Yard Act

Yard Act is a British band formed in 2019 in Leeds by musicians James Smith and Ryan Needham, who were later joined by Sam Shipstone and Jay Russell. The band was formed following the members’ previous experiences in other projects and has been active within the post-punk and indie rock scenes from the outset.

In their early days, they released several standalone singles, which were later compiled onto the EP Dark Days (2021). Their debut album The Overload was released in 2022 and marked the band’s first major breakthrough, including charting in the top spots of the UK charts and a nomination for the Mercury Prize.

Yard Act’s work is characterized by a combination of spoken-word vocals, rhythmic structures, and elements drawn from various musical styles, including post-punk, hip-hop, and electronic music. The lyrics employ a narrative form and thematically reflect social and cultural phenomena.

Their second studio album, Where’s My Utopia?, was released in 2024 and represents a further evolution of the project’s musical direction, incorporating a broader range of production techniques and influences. The album was preceded by the singles Dream Job, Petroleum, and We Make Hits.