James Acker (Yndian Mynah) – The Boys Scribbled Like Mad [interview]

Jan 25, 2023: In this episode, Tim sits down with longtime friend James Acker, guitarist for the Cape Town-based instrumental band Yndian Mynah. They dive deep into the release of the band’s second album, The Boys Scribbled Like Mad. James opens up about the band’s decision to shift from the meticulous, multi-year production of their debut album (Velvet Youth) to recording the new record entirely live in the studio with producer Dane Taylor. The goal? To capture the raw, kinetic energy and tempo changes that define their live performances. Tim and James also discuss the fascinating (and often hilarious) stories behind their unique track titles—including why an ice skate appears on a single cover—and the dynamics of working as a four-piece instrumental group without a vocalist. Whether you are a fan of post-rock or just curious about the creative process behind recording live, this episode is packed with insights. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👉 The “Live” Aesthetic: Unlike their first album, which took two years to produce, the new record was recorded live in the room to maintain the natural flow and tempo changes of the band, avoiding the robotic feel of click tracks. 👉 Vinyl Variations: The new record is available on vinyl in four distinct colorways (Pink, Blue, Gold, and Green) distributed by different partners. 👉 The “Eisbein” Story: The track Eisbein was inspired by a lunch on the Garden Route where the band learned that the eisbein bone was historically used as an ice skate—a concept that made it onto the artwork. 👉 Instrumental Songwriting: Without a vocalist, the band relies on “kitchen conversations,” visual cues (like dots on a fretboard), and pop culture references (Downton Abbey) to name their tracks and convey emotion. 👉 Mount Wave Studios: When not touring, James and fellow guitarist Matthew Dickinson work at Mount Wave Studios, composing original music for visual media. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro: Who is Yndian Mynah? 01:38 – The new vinyl: Four different colorways. 03:16 – The instrumental style: Replacing vocals with melody. 04:40 – Recording The Boys Scribbled Like Mad: Why they chose to record live. 07:06 – Storytime: The origin of Eisbein, Socks on Astroturf, and Mr. Bates. 11:39 – The Kitchen Conversation and Cosmos. 13:12 – Returning to the stage: The reunion show at District. 14:45 – Future touring plans: Europe and The Good Times Co. 16:26 – Day jobs: composing at Mount Wave Studios. 17:20 – The collaborative songwriting process (No egos allowed). 18:30 – Plans for a third record & experimental sounds. LINKS ⭐️ Show notes: https://go.timsmal.com/jamesa ⭐️ Bandcamp: https://yndianmynah.bandcamp.com/albu... ⭐️ Instagram:   / yndianmynah   ⭐️ YouTube:    / @yndianmynah1267