‘Geeks with Sharp Elbows?’
ROB FIDDAMAN TALKS TO A FOLK-Y, SINGER-SONGWRITER WHO HAS DRAWN ON MANY TO A VERY INDIVIDUAL SOUND
ECLECTIC INFLUENCES TO GET
THIS week I spoke to Zakk Croxton from Greenhouse and I started by asking him what age he was when he got into music?
I’ve always enjoyed music since I was really little, as my mum’s a big music lover, taking me to gigs and festivals since I was around eight-years-old. Technically though, my first gig was before then as my mum went to see Ozzy Osbourne while she was pregnant with me!
What instruments can you play?
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My main instrument is guitar, though I can also play bass, drums, harmonica, and a little bit of piano.
First song you had on repeat?
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When I was about six I had a little cassette player and headphones, and the only decent song on there was Car Wash by Rose Royce, so I have lots of memories of having that on loop in the back of the car.
If you had just three words to describe yourself, what would those three words be?
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Really, really tall.
How long have you been writing and performing for?
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I have been writing and performing for about three years now, ever since I was in my old grunge band Tinkerbell.
■ What style is your music genre wise?
My music is best described as folk-y, singer-songwriter, with elements of alternative rock.
■ Tell us what your song ‘Geeks with Sharp Elbows is about’.
I’d prefer not to say as I’d like people to have their own unique interpretations of my music. I always feel that as soon as I pin things down to what I think the song is actually about, it limits the listener to just that one perspective.
Do you self record/produce or go to a studio?
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Apart from the demos on Soundcloud all of my music is recorded at Inspire Music Studios in Crossgate, recording with the incredibly talented Matt Bishop.
How do you get ideas for writing a song?
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Usually I’ll just be noodling whilst watching TV or a film, and I’ll stumble onto a couple of nice chords or a little melody and build it up from there.
■ Do you have any particular influences that you draw on?
If you’re a fellow Elliott Smith fan you’ll be able to hear his influence in my music, but I also draw a lot from Jeff Buckley, Eels, Sparklehorse, Nick Drake, St Vincent and Scott Matthews just to name a few.
■ Best gig you reckon you’ve done to date and why?
I did a gig in Northampton in November of last year, it was a very intimate little gig, no more than 15 people, all of them sat around me whilst I sat on a little stage by myself. Usually everyone is talking and there’s always a general hum, but for that gig the crowd was near silent as soon as I’d finished the second song. I even began asking them if they needed a break and checked in on them between songs just because their attention hadn’t broken for the entirety of the set. Suffice it to say it was an amazing experience from start to finish.
My main instrument is guitar, though I can also play bass, drums, harmonica and a little piano
Last gig you went to see?
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I went to see Sawel Underground supporting French Boutik at the White Star. I always try and catch a Sawel gig as I’m good mates with the band members.
Any singer or band you’d love to be compared with?
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I think Scott Matthews is the artist I closely resemble musically, as we both have a great fondness for nice chords and making quasi-folk music.
■ Are you releasing or working on any new music?
At the time of writing, I’m about two recording sessions away from finishing the album I started in lockdown, although I haven’t got a release date in mind yet. I’m thinking either towards the end of this year or the summer of next year.
When and where can we see you play next?
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I’m playing two slots at Your City Festival in Stoke on the Thursday and Saturday (June 2 and 4) and then I’m headlining at The Underground in Hanley the week after on Friday, June 10 - supported by the excellent Martin Gooding and Grovepark.