studio version is now available.
Singer James Smith recently opened up about his collaboration with Elton John on his Apple Music 1 show, rocket time:
Within our camp, we have a saying: “Crazy shit happens when you make art” – that means what it means. You do things because you want to do them, and you throw things you’ve done out into the world because you’d rather share them than not share them, and then you leave them alone and let them do their job. This thing you did can take you places you didn’t intend to go with it, but it’s really out of your control. You have no control over crazy shit. It just happens (when you make art). Elton John saw our stuff and he started telling the press he thought we were good, then we talked on the phone and after a few calls I said, “Elton, you want to come to the studio and play piano to a tune?” because, damn 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 is brilliant. Lit, hilarious and an amazing musician.
He [ Elton] started as a session player and after laying down the piano and laying down the vocals, taking our directions and trying out whatever we asked. He told me something very poignant: “I love playing on other people’s songs, especially these guys, because I started out as a session musician. What’s fascinating is that you hear things so differently from other people, and when you hear what they hear, then everything makes sense. That insight, curiosity, and approach to music is why he’s still standing (after all this time). Elton is a diamond. It was an honor to collaborate with him. My mom shows off in front of all her friends and it’s crazy when you do art.
Listen to John guest-starring on “100% Endurance” below.