Sick Sick Soul: The Man Behind the Mask

It's not every day you get to sit down with someone who puts the ‘icon’ in Iconic quite like Zachary Skinner, front man of the independent, multi-genre, UK band The Skinner Brothers. His talent, charisma, and iron-clad work ethic have held our playlists in a chokehold from the very first song we heard them play. From writing songs on bedroom floors to producing the entire Soul Boy V album in his own home studio, Zac is living proof that dreams do come true if you're willing to put in the work.

In anticipation of the upcoming EP, Sick Sick Soul Vol. 1 (the first of a three part collaboration project to be released with sensational indie artist, Ren), Zac has agreed to do this exclusive interview with us. Here, we discuss the details of the long awaited -and widely anticipated- Sick Sick Soul project. We take a deeper look into Zac's creative process, and try to absorb any advice he has to offer other up and coming artists that don't want to be swallowed whole by the music industry.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Zac, for taking time out of his busy schedule to do this interview with us. I truly believe that Zac is a visionary- from his infectious enthusiasm to his captivating and ever-changing song writing style. We’re beyond thrilled to be able to share some of that insight and passion with you here today.

This conversation offered a rare glimpse into the mind of a mad genius, and we're just as excited about it as you are, so let's get right to it!

Jamey and Jackie: It's such a privilege to be doing this with you, Zac! Thank you so much for doing this interview with us, it's an absolute honour! How are you feeling about this release?

Zac: Yeah, I’m feeling, um, stressed out to be honest. I thought I was way busy last year, thought I was using up every hour of the day, but I really wasn’t. I’ve just had a baby, so she’s like four months old now, and at the same time we're just about to drop this Ren and Skinner Brothers EP. Things are just... there’s never enough hours in a day!

Plus at the moment, it seems like people are starting to hear about us more and more. Which is awesome, but also sort of a random time for it too. Everything is happening at once, do you get what I’m saying? So I’m stressed as per, and excited, and worried.

Jackie: How did you first come into contact with Ren and what was it like on that fateful day, when Ren directed people to you via an Instagram story? As more and more people began to find you, how did that feel? Did that growth of the fan base change how you write, or what motivates you to write?

Zac: So about Ren - one day I was just doing my normal shit, like I do now. Making music, like an insane person, and then someone actually messaged me. I actually can’t find who it was on Instagram, because there’s been too many DM's since then. They messaged me saying "Yo, I’m going to send this to Ren", and I thought, okay.

l didn't think much of it, but then a few minutes later I got a DM from Ren, saying he liked the music and stuff. I was like, oh shit! So I was thinking oh yeah, maybe, maybe he’s just being nice or something?

Then we got talking pretty quickly about a collab. So I sent him a couple of tunes and then it just went from there, back and forth. We just worked quite easily together, we seemed sort of similar in a lot of ways.

Then more and more people started to find us, and I sort of thought maybe it wasn’t really real. I wasn’t sure it was real, and thought maybe it was more of a sympathy thing? I thought maybe they felt bad for me or some shit. I didn’t really know what to think, because I’ve been doing this for a long time, but now a lot more people are really fucking with the music.

Sorry, I’m answering these questions all crazy, but yeah, did the growth, the fan base change? You're right, it did, and since Ren came on board it helped me meet people. For example, Jill, who came on board and helped me grow the SB family Facebook group, as well as basically all the social media, and creating the community we have around it now.

This grew off the back, you could say, of Ren sharing our stuff. So it’s really made a huge difference to how we do things, and it’s brought people around me. That changes the whole thing for me, to be honest, motivates me in a different way.

Before, I was motivated by just fucking being angry. I was pissed off at everyone for... I think just letting me down within the music industry and people being snakes and stuff. I was just fucking angry at everyone, and you can hear that in some of my music at the time - just angry punk tunes.

Then when people came around me that were cool, you could see my music start shifting and it became more chilled in a way. Sometimes still punk rock, but I was doing it for a different reason. I was more community motivated and everyone helped me out a lot, and I was making more music to help them out. I was way buzzed, it was a good vibe. I don’t know if that makes any sense. It was fucking awesome!

Jamey: What was it like working with Ren? How do you think he'd describe working with you?

Zac: With Ren it was sick. I’ve not really worked with anyone before in this way, where I felt it was like a fucking tennis game. It was like a back and forth tennis game with melodies and music ideas. It was really intense. Well not intense, it was good fun, but it just felt like being a fucking tennis partner.

It’s like playing tennis with a guy that’s a good match. It felt a little bit competitive, but it was good vibes, man. Do you know what I mean? It just pushed me to make better shit. It’s fucking cool!

I don’t know how he'd describe working with me, you’d have to ask him. He'd probably say I was a weirdo. But it was awesome.

Jamey: We were all pretty excited just to hear you were collaborating with Ren to begin with, but now we're hearing that there's going to be three separate EPs with four songs each, is that right? If so, that's more than you have done with anyone else before. What led to such a significant collaboration?

Zac: Yeah, so I think the first one’s got six songs and there'll be volumes 1, 2, 3. You never know, 4. You never know! Do you know what I mean?

I don’t know, I think it was just what I said - the tennis game back and forth got out of hand. It’s all just a game that got out of hand. We just keep sending more tunes back and forth, and then we’re like, oh shit, now we got this one. Oh, but we can’t leave this one out, so we’ll have to put it on another. Oh shit, now we got two albums worth!

It got out of hand in a great way.

Jamey: Are these EPs stand alone projects, or are they all meant to fit together as parts of a bigger story?

Zac: They’re all going to be part of a bigger story. So they’re stand alone and also part of a bigger story, as well as being stories in themselves.

Jackie: When you collaborate with other artists, does that make the song writing process easier or does it add more complexity? How did the collaboration process work with Ren? Was it all done remotely or did you physically meet up? We're both pretty curious about how it all works, especially when it's done remotely!

Zac: Well, normally when I’ve collaborated with other artists, I’ll just leave them a section in the song. So I’ll complete the song and then I’ll say like, oh, here’s your verse. Do your verse in this section.

I’ll sort of control it, because I’m a bit controlling with the music. I’m a bit of a control freak, because of experience with previous bands and band members. I don’t really like to trust too many people with music because I've been let down. Do you get what I’m saying?

But with this one, it was a full 50-50 collab. I’d send him something, he’d rework it and send it back. I’d do something, rework it, send it back. It wasn’t just do a verse here and then we’re done.

The first time I physically met Ren was on the video shoot, because it just didn’t need to happen before that. To be honest, I don’t like to work with people in the room. In the studio, I prefer to send ideas across the internet because I talk too much, so I'll just talk shit to you and then we never get anything done. I’m just way too interested in people and shit. So I just talk to people about their lives and we never get any music done. That’s the reason.

Most people like to meet up for collabs. Not me. I want to meet up and drink beers, then no music gets made.

Jamey: How would you describe this project to someone who has never listened to you or Ren before?

Zac: Man, I’m like a music nerd, yeah? Growing up I always loved music, so… I don’t know what I’d describe it as, but it’s just, it’s just real exciting shit that’s coming out of England right now!

Honestly, like I said I’m a music nerd, and it’s exciting to see this being done independently. You’ve got to keep that in mind, this is all independent as well. It’s not been tainted by any additives or preservatives or fucking processed food, do you get what I’m saying? This shit’s organic.

Jamey: Do you see any more collaborations with Ren in the future?

Zac: Yeah man, there’ll be more stuff. We’ve done stuff, but I don’t know what will happen, after we’ve brought out three volumes? I think we’re on a similar page with just being obsessed with music, so it’s just ideas that get floated and thrown around. I think we get each other excited about music! It's as basic as that, we just want to make more songs.

Jackie: Despite covering many different genres (sometimes within the same song!), you still have your own distinct sound. Does working with other artists push you outside of your musical comfort zone?

Zac: Well, not really, because I tell other artists to jump on the track in a certain allocated area of the track I want them to jump on. But with Ren, it was a bit out of my comfort zone, because we were sending it back and forth and changing it. Which was good. It was a good out-of-comfort zone. Do you know what I mean?

It’s actually fucking awesome, because there’s all sorts of different genres on the record, and there’s stuff I wouldn’t have done on my own. Ren’s genre-less, he sort of achieved this genre-less thing. I’m kind of trying to get out of the genre trap. As I’ve said before, openly, I feel like I’ve been trapped sometimes in an indie algorithm genre thing.

Also because I do have to try and keep this running, I don’t know if this makes sense but it gave me the confidence to be more fearless. To be like, no, fuck that, I’ll do anything I want. I’ll do any genre I like, if I like it. It doesn’t have to be the indie guy or this guy. If Ren’s done it, then I can do it.

It’s fucking cool. It’s empowering.

Jamey: If you could create one completely random and unhinged merch item to promote this collaboration, what would it be?

Zac: Unhinged.

I don’t know if this is unhinged, I just get… I just get the limited edition dolls. Do you know what I mean? Soul Boy doll. Sick boy doll, Soul Boy doll. It’s not even that exciting, but I’d just like to have it in the studio.

Jackie: You've been stung by the music industry in the past, as has Ren. This seems to be a common experience for up and coming artists. In an ideal world, how would you like to see things developing, especially for young working class musicians? Do you see a future where there's a clear path open to them?

Zac: I don’t know what the future will be. The reason I’ve done what I’ve done is because nothing I did within the music industry worked. Then I was made to feel like I was in the wrong for feeling that way. But then again, when I saw Ren doing it, I was like oh shit! I knew this could be done independently, and then seeing him actually doing it and achieving success was sick. So I was like, well it was a big thing for me seeing that. It just made me want to press forward more.

How would I see things developing? I think young musicians need to start fucking thinking outside the box. Well, it happens after they see success stories, doesn’t it? A lot of people will see that and think it’s possible, but people need to think outside the box.

It’ll probably take a fair few years for people to see that it works, but doing this independently isn’t easy either. It takes every hour of your day, ruins your relationships with your family and shit, and you have to be obsessive. It’s not healthy. I’ve met a lot of musicians, it honestly can destroy a lot of people doing it like this. It ain’t healthy, trust me.

So some people like to work within labels, man. For me, I can’t do it. I don’t think it’s good, but... I don’t even know where I’m fucking going with this. You see how confused I am? I’m not the one to give advice, or at least not too much advice, to people. I just say if people see my path and see it works, I don’t know... If you follow me, you’ll end up being a nutter, but you might not, so, I don’t know. Can’t help you with that one.

Jackie: Maybe this is being a little optimistic, but there is a growing number of very successful independent artists. For those who have been paying attention, it really feels like we're at the dawn of a new era, one that casts aside the traditional labels. Would you agree with that? Am I insane for seeing this glimmer of hope?

Zac: Yeah, I feel like that as well. I don’t know if I’m being optimistic too, but I feel like it’s like a dawn of a new thing, and I’ve been trying for like fucking maybe 10 plus years to break through. A lot of people don’t really know that when they just find out about a tune or something.

So, yeah, this I think is gonna be a new dawn. I don’t know how many years it will take to actually break, so everyone follows through, but definitely feels fucking awesome right now! To fuck off the labels and stuff. Rats, man. All the ones I’ve met, just rats.

Jackie: Previous to this collaboration with Ren, there's definitely been a sense of an exciting future for The Skinner Brothers, and we can't wait to continue the journey right alongside you! Are there any future plans you'd like to share, real or imagined? In a world where anything is possible, what would you love to do? Are there artists you'd like to work with or genres you'd love to explore, for instance?

Zac: Right, yeah, it’s really exciting at the moment. To be honest I’m really super happy right now! We’ve got the SB family, the community (an awesome community) around us, which is a really rare and unreal thing. I’ve got my wife Claira, my new daughter Dustie and my cat Moneybag. I just got a PS4 too so I’m fucking buzzed! I don’t really want anything else.

I mean I’d love to work with some more artists, but to be honest I’ve been trying to do this for like 10 plus years. I was running around London trying to make music and shit, and in rented rooms where people are just banging on the ceiling if you play at all or sing. So making music was a chore before, a challenge.

If I couldn’t play in the house I’d have to play in one of the parks, but only at night, because I needed the parks to be empty. I don’t like people hearing me when I’m making songs. So my hands would be freezing, it’d be raining, I’d be trying to write a fucking song on the acoustic guitar in a cold park in the middle of the night.

Besides it being dangerous it was just fucking incredibly hard. So now when I’ve got the studio and I can just make music, I just feel blessed every day. So to be honest every day is awesome. It’s like I’m playing football with football boots on now, as opposed to bare feet every day. I’m blessed.

Getting back to working with other artists, I don’t like to impose on them. I do love other artists but usually it's a case of whoever just clicks naturally, I like to work with. I'm buzzed to work with more people and go to different countries. I'd love to go out to America and check it out with some pals and check the music out there because I love it. That would be a dream for me to go to America.

Jackie: This collaboration will no doubt bring many fresh ears to The Skinner Brothers. I'm sure lots of them will want to explore your music further - where would you suggest they begin?

Zac: I plan on bringing out a best of Skinner Brothers or best of Soul Boy after the Ren and Skinner Brothers EP drops. Just to give people a clear way in to this intimidating catalogue of music, which basically spans most of my musical output. It’s a bit scrappy and messy just like my life is, so it’d be nice to give them a best of, bite-sized way into the SB universe.

Love for doing this interview guys.

The feeling is mutual, Zac! We really appreciate you taking the time out of your extremely busy schedule.

A huge thank you to the wonderfully talented Noir X too, for providing us with the images used in this interview!

I think this interview demonstrates what those of us who have come to know Zac a little, already knew. Namely that he's one of the most humble, down to earth, hard working souls in music, with a spirit that embodies all that punk stands for. Despite many trials and tribulations along the way, Zac's relentless, often courageous, spirit has pushed through many barriers to get to the place The Skinner Brothers now occupy.

As fans, you'll know The Skinner Brothers, in particular Zac, occupies a special place in all of our hearts. The music is what brought us all here, but the man behind it is truly something special.

We are both, of course, also fans of Ren. If not for Ren and his generosity in shouting out other artists, we may never have found The Skinner Brothers. It hardly needs to be said that Ren occupies a similarly special place. To see these two phenomenal musicians collaborating on such a huge project is beyond exciting!

I hope everyone has enjoyed this as much as we have. It's honestly been a pleasure and an absolutely unexpected privilege to do this interview. We're very much looking forward to finding out what the future holds for Zac and The Skinner Brothers. It's looking very bright right now!

If you appreciate this wonderful band, you can do a lot to help support The Skinner Brothers by buying some tour tickets, merch, or even buying a digital copy of the music on Bandcamp. Every bit of support goes a long way to help ensure we'll have lots more music to look forward to!