yllwshrk

yllwshrk (‘yellow shark’) are a new alternative rock band from Scotland and England. Their 2020 debut album I AM ALADDIN features collaborations with the London Contemporary Orchestra, Berlin electronic duo Mouse on Mars’ Andi Toma, 2017 Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition winners the Maxwell String Quartet, Scottish singer-songwriter Hannah Read, saxophone virtuoso Nick Roth, Scottish jazz pianist Fergus McCreadie, and contemporary classical composer Linda Buckley. It was created with financial support from Creative Scotland, Arts Council England, and Help Musicians UK.

yllwshrk members have appeared on albums such as Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool, Frank Ocean's Blonde, Actress' LAGEOS, Thom Yorke's Anima, and Foals' Holy Fire as members of the London Contemporary Orchestra. They have performed live with artists such as Little Simz, Goldfrapp, Ry X, Eric Clapton, Deltron 3030, and Elbow, as well as giving regular classical chamber music recitals across the UK and Europe, and performing and recording with many of the UK’s leading orchestras.

yllwshrk have summed up this spirit of experimentation and collaboration in their band name, taken from Frank Zappa’s foray into contemporary classical music alongside Ensemble Modern. Their collaboration resulted in the ground-breaking album The Yellow Shark, a testament to what can be achieved when musicians of differing backgrounds and trainings come together to create music, and an ideal by which yllwshrk lives.