Currently Cadman The Aviator is Andrew Stewart based in Aberdeen and Zia Khan in London. It is however a fluid cocktail of artists, designers, video producers, musicians and individuals with a hightened sense of glamour, enthusiasm and individuality.
Formed originally by Zia Khan and Andrew Stewart the project has included collaborations with Jenny Cunnion, Nigel McAdam, Adam West, Babs and Mark Yeats. Recently work has been done with Chris Menzies, Kirstie Wallace, Davey Blackie, Dave White, Richard Baillie, Conrado. Lynsey Clark, Andrew's soulamate, recently joined too by playing violin. Remixed A Band Called Quinn produced a track for Martin Degville, formerly of Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
Thanks to everyone who joined in. It's always been fun for us. Hope it was fun for you too.
Influences
Lots of cool things and not so cool things. Who the XXXX decides what's cool, anway? Your cool.
Maintaining a now longstanding commitment to making music by whatever means available Andrew Stewart and Zia Khan are calling themselves Cadman the Aviator. Andrew is in Aberdeen doing most of the recording and Zia is in London designing niche furniture for the beautiful people. He has a studio now and between them they make music.
Andrew was once a glam rock star who secrety co-wrote most of the Ziggy Stardust album with David Bowie. Rumours circulated about this for several years but it was latered revealed to be a pre-internet hoax as Andrew was born the same year that classic album was released.
Zia was a DJ but once specialised in handmade guitars. Also the victim of false press rumours it was once said that Zia was infact the brains behind Stock Aitken and Waterman's 80's hit "Road Block." Again this was not true. Zia infact only programmed the Atari ST. In the 90's he and Nigel McAdam held wonderful nights in Aberdeen playing great records. Aberdeen hasn't been the same since they stopped.
The philosophy of Cadman involves opening doors to creativity, sharing and a kind of escapism from Aberdeen. It is hopefully always about the fun of making music and bringing other people in on that. But we're not hippies, OK?
It all started a long time ago with 4 tracks and a school project called Chopper Goes Solo. A time in Glasgow with some rather talented people involved gigging as Perambulator. Then Cadman started, sort of...
In the late 90's and early noughties Andrew Stewart and Zia Khan made some music. Like the pioneering avaitor the band took their name from they did not let lack of technical skill stand in the way of their ambitions. A dazzling mix of people joined in at times. Some shyly stepped up to a mic. Others shouted abuse while mixing records. For a while some of these people were the coolest people in Aberdeen, probably. Over a rare period of concentrated creativity Andrew and Zia marked the end of an era with the 24D album. A personal record of something that represented a defiance of granite and the perceived limitations of the city at that time. I think we used an Atari ST.
PC's got cheaper and software opened doors. They both now have studios and are more determind than ever that in the next few years they'll achieve some of their modest ambitions. Your welcome to join in.
Aye aye there! Finally got round to giving the Christmas number a spin. Been away offshore so couldn't get a listen until now. Good to see you getting into the festive spirit! I'm a sucker for a Christmas track! Must dig out my James Brown 'Funky Christmas' LP....
Off down to Newcastle to see Spiritualized perform 'Ladies and Gentlemen We're Floating in Space' with a full orchestra and gospel choir at the Sage. Going to be a belter. Magic way to kick off the festivities....listening to a man pour his heart out through songs about heroin, death, and lost love....hmmm....might not be in with the spirit of things, but looking forward to that anyway!
Finally got a free weekend to get down to the studio and master this Logic software and get some new material finished off....
2's UP, it's ma fuckin birthday... Free Limited Edition Print (1/50) and an 80min mix cd (1/150) to the earliest arrivals...
NOTE THAT WE ARE STARTING AT 9 THIS MONTH, TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE TREMOLO BEER GUT (all the way from Denmark) AND BIG NED (all the way from the black lodge).
The card launches on Sept 1st and whats more, for the first month (until 1st Oct) you can get yours for FREE!!!! Simply send us a message here with your name and address and we'll post it out to you! After 1 Oct it will still only be £1 for a card and they'll be on sale at all shows!
SIMPLE AND SAVES YOU HEAPS OF CASH!
AGP x
PS check out the page for all upcoming confirmed shows - we've got heaps to look forward to and want to see you there!
AGP completes July with these two massive shows...
THURSDAY 23 JULY @ TUNNELS Be A Familiar + I See Shapes + French Wives + Mark McCabe 7.30pm - 14+ - £5 from One Up and www.ticketweb.co.uk
SUNDAY 26 JULY @ TUNNELS Glint (NYC) + Atlas Skye (formerly Drive By Argument) + My Cousin I Bid You Farewell + The Whisky Works 7.30pm - 14+ - £5 from One Up and www.ticketweb.co.uk
Quality tune mate, and a magic wee video to go with it too! Diggin' the other new numbers as well. Must be good getting some new material out there again. Hopefully won't be too long before I get some new stuff oot there too now.
Went to see Neil Young a few weeks ago. He's still got it for an auld mannie. Couple of cheesey moments, but nowt wrong with that every now and then.
Wanted to get tickets for the Flaming Lips in Glasgow in November..........and realised it clashed with a mates wedding. Bugger.
Just about to pack my bags and head off on a wee trip up and around the Highlands & Islands for a week. Cannae wait!
