About this user
'Bucking the trend with storming live shows and records'
Tom Robinson, BBC6 Music
'Top tunes from these top tipped chaps.'
Gill Mills, NME Radio
'Everyone's New Year's resolution should be to eat, drink and sleep with Isaac's Aircraft!'
Jez Sallis, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Introducing
By simply being themselves and not trying to act out a manufactured image or fit a specific niche Isaac's Aircraft have built a strong relationship with a broad fanbase, leading to support slots in the UK and Europe with acts as diverse as The Zutons, Amy Winehouse and The Like, and bringing airplay not just on indie and mainstream stations but also specialist outlets such as Kerrang and BFBS In the studio they've sought to work with people who bring something different to the table, whether it's unfettered indie producers such as Paul Tipler (Stereolab, Idlewild, The Pipettes, Elastica) and Gavin Monaghan (The Editors, The Twang, Broadcast) or the multiple Grammy-nominated classical expertise of Adrian Carr.
Isaac's Aircraft are a band from Cambridge that enjoys confounding expectations, both musically and personally. In many ways the mix of individuals and influences that make up the band shouldn't work, but that's exactly where they draw their strength and inspiration, having already racked up a top 30 indie single and a top 10 US internet college radio hit. 'Pigeonholes are fine if you're a pigeon' muses keyboard player Martin, 'though I suspect that even some pigeons might yearn for more!'
A slot at this year's Camden Crawl signals the start of a big twelve months ahead for a band that has resolutely stuck to an open-minded and inclusive approach to their music. Self-taught guitarist Calum and classically-trained pianist Martin provide a beautiful melodic blend between maverick and maestro. Whilst drummer, Adam delivers a strong and powerful background to all the band does. Over this you have the pop sensibilities of frontman and rhythm guitarist Zak, who sees no problem in combining catchy songs with contemplative lyrics on subjects as diverse as conceit, cross-dressing and a conniving coalition government. 'I think that when music works best it's often a bit of a 'holy trinity'' he smiles, 'head, heart and feet all getting a bit of a workout!' Indeed while they've taken the unusual step of recording their first full-length album as a reflective live acoustic take on some of their existing songs (with a full electric album of new songs due in 2012), their live shows are very upbeat affairs where the audience are very much included in the performance.
This openness is at the heart of the band's outlook on life as well as music. 'We could never be considered a blueprint for the stereotype of a successful band' explains Zak. 'Martin is a German who studied to become part of the Anglican church, decided he wasn't that convinced as to the existence of God, and nearly got thrown out for standing up to homophobic attitudes to be found there, which meant a lot to me as a young guy coming to terms with being gay. It's not your usual route into rock and roll! We all draw positively on our pronounced differences as people - with Calum as wild as they come in the sense of being a real nature boy, never happier (other than onstage!) than in the peace and quiet of the countryside'.
'If indie music is about one thing for me', explains Zak, 'it's about trying to provide something special where people can connect and lose themselves in the moment, even if in other areas of their lives they don't feel they fit in.' Adam agrees: 'There's that many layers to what we do that hopefully people can find something that speaks to them or surprises them. Sometimes people aspire to being cool in a way that's quite snobbish, whereas we want people of all backgrounds to be able to enjoy what we do, whether that's considered cool or not!'
Isaac's Aircraft -- this band does not contain pigeons....
Hometown
Impington
Country
United Kingdom
IsaacsAircraftMusic
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Cheers - video for next single (Mathematics) coming soon