Yumi And The Weather – “I don’t think people dream of the whole shabang”

You performed at Small Pond almost a year ago. Do you prefer closed personal sessions like those or do you prefer an audience? Does it matter?

I prefer big shows with the band of course as the excitement levels are greater, but intimate sessions also have their place depending on the acoustics and audience. Sometimes if you play a small show and people are chatting, it’s off putting, but at big gigs there is so much chatter it helps the nerves more than if it was silent. I don’t like live video streamed shows and performing to a camera as much.

BBC Radio has played your latest release “Howl” a couple times. What was the feeling like hearing your music first play on the radio?

It’s an exciting feeling, and obviously a proud moment too. I heard it being played while I was at work and that felt amazing and my colleagues were excited to hear it on the radio they listen to often too so we were all buzzing together!

In a world of Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and the majority of online music streaming platforms. Does radio still have the same meaning as it did a decade ago?

Yes absolutely, we have everything at our fingertips and radio helps us sometimes have a selection going on without us overthinking what to put on, and it’s nice having a voice to listen to that is in the present on the breaks to make us feel part of a community and I think with less social interaction and physical communication decreasing to a degree cause of various constructs, it is very much needed in their daily routine for some people.

Can you share with us the main influence of your song “Howl”?

I got with a guy I really fancied very unexpectedly, and I hadn’t shaved, and I felt insecure at first but then he never mentioned about it once, and I thought, why did I think it was a big deal when it obviously isn’t, and then I went back to the root (ha ha) of the insecurities and it was from being bullied at a young age (by guys and girls), and of course the women we look at in mainstream magazines growing up are hair free too so I kinda wrote the vibe based on that and how it’s just always going to grow and we can do what we like with it really it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

What DAW’s have you used to make your own music? What’s the process like working with DAW’s?

I started with Cubase but then I went to Logic and it’s so much fun working with DAWs, there are so many options which can be positive, and negative at times. Live, I used to use Ableton but now I get the band to imitate everything so I don’t have to rely on the computer. After my second album which I’m currently finishing, I’m going to take time off as I’m a bit tired of working on the computer and need to give my brain and ears a rest.

What is the song writing process like?

It is different for every song but this album, the guitar has come first, the actual writing of lyrics can take time but the melody and the feeling is there so I mess around with various lines until I’m happy and then I begin to tweak it all and experiment with production until it gets me tingling or I feel the emotions!

You began making music on your own. How has working with other musicians changed the way you work?

This album I got more live drums on it and it was great fun working with people. My partner Leon is on 3 of the tracks and it’s so fun getting him involved cause he is so great to work with. Also featuring is Danny (@beamtomerecordings) who has such a great energy and features on ‘Fine Lines’, and the technical wizard that is Will Woodfine, who plays in the live band and just does such crazy fills sometimes that you don’t notice the first time cause he made it sound so damn easy!! Will drums on Howl and a couple of others. It’s so nice to work with friends, and people I rate, and glad I had the opportunity.

Your self-titled album was in Electronics Sounds Magazines top 20 albums, you been featured on BBC Radio, you’ve done a list of live shows – Has it but you get that your living the life many people dream of? When do those moments hit you?

I’m very lucky but I have to work hard for it, I don’t have any days off really as there is always something to sort out and also trying to keep healthy in the mind and body while juggling managing and the creative side too, so I don’t think people dream of the whole shabang, they just dream of having the end results I guess. I also haven’t done this all on my own, I was lucky to meet people at the right time who helped me such as Rob Flynn who helped me mix and co-produce the first album, and I have a great team at MIOHMI pushing me and helping sort out the admin and PR side of the release too. I am really proud of our achievements and it all would probably still be on my computer if I didn’t have their help! I am still not able to live fully on my music, and I still sacrifice a lot of time and money for it which I know I’m lucky to even be able to do and I think about it every now and then with full gratitude, even though sometimes my doubt wears me down and I feel what I am doing is a waste, but I think it’s more fun than watching TV, so I let myself off.

Do you believe that a artist image: look/style is as important as the music?

I love visual art and fashion but I don’t think it NEEDS to be AS important, I think people should just do what they want to do! I feel quality music reaches through your ears and not your eyes but tending to both and getting good results – I’m not going to complain! I have been attracted to covers when choosing music to purchase which was a gamble but a great outcome. Curiosity doesn’t always kill the cat, sometimes it makes it dance!

When working with DAW’s do you struggle with finding the perfect sound? (Asking this as a fellow producer)

I’m always trying to imitate the sound in my head which is impossible really but I can get close, so yes it’s a struggle and that’s why the word is there to set a bar, we just got to realise it can never be met but we strive to meet it and where we end up is where it has to be and accept it sometimes or going too far ends up ruining it. Like art, too much mixing means you end up with one colour when you had a fair few on the canvas at the start. Knowing when to stop can be the hardest part, than finding the perfect sound.

A dream/goal for your music?

Well….It would be nice to make enough money from it so I can look after myself and my family and help others, but security aside, I hope it takes me and the band more places I’ve not been before cause touring is so fun. I think a world tour with profit made would be the ultimate dream!! Supporting favourite artists too is always a dream come true.

How is the music scene like in Brighton compared to other places?

It’s so multi-genre and great. Loads of nice small venues here and lucky that I live in a city where bands often stop on their tours. There are different venues here to cater for all your needs and to go into it in depth, well…. that would be a whole other article!! I’m lucky to attend shows often as Leon does sound engineering at The Hope and Ruin, so I get to see a lot of bands for free which is very inspiring and so fun!

Knowing that you’re based in England and our magazine is based in America. What’s the biggest culture shock about America?

I was watching a short doc about the food portions and how much bigger they are over there compared to here. Don’t really understand that, as you are not giants, but maybe that’s why you guys have to have health insurance?!? Who knows!? Also I heard you guys drive everywhere don’t you? I like driving too so I think I’d fit in pretty well ha ha. I have wanted to come to America for years and years and still haven’t made it. I really hope one day I will!

Completely Random Question: You’ve Been Given An Elephant. You Can’t Get Rid Of It. What Would You Do With It?

Well I’d try and invent some kind of beauty/face mask product from its dung, and make money from selling it, so that will pay for its keep. I will obviously take it on walks and it will be well loved and looked after. I will probably hire it out for Weddings too. Probs get rid of my car.