Jon Attwood is a guitarist who grew up with punk in the London suburbs. Playing in a number of punk bands in the early 80s. Landing in the mid 90's with no band, Jon started to experiment with guitar sounds, drones, programmed beats and loops, resulting in a debut Yellow6 single released in 1998 on Enraptured Records. This was followed by a number of single, EP and compilation releases on many labels, with a debut album "Overtone" released in 2000. Over the following years, Yellow6 has amassed over 50 releases on nearly as many labels across the globe, and played live shows in the UK, Europe and North America with the likes of Tarentel, ISAN, Jessica Bailiff and Charles Atlas. Jon established Make Mine Music with Scott Sinfield of Portal in 2002. (from
www.makeminemusic.co.uk)
Even you're not that young, I think that maybe you're not well known in Croatia, so tell us something about Yellow 6?
Yellow6 is my solo project, started in the mid-90s with my first material released in 1998. it's based on looped guitar playing with drones, melodies and some beats.
I started playing guitar in Punk bands in the 80s and am totally self taught. I use LOTS of effects!
A brief history of how the band started?
I'd played in bands since the early 80s, starting with Punk then moving into goth-rock. Around 1995 i ended up with no band and not really knowing what to do next. I'd just started listening to bands like Bark Psychosis and Flying Saucer Attack and found new ways to play the guitar. I experimented with effects and loops and that developed into Yellow6. it stayed as a solo project as i never really found anyone else to play with.
Where did the name come from?
A combination of a bought of jaundice giving me a slight yellow colour, and the thinking that there are different aspects of a person's character that are shown in different ways - your family see a different side to your friends, work colleagues etc. I decided this would be personality #6.
We really love your sound. Describe it ina few words?
i believe the best music is all about feeling rather than technical ability or perfection. I try and put the feeling into it, and as long as it feels right it's not so important for it to be perfectly played. Most of the music is based around looped guitars with drones and melodies on top so keep it moving along and developing.
Is there any song that you would like to cover and any artist that you would like to play with?
I think most of the people i would like to play with i'd feel quite intimidated by! Having said that, Labradford i would like to play with, and Alan Sparhawk (Low), Sophia... as for covering other artists, the covers i like most are those that re-interpret the original song. So, any song i really love i would never try and cover as i wouldn't be happy with it - but i'd like to cover other songs that i can see potential for a different approach - one i might try is Snow Partol's 'Chasing Cars'!
So what do you think of the online music? Clever marketing plots or something more?
With the current state of the music industry, declining sales, a generation who expect to get their music free, you have to try something new. Some of the ideas are great, but only work for people with an established audience (Radiohead, NiN) and there really is nothing to allow new artists to get a bigger market, or make a living from their music.
Which Do you prefer: cd, vinyl or online music?
I used to prefer vinyl, having grown up with it, but am a CD convert, mainly as it suits my lifestyle more. Most of the time i listen to music it's when i'm in the car, and i just don't have the space for vinyl. I really don't like online music other than just to listen and see if i like it. If i like something enough i'll buy the CD
Can you please write your favourite albums and movies of 2008?
Not had much time for movies aside from a few old ones (Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, Fargo, Lost In Translation, and some entertaining if not too deep Hollywood blockbusters - X-Men, Oceans 11 etc.)
As for favourite albums of the year (in no particular order):
Bauhaus - Go Away White
Wire - Object 47
Wooden Shjips - Vol.1
Grails - Take Refuge in Clean Living
Bohren Und Der Club of Gore - Dolores
Rudimentary Peni - No More Pain
Northern Valentine - The Distance Brings Us Closer
Retribution Gospel Choir
Portishead - Third
APSE - Spirit (a re-issue but good reason to include one of my favourites)
and an old one: Philip Glass - Solo Piano
and some good shows:
New York Dolls - Nottingham
Residents - London
Jesus and Mary Chain - London
Low/Ida - Christmas show
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - London
Tell me something I would never guess about you?
My first job was working in a medical laboratory analysing blood samples.
pedja // 17/02/2009