Yard Act frontman James Smith has revealed that swapping their hometown of Leeds for the "sun-kissed" qualities of Los Angeles helped shape the band's more optimistic new album. Joining Dan O’Connell on Radio X's The Evening Show, Smith explained that the relocation allowed the acclaimed post-punk group to fully dedicate themselves to the recording process.
The band spent a final month in California finishing the record, a move Smith believes was crucial for the album's overall direction. "I think it’s what the record needed," Smith said when asked about the comparison to their usual creative process in West Yorkshire. "Because, you know, the thing we've always tried to do is obviously we've kind of been built on cynicism and a sort of darker undercurrent that I think is prevalent in a lot of my day-to-day life."
Despite those darker themes, the change of scenery allowed a brighter sound to emerge. "There's always that sort of pinhole of light and there's always that optimism that kind of laces the records," he shared. "And with this one particularly, there was a little bit more optimism that's punched through. I think because, well, the sunshine definitely helps. Yeah, I mean, it was like we were very stress free while we were there."
Escaping their familiar routine in Leeds proved vital for the band's artistic focus. Smith explained that during the first half of the record they were in Leeds, meaning "family obligations and personal life obligations" pulled them in different directions. Moving the operation to producer Justin's studio in LA changed the dynamic completely. "To take that last month in LA at Justin's studio, living in very nice surroundings, you know, in an LA winter, which is essentially a British summer, was to fully focus on the record," Smith concluded. "I think it gave it… Pulled it all together at the last minute."
