Band with members of Oasis, Happy Mondays and Ride denies ‘supergroup’ title

Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays It is Black Grape), Zak Starkey (The Who It is Oasis), Bez (Happy Mondays It is Black Grape) It is Andy Bell (Ride It is Oasis) make up the Mantra of the Cosmos. Later, Brix Smith (The Fall) It is Sharna Starkey (SSHH) were added. The names and bands they are part of already demonstrate the caliber of the newly formed project, but the name “supergroup” does not please Zak.

“Zak don’t like it, you know? I mean, I accept it, because there are ‘super people’ in our group. But, it’s a definition given by others, isn’t it? Record companies and things like that,” he said. Shaun in an interview with Rolling Stone Brazil. “But it sells, doesn’t it? Seriously, we are a fantastic group,” he added. Starkey.

The intimacy shared between the two artists became clear throughout 20 minutes of very relaxed conversation. When joining the call using the name “Iphone”, Ryder appeared smoking a pod. In Zoom, the default setting only highlights who is speaking on the video call, which Zak He had to explain to his friend. “It’s like the talking stick”, he exemplified, referring to indigenous culture. “I’m still in the 20th century”, joked the singer of Happy Mondayswhich was followed by memories of the times when there were no mobile phones.

O Mantra of the Cosmos has already released the dance singles “X (Wot You Sayin?) and “Gorilla Guerilla.” Shaun‘X’, ‘X (Wot You Sayin?)’ was co-written by Shaun It is Andywith Zak bringing everything together in production. The song gradually develops through spatial sounds, a peculiar drum beat and the enigmatic lyrics characteristic of Shaunexploding into a chorus complete with triumphant trumpets and a psychedelic guitar”, says a press release.

Training

The idea of ​​forming a band came from Zak Starkey. He even invited Karl Bartos to produce songs in the krautrock style, but, according to the formerKraftwerkthe drummer should have called him ten years ago, when Bartos was “young enough to do it” (via NME). The German musician turned 71 in 2023.

Shaun Ryderon the other hand, was ready to embrace the endeavor: “It seemed like an incredible project, so I just said, ‘Yes,’” he exclaimed. Ten years younger than Karlthe singer also did not see the musical group in his future: “I never imagined that I would be forming a new band at 60. It’s great! I feel great about myself, really.”

Zak I wanted to give life to something more “spontaneous and not the same as usual”. He was incisive in saying that there are no musical influences for the Mantra of the Cosmos. “We don’t work under rock and roll rules, because they shouldn’t exist,” he declared. “You know, it’s more ethical than something musical.”

Still, the son of Ringo Starr thought about Hawkwindan important group for space rock: “I wouldn’t say we’re similar in any way, but we kind of think… I was thinking along the lines of Hawkwind of the 21st century, where you can do whatever you want for as long as you want, as long as the audience is excited. So we have some 11-minute tracks.”

Starkey then said that, when bragging about a 45-minute song, the Flaming Lips showed “7 Skies H3”, which lasts 24 hours. “It felt like a week”, he assured Zak about listening to the composition from start to finish. The song gained a reduced version.

For Ryder, Starkey balanced each member’s personalities and thought about how they would get along with each other. “Music comes easy. I think it’s amazing. My band partners are amazing. I don’t know what happened, but it turns out it’s very different”, explained the drummer of The Who.

Zakhowever, he considered that he doesn’t know exactly how he made it all work, but all he had to do was have a conversation with Shaun that everything was resolved: “Shaun He’s the most interesting man I’ve ever met.” The friend was touched by the compliment and returned: “That was very kind, Zak“. Starkey reaffirmed: “It’s true. And you are real. One of the realest people I know.”

With so many years of experience, the members of Mantra of the Cosmos They have a lot of baggage, but it’s “a learning curve, it always will be”, reflected the group’s founder. “You’ll never know everything. And if you did, it would be pretty boring, wouldn’t it? You know what I mean?”

Ryder talked about the creative process itself. “I don’t know if you’ve seen it… You must have seen this commercial, Zak. It happened years ago, in the late 1960s and 1970s, where there was a guy, a cartoonist, driving a car, and in his head there were can-can dancers and birds flying. Well, that’s basically… Can-can dancers and birds flying is basically what goes through my head when I’m writing songs,” he said. Shaun in an authentic and funny way. Zak he made a joke about it, but his band partner didn’t understand. “Okay… I still don’t get it,” he confessed after hearing the joke at least twice.

Mantra of what?

The name “Mantra of the Cosmos” came from a meditation class that Zak It is Andy Bell attended. The pair created a secret mantra, which no one other than the two of them knows or could know, according to Starkey.

“Great name!” he said Shaun about choosing the title for the band. “When Zak He told me I was like, ‘Whoa,’ and I just kept saying it over and over and I was like, ‘Yes!’”. But Zak recalled that the singer made a mistake on television: “I couldn’t remember [do nome da banda]”, revealed Ryder. “Mantra of Something”, joked the drummer.

“Shaun It is Bez they are from the cosmos”, he explained Starkeyrescuing the program Shaun Ryder on UFOs broadcast about ten years ago on The History Channel UK. “I’m way ahead of Brian Cox“, declared Shaun when citing a ufologist (no, not the actor of the same name who plays Logan Roy in Succession).

Zak continued the joke: “He knows what’s out there, but he doesn’t know what’s out there […] David Icke You don’t mind saying anything, right?”, mentioning the creator of conspiracy theories.

Advice from a former Beatle

Zak Starkey is the son of Ringo Starr It is Maureen Cox. The artist’s father leads another supergroup — or a group of “super-people” —, the Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. Therefore, it would be natural to receive advice from an even more experienced figure in the field.

“He encourages me. He encourages me to do my own thing, and he’s very proud of that. He came and listened to the songs of Shaun, and loved it. He really loved it. In fact, he guessed some words and sang them with Shaun without ever having heard it before. You know, it’s weird, isn’t it? Because no matter how old you are, your parents think you are good. It makes you feel good, you know?” he reflected. Zak.

“Good, Ringo has inspired me my whole life, in fact,” he said. Shaun ready. While Ryder always seemed to have the answers on the tip of his tongue, Starkey I looked for them in my thoughts.

The best numbers are from Brazil

In January 2020, the record label Trojan Jamaica gained its Brazilian version, Trojan Brasil. The seal was created by Zak and the wife, Sshh. Several artists managed to release singles based on the couple’s initiative: U-Roy released “Wake the Town”; Sshhin partnership with BNegãoreleased “Extra Extra”, and Flow’s Lair released “Favela Town.”

“We spent about five months in Brazil, between 2019 and 2020, and we left just before the pandemic started. The energy in Brazil is incredible! The musical energy, you know? It’s part of the triangle: Nigeria, Brazil and Jamaica,” he said Starkey. “We were thinking about doing Trojan Nigeria,” she added.

Shaun also declared his love for Brazil. “The last time I was in Brazil was in the 1990s. I would love to go back”, he confessed excitedly. “I can’t find our team. A lot of people on our team and our roadies, they left Brazil in the 1990s and never came back.”

Fans don’t even have to ask, because the Mantra of the Cosmos has already confirmed his arrival in Brazil. “We have an album of 12 songs and we hope to go to South America next year”, he revealed Zak. He further said that Noel Gallagher invited us to visit the country: “We were invited by Noel Gallagher, which is really cool. He really loves our music. He sent us a song, which is a beautiful thing to do.”

The interview needed to end, but Starkey made a request: “Can I add something? The record companies, they call them numbers, right? I don’t really know what they are, but they are numbers. Our numbers in South America are triple those of the United Kingdom and United States. So we will, for sure.”