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San Jose based four-piece A Yawn Worth Yelling have been pumping out upbeat indie rock as they send out chill mellow vibes and perk up our ears with delight. The guys have been busy meticulously preparing their forthcoming EP Play Pretend and as they gear up for it’s release GroundSounds caught up with them for an exclusive interview about their latest project, musical inspirations and more check it out below.
For those just discovering A Yawn Worth Yelling, how did you guys meet and form the band?
We actually started as a side project. Brayden and Johannes wrote a couple songs together and then contacted Tyler and Taylor since we had all been friends for a while. We mostly knew each other through school and music. And after a great reception to the release of “1000 – EP” in 2011, we got much more serious about things and decided to pursue Yawn as a career.
What made you guys decide on the band name A Yawn Worth Yelling?
Oh man…well, there really isn’t a great amount of significance to it. Essentially, we needed a name to play a show, and Brayden had seen a poster on the wall of his high school English class that said “No yawning with sound”. And thus, A Yawn Worth Yelling was born. Out of a lack of options, ironically enough.
What do you guys enjoy most about San Jose? What is one thing every visitor should see or do?
In a word: burritos. Unparalleled. Every visitor needs to check out either the Tech Museum, the SAP center, La Victoria’s Taqueria, or the Falafel Drive-In. Santana Row as well, if you’re feeling spendy.
Can you tell us about the creative and writing process involved with your latest track “Lonely Prisoner?”
Tyler wrote the track a few years ago, actually. He was in a rough place with his job and had anxieties about his future, and he does what he does best when feeling something super negative or positive: put it to music. We demoed on this song for two years before solidifying it into what you hear today – lots of trial and error with percussion, and the guitar solo section.
What do you guys enjoy most about hitting the stage and performing?
The camaraderie that’s present among us when we play. We’re all best friends outside of the band, but there’s something about getting on stage and seeing an audience eager to hear your music, and turning around to see your best friends ready to play it with you. We really vibe off each other in a way that can’t be duplicated outside of the stage, it’s really something magical. And sweaty.
What has it been like working on your forthcoming EP Play Pretend and bringing this project to fruition?
The process was slow. We demoed for a year or two and had a catalogue of around 30 songs to choose from; narrowing down the selection was tough and arduous. Finding the right producer, timing for releasing the EP, and the right team to work on the campaign with took another year. We’re glad we were so meticulous with it though – rushed releases in the past never lead to success, so we feel like by taking our time, it will indeed come to fruition.
Why the EP name Play Pretend?
All of the tracks, while pretty upbeat and bouncy, mask anxieties and stress and are an encapsulation of stagnation. “Play Pretend” seemed to fit for the title of this EP, as despite how you’re feeling and how hopeless the future seems, it’s important to at least try and play pretend; the mantra “fake it ’till you make it” has been something a few of us have been wrestling with over the course of writing this EP, and we full-heartedly believe it’s much better to at least pretend to be content with your surroundings/situations than completely check out of reality.
What music/bands are you guys currently listening to?
TONS of Makeunder, a local band from Oakland, as well as new The Dear Hunter tracks. We’ve been spinning Miniature Tigers, Saint Motel, French Cassettes, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and James Blake pretty often too.
What was the inspiration for your track “Start Somewhere?”
It arose from Brayden’s friends who he had watched grow as a couple. They’re both guys, and one of them was afraid of committing to the other and making their relationship public due to the potential negative backlash they might’ve received by outing themselves. The song is from the other person’s perspective, begging him to “do the right thing now” even though “there’s no easy way to start this”. In a world where people are going to judge you no matter what you do or who you love, it’s important to follow your heart and do what makes you happy, backlash nonwithstanding. Life’s too short to pander to ignorance and prejudice.
What’s next for A Yawn Worth Yelling? What can fans look forward to?
We’re planning on touring extensively once the ball gets rolling with Play Pretend, so fans can expect us to hit a handful of major cities along the West Coast and potentially mid-west states! We also have a handful of videos we’re planning on releasing shortly, and a few surprises along the way, both merch and song-wise. Stay tuned!
