RISING ARTIST EXCLUSIVE! YAWN INTV!

We were first introduced to Chicago's YAWN earlier this year as they opened for Morning Parade and The Kooks in New York City. From that performance on, we kept a keen eye on this band as they mix hyper electronic hooks (think Phoenix, Yeasayer) and the heavy sub-bass of most traditional dubstep artists. YAWN proved straight away they are a fantastic live band and with the release of their latest EP, Happy Tears, they also proved they are incredibly fun in the studio. We spoke to member Daniel Perzan about Chicago, the bands work and songwriting process and what is next. As we start July, this is a band that will heat up the rest of your summer and beyond. Take a look!

Hailing from Chicago, how has the city influenced your work?

In many ways, most of which come down to the seasons. Weather here is very unpredictable and bi-polar in that when its hot today does not at all mean its going to be tomorrow. Winters we are usually stuck in-doors, so we actually can get really productive when we live together. 

How did the band form?

In high school we started messing around, making jams in our parents basements and stuff. We never felt like we were really serious about it til Adam and I moved into an apartment together. We set up shop with new gear and really started spending a lot of time with our new found toys and changing our sound. This was during the winter in '08 time so we were just always at it.

For a band with such a lush and pop sound, why did you settle on calling yourselves YAWN?

We were just kind of sick of thinking of band names. Everything sounded like something else, or sounded goofy to us. YAWN just looked good in all caps, it was also a name that you couldn't make fun of without sounding very uncreative. 

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard of you before?

Pop oriented electronic rock dub indie things that your grandma may or may not like.

You released your EP, Happy Tears, is a full length in the works?

Yes. Something is constantly being brewed up in the studio.

What is your song writing process like?

One of us brings a simple sample/beat/melody or something more elaborated upon sometimes, and we just work off of that throwing ideas in the ring.

Your live shows are a non-stop, wild dance party for you and the audience. After playing, do you feel simply exhausted leaving the stage and question how you can keep this up?

No way! We need to get the energy out somewhere, touring is just sitting on your ass for hours and hours. Dancing around and breaking a sweat feels great.

Most of the faces you are playing in front of have never heard of you before, yet, you are winning over audiences at every stop you play in. How does that make you feel?

Amazing, like something we are doing is obviously coming across. We always thought of ourselves more as a studio band, so we were never really comfortable with our live performances, but hearing that makes it a lot easier on us.

What has been the best thing about being a member of YAWN?

Seeing songs take shape with the boys. Living in a giant studio.

As a new band, how do you feel you stand out from the other bands emerging today?

I dont know if we do now. There are so many bands with so many sounds that there are a few we sound like. With the interwebs everyone can have a band and an audience.

Where do you see YAWN in a year from now?

Releasing an LP and touring, lots of touring.

You toured with Morning Parade and The Kooks earlier this year, what was that experience like? How did you link up with that tour?

Morning Parade were only on for 3 shows. We toured earlier in the year with The Kooks, and we got chummy with them. Guess they liked us so much they wanted us back on the next leg of their US tour.