Swapping synths for guitars, Years & Years‘ Emre Türkmen is embarking on a solo project and it’s getting very exciting. Buying a guitar and travel amp after contemplating his broken heart in an Albuquerque Holiday Inn, Emre began writing music while on tour with the mantra “do it quick, do it loud.”
Teaming up with drummer Dylan Bell and calling themselves Exit Kid, their grunge tinged debut track “It’s Cool” gained some serious – and well deserved – buzz. Dropping their self-titled EP earlier this year, the duo are fully establishing themselves as ones to look out for.
We caught up with Emre to find out which tracks inspire him…
Smashing Pumpkins – “Hello Kitty Kat”
I could have picked “Geek USA” or “Mayonnaise” from Siamese Dream (which is my favourite album of all time) but instead I’ve chosen this highlight from their ‘b-sides’ album Pisces Iscariot. The guitars sound so utterly butterly, it was my sonic reference for the Exit Kid song “It’s Cool”. This track should have been on Siamese Dream instead of the song “Quiet”. WTF.
Soundgarden – “4th Of July”
One of the most menacing songs ever and vocally out of this world (possibly from the depths of hell?). Superunknown is start-to-finish brilliant, heavy and unsettling. This song is its dark heart.
Blind Melon – “St. Andrew’s Fall”
This is their most Beatles-esque song. It starts off as a sweet Doobie Brothers style groove then takes a sharp turn in the middle like “Day In The Life”. Shannon Hoon was an incredible lyricist, at times psychedelic and other times simple and honest.
Elastica – “Blue”
Another song that changes gear dramatically, this one shifting from dreamy 1mph to rollicking 100mph in the blink of an eye. No one shouts “1-2-3-4” quite like Justine Frischmann.
Pixies – “Hey”
I saw the Pixies live at Primavera Nos in Porto and they blew my proverbial tits off. I was put onto them by an ex-girlfriend and you could say it was her parting gift. So cheers for that at least.
Queens Of The Stone Age – “I Never Came”
I could pick any one of a dozen songs by one of my favourite bands. Ironically, this is from maybe my least favourite QOTSA album and it shines like a diamond. Josh Homme is soulful af and taught me that great men are not afraid to sing falsetto.
Stone Temple Pilots – “Sex Type Thing”
One of the oddest rock bands from that era (Tiny Music anyone?) with one of the best frontmen in Scott Weiland. This is quite a terrifying song about a terrifying thing.
Blur – “He Thought Of Cars”
A “hidden” classic. Graham Coxon is a genius and plays the guitar like no one else. I met him once when I was drunk and told him the solo in “This Is A Low” is one of my favourites ever. He seemed pleased.
Faith No More – “The Real Thing”
It’s metal but not as you know it. Amazing, amazing voice.
The Beatles – “No Reply”
Not my favourite Beatles song but I love the sound of the vocals in this track. Like John Lennon (allegedly), I don’t like my own voice so I always double-track. The Beatles taught me everything about harmony, vocally and otherwise.
