Introducing Interview: YINYANG

With her previous single ‘Black Mamba’ being awarded the title ‘Best Song In The World’ from Across The Line with BBC Radio Ulster last year, Irish hip-hop artist Lauren Hannan – aka YINYANG– has now blasted into our ears with immense new tune ‘Bloodhound/Earthbound’. With shades of GIHE fave Noga Erez, the track oozes a gritty energy as the angst-driven power of Hannan’s vocals seethe alongside attitude-fuelled glitchy beats, building with a soulful, soaring splendour.

We caught up with Lauren to find out more…

Hi YINYANG, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hello! My real name is Lauren, which is bit more vanilla than YINYANG. I decided to have a pseudonym because YINYANG represents the project better – yin and yang as a philosophy is the concept of dualism, how seemingly opposite or contrary forces can be complimentary and interconnected. This resonates with me as my music is where I channel the dark, fierce energy I have that takes no shit from anyone, but if you met me in real life I’m also just a nice wee, kinda zaney, Northern Irish woman who loves a red wine and her cat Elvis. If you’re into star signs I bet you guessed I’m Gemini, and you nailed it!

How did you initially start creating music?
In my pre-covid life you’d catch me in a field producing festivals, and I’d watch the artists when I got a chance and just have a belly full of jealousy like “why the hell am I not up there? I really want to be up there!” So for me, although lockdown has been shit in many ways, it’s also been a bit of a blessing in disguise because I was able to find time to be able to make the dream become a bit more of a reality – even though I’m still a newbie, it’s the realest it’s ever been which makes me very happy! I found Garageband on my laptop and started making really terrible demos to begin with, I think I spent forever at the beginning just listening to every built in instrument sound to work out what I like, then I turned all the buttons off and on again to see what they do cause I didn’t have a clue what I was doing or what compression is or wtf is EQ?! I spent every single day on GB writing and working out my sound like I was addicted to it. I released my debut single ‘Black Mamba’ last July to just dip my toes in the water and see if anyone liked what I was making, ’cause to be honest I didn’t know what it was, and I still don’t know what genre I am, but people liked it! So I decided fuggit we’ll keep going, and gas levels have been on 10 ever since. 

Your new single ‘Bloodhound/Earthbound’ is out now – can you tell us what it’s all about?
Yes, very excited and nervous all at the same time! It’s basically about protecting your energy. The title is from one of the lyrics “Learn to sniff the bad out of them – Bloodhound, bring your head out of the clouds – Earthbound…” This line hits the jackpot for what I’m trying to say really – sniff out the bad out of the situation and get your head out of this romanticised, fake reality you made up in your mind and into the ugly truth; that this isn’t serving you how it should be, so don’t bother cause you’re really a baddie and ya don’t need crumbs. It’s not just about one particular event in my life, it’s about all of the times I’ve made that same addictive mistake, even when it was in disguise. 

You’ve been compared to the likes of Little Simz and Peaches, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
I’ve got quite a few musical influences that I think will become more apparent with the next few releases: M.I.A. is a constant, Sampa The Great, Ben Khan, Kendrick Lamar and then bands like The Prodigy and Rage Against The Machine. Bit of a mix really, all depends on my mood!

In ‘normal’ times, how is your local music scene? Do you go to see lots of live music
What’s a gig… ? It’s been sooooo lonnnnggg! (Terrible dad joke I’m so sorry!) Yeah, I totally immerse myself in live music and will 100% be going to every gig possible when this is all over. There are some wicked artists in Northern Ireland, a lot of talent there. 

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any new/upcoming bands or artists you’d recommend we check out?
Minchanbaby’s ‘Luzzy’ is the soundtrack to my life at the moment. Special mentions to Draper, who’s not new but his new stuff is great and has been going in a new direction from his other material ,so it kind of counts as new. Melahnin, Red Eye Pariah and Rye Milligan. 

And how do you feel the music industry is for new bands at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
I guess you could argue that it’s always been hard! But at the moment I think it feels particularly hard because it’s so online focused in 2020/21 as we can’t play live, you could totally drain yourself trying to keep up with promoting yourself on all the socials, thinking of new ways to connect and reach audiences and stay relevant I guess. BUT, that doesn’t make it any less fun! I’m just trusting the process, keeping my head down and working hard, hoping for the best. 

Finally, what does the rest of 2021 have in store for YINYANG?
Oooooohhhh it’s feeling like an exciting year but I’m scared to jinx it! Going to be releasing eight tracks throughout the year and if we can play live shows then I’ll be performing as soon as humanly possible. I’m pretty buzzed for 2021 – a lot of work has gone into it, I have a real good feeling about it and a great team to share it with. 

Massive thanks to YinYang for answering our questions! 

 

Listen to YINYANG’s latest single ‘Bloodhound/Earthbound’ on Spotify now.

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Track Of The Day: Aderyn – ‘Silver Screen’

‘Silver Screen’, the second single from Welsh artist Aderyn, is an anthem for anyone who spent their youth messily falling in and out of love, and in and out of nightclubs.

Having drummed in grunge bands since she was sixteen, ‘Silver Screen’ sees Aderyn fuse her lo-fi roots with a real pop sensibility. The result is irresistible! A real nostalgia trip, it’s reminiscent of the kind of brilliant, alt ’90s pop tunes that blared from teen movie soundtracks and high school sleepovers. And the jangly, indie-pop guitars and catchy hooks make this feel just as playlist friendly.

Yet while ‘Silver Screen’ is unashamedly poppy, there’s real melancholy to Aderyn’s vocals and her lyrics that give it a rawness and a depth. I can’t wait to hear what more she can do.

Watch the new video for ‘Silver Screen’ here:

Listen to ‘Silver Screen’ on Spotify.

Vic Conway

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LISTEN: DijahSB ft. Chris Castello – ‘Overtime’

A vibrant, slickly produced R&B tune acknowledging the diligence that’s needed to make your dreams a reality, Toronto-based rapper DijahSB has shared their latest single ‘Overtime’. Taken from their upcoming album Head Above The Waters, which is set for release on 23rd April, the track is a summery collaboration with fellow Toronto songwriter Chris Castello, filled with catchy, candid lyrics and infectious beats.

Influenced by the likes of Kid Cudi, Pusha T and Lupe Fiasco, DijahSB writes music about their experiences as a black non-binary artist, navigating their way through life’s highs and lows with a quick wit and authentic charm. On new single ‘Overtime’, Dijah blends buoyant beats with their catchy rap verses and Castello’s smooth, lush vocals to create an uplifting, fresh slice of pop-infused R&B.

“’Overtime’ is the last single before the album,” Dijah explains. “I’m excited to introduce the world to Chris Castello who is an amazing songwriter and also does most of my artwork. He really made the song come together by telling the story of just always putting in over time to achieve our dreams.”

Watch the lyric video for ‘Overtime’ below.

Follow DijahSB on Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Marius Jadion

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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FIVE FAVOURITES: Bleach Lab

Working through unexpected grief majorly informed the songs on South London-based Bleach Lab’s upcoming EP, A Calm Sense of Surrounding. The death of bassist Josh Longman’s father and the breakdown of vocalist Jenna Kyle’s long-term relationship seeped into the band’s song-writing, as they began to musically explore the five stages of grief – anger, denial, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Through Kyle’s emotive vocals and earnest lyrics and guitarist Frank Wates’ fluid, atmospheric riffs, the band soften the sharpness of their collective pain.

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with Bleach Lab to ask them about their “Five Favourites” – five songs that have inspired their song-writing techniques. Check out their choices below and scroll down to listen to Bleach Lab’s latest single ‘Flood’ at the end of this post.

1. Mazzy Star – ‘Halah’
Jenna Kyle (vocalist): My closest friend introduced me to Mazzy Star when I first moved to Brighton a while ago. She thought it would be right up my street, she knows me well. It’s hard to pick a favourite Mazzy song, but after a lot of rumination I concluded a while ago that ‘Halah’ takes the top spot. It quickly became a break up song of sorts for me and accompanied me on many wine filled nights. Hope’s dreamy, effortless voice floats above the guitar so flawlessly. The story that I take from the lyrics is not too dissimilar from the themes that I tend to find myself pulled into writing. The reflection and process of a break up that you can’t quite manage to move forward from. “Before I close the door, I need to hear you say goodbye, baby won’t you change your mind?” The story is a relatable one, it’s immersive and something that a lot of listeners can place themselves in. Something that I try to achieve with the way that I write my lyrics.

2. Radiohead – ‘Pyramid Song’
Frank Wates (guitarist): I remember first hearing this song on the TV soon after Amnesiac was released. It was the music video, the beautifully animated one where the diver jumps into the water and explores the submerged city. At the time I was probably around 10. I remember it really hit me emotionally, but I also remember being so confused about its rhythm and meter, which I later learned to be swung 4/4. I was tapping my foot along and totally failing to follow the beat and it really frustrated me. Granted I was only 10, but I think it really imprinted on me and it ended up being an important moment in my developing interest in rhythm. Rhythm is now the main thing I think about when writing my guitar parts and imagining how our songs will sound when fully formed. Melody and everything else come second.

3. Daughter – ‘Youth’
Jenna: ‘Youth’ was one of the first songs I fell in love with when I began the journey of figuring out my own style, back when I was around 16 and had previously only been singing over karaoke videos of Les Mis and Cats (the musical) soundtracks, whenever my parents left the house. I hadn’t really listened to any artists that ignited such a strong emotional response for me. I’m pretty sure it was a “this is it” moment when I heard it, and I couldn’t wait to learn the iconic guitar riff so I could play it myself. Elena Tonra’s lyrical style has always been a huge inspiration for the way that I have adapted my own writing. She writes visual stories with her words and her use of metaphors is effortlessly captivating. I would love to be able to quiz her on her approach and method to writing.

4. Interpol – ‘Rest My Chemistry’
Josh Longman (bassist): I have always been a big fan of Interpol growing up and have always been a massive fan of the simple guitar leads that just carry the song along from start to finish. I have always known of them, but only during my college days did a few of my friends entice me to dig deeper down the Interpol rabbit hole. The guitar tones and dynamic range throughout are spot on and the driving bass in many of their songs have influenced a few tracks for me as a bass player. When the bass isn’t driving, its simplicity really gives the guitars and vocals space to explore amazing melodies. Underrated band in my opinion, and I was happy to see them at All Points East when The Strokes were headlining, although for me I saw the festival as a good value of money as it seemed like there were 2 headliners that day.

5. Helena Deland – ‘Smoking At The Gas Station’
Frank: This is a really recent release, but I already know it will be one of my favourite records for a long time to come. I first heard it when I was listening through Helena Deland’s debut album Someone New for the first time soon after it came out. I was so excited for the album’s release as the singles were so gorgeously produced. Since sitting in on mixing sessions with the producer/mixer/engineer for our debut EP (shout out to Max), I’ve really started to pay attention to finer details around the mixing and production of any song I listen to. The song itself already features an incredible vocal performance, but I was absolutely blown away by its mixing and production. It has a really unsettling beauty to it to start but the song develops and finishes with one of the most beautiful and subtle outros I’ve heard. I’m starting to pay a lot more attention to writing powerful outros because of it.

Thanks to Bleach Lab for sharing their favourites with us!
Listen to ‘Flood’ below.

 

Follow Bleach Lab on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Photo Credit: Isy Townsend

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