[BadPanda017] Yawn – Kind Of Guy

Yawn, from Chicago, have just returned from a triumphant SXSW and they recently released their debut EP (free download!). Their music combines the right proportions of contagious world-influenced, tribal pop layered with rich harmonies, swirling samples and concussive rhythms.

Bad Panda Records is releasing under Creative Commons licenses the upbeat and super catchy ‘Kind of Guy’, a track you definitely shouldn’t miss, especially if Animal Collective, Vampire Weekend or Yeasayer are your good friends. Bad Panda predicts they’re going to be big.

Yawn – Kind Of Guy [mp3] [ogg] [wav] [flac]

The song is distributed under a Creative Commons License: CC-BY-NC-SA-3.0

Artwork By: David Beltran
Mixed/Engineered By: Alex Fisher, Taylor Podgorny, and Yawn
Mastered By: Alex Baez

The four members of YAWN come from the ass-hood underbelly of Chicago. No charming Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, River North stories for these little vagrants.  Instead, their putrid existence bears roots in neighborhoods like Little Lebanon, Baghdad Row, and Polski Park. Though their hearts remain embedded in  trash, they’re dreams of success run deeper than the cold waters of Lake Michigan.

As young lads with a silly moniker (Metrovox), they punk’d the hardest punk, emo’d the saddest emo, and somehow made their way to the lush forests of Germany (for the Taubertal Open Air Fest in summer ’07).  They pissed with some esteemed producers (Stephen George, Vincent Casamatta), crapped out some sonic garbage, and in turn learned a pivotal lesson: thine production lies within thine self. Moreover, they learned the valuable ethos of DIY.

Suddenly, their universe expanded! The boys began crafting a new sound, one more aligned with the eclectic textures of Brian Eno and Animal Collective: a solid, badass rock core adorned with rich vocal harmonies, vintage world samples and atmospheric digital layers. Leaving their former hoods and setting up shop in wicker park, (Ass-Licker park), they recorded the new material in their basement, with the help of some very helpful helpfuls.  And in replacing their tired Latinate name, the band chose one to confound easy audio-typing.

“YAWN” defiantly proclaims their boredom with the pretensions of the music scene and leaves limitless space for sonic change.  The self titled, five song E.P. is available now for download, free of charge at www.yawntheband.com.

YAWN is : Adam Gil – Vocals, keyboard, guitar
Daniel Perzan – samplers, toms, bass, guitar
Jorge Perez – drums, samplers
Sam Wolf – Vocals, keyboards, bass

[official website]
[myspace]
[facebook]
[twitter]

And this is the Q&A with Adam:

Where do you live actually?

I live in Wicker Park in Chicago

What is the last thing you ate?

Some waffles

Your addiction?

Curry

What do you collect?

Samples

One quote?

“What’s hannenin’?”

One movie?

MOON (just saw it. rocked my world. love sam rockwell)

One book?

Catcher in the Rye.

One song?

Immune to Emotion by Ariel Pink

Favourite venue?

Double Door, Chicago.

Best concert ever?

Spoon at SXSW ’08.

Favourite place on earth?

Austin, Texas during SXSW.

Something you’re proud of?

My recent high score in Jungle Crash Landing (61… it’s an awesome iphone game).

Where would you wish to wake up tomorrow?

In Santorini, with a naked Beyonce next to me and a suitcase full of euros.

Discography:
Yawn EP (2009) [dl]

Under previous name “MetroVox”
Metrovox EP (2008)
…Who Shot Logic (2005)