Interview: Isaac’s Aircraft
Isaac’s Aircraft are a upcoming four piece piano driven rock band based in Cambridge, UK. They’ve already gained a great reputation both locally and international for their live shows, and regular radio plays at BBC, and several radio stations.
They released their first single ‘Friends and Foes’ on April 6, 2009 – a single that reached the top 30 of The UK Indie Singles chart on April 12, 2009.
Things are in the pipeline for this band in 2010, and can only go forward!
What’s the story of Isaac’s Aircraft?
We’re a Piano driven Indie Pop-Rock band from Cambridge. Zak Thomas and Martin Seidel have been writing together as Isaac’s Aircraft since 2007. Calum Fall joined in 2008 and Ant Henderson joined in January 2010. Martin is from Germany, the rest of the band come from across the UK. Our different backgrounds and influences ranging from Manic Street Preachers to Rachmaninov, giving our audiences something different.
Our name comes from a local pub that Zak’s brother plays pool in, the Isaac Newton, combined with Aircraft because they seemed like two words that went well together.
We’ve spent three years playing shows all over the country and released our first two singles in April 2009 and February 2010.
Who does what in the band?
Ant – Drums, Calum Lead Guitar. (It has been known for the two to swap on occasions to play the odd song, for no reason other than the fact they can), Martin on piano and Zak doing vocals, acoustic guitar and synth.
What is the song writing and music making process for you?
Usually one of us will come up with a riff or a chord pattern and then we’ll develop the song from there. Zak nearly always writes the lyrics after the music, so he’s got a melody to attach the lyrics too. A lot of our latest material has come out of jamming sessions where we come up with the ideas from scratch. We’ll all contribute to each other’s parts and we’re always reworking songs to improve them.
You are soon releasing an album – what can we expect from it?
This will be a stripped down acoustic album that will give you a taster of what’s to come on our full electric album out next year. There will be collaborations from other musicians we’ve met on the circuit and we’ll be recording the tracks predominantly live, as we want it to be as close to the live experience as possible.
What makes your music special?
Its different from what is out there at the moment. A piano is rarely twinned with big lead guitars or a slightly funky drum beat, so the collaboration of the lot along with a chorus that will hopefully stick in your head until three o’clock in the morning make it that something. Also we don’t perform with a bass player live, so the key instrument in our music is the Piano, driving both the bass line and harmonizing with the lead guitar. We’ve had bass players come up to us after shows and say that they didn’t realise we didn’t have a bass player.
Have there been any particular highlights in your music career so far?
Our first single ‘Friends & Foes’ made it into the BBC Indie Charts and we’ve recently been working with Editors producer Gavin Monaghan on material for our electric album out next year.
Any favorite gigs?
Often the little shows in front of a crowd crammed into a tiny underground venue in a London backstreet become the highlights rather than the big gigs with lighting shows and a huge PA. The Troubadour in Earls Court is great, as well as The Junction in our hometown. The two are such polar opposites; it’s good to be able to do our thing in both. Also performing in Camden is always great, the audiences are really engaged and wanting to hear new music. We did a couple of dates in Germany last year and got an amazing response from the crowd.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Elvis Costello, I (Zak) didn’t pay much attention too him when I was younger, but I can’t stop listening too ‘My Aim Is True!’
BBC proms (Calum). Whilst I write this Beethoven is playing in the background, and a man in a crisp white bow tie enthusiastically throws his arms about in front of a classical orchestra and manages to get away with it.
Club music (Ant) on holiday in Ibiza.
Everything (Martin).
How do you promote your music?
Through live shows, online networking and contacting all media formats from small Internet radio stations to national press, constantly reminding them of what we’re up to. Our mailing list keeps the fans up to date with everything and we’re currently giving away a free track ‘Steady On’ when you sign up at info@isaacsaircraft.com
What are your plans now?
Next we’ll be recording and promoting the acoustic album and then on to the electric album out next year!
