celebrating yoni

Yoni Wolf is a teacher, unafraid to choke our hearts with both hands until new sounds are purged from experience. His consistency in reevaluating his own sound and adapting to further sonic frontiers is something we are each incredibly appreciative of, and lends towards every one of Yoni’s albums becoming novels in their own right. True to album idealism his reflections read out time and events which then unfold concepts and perception exposing the vulnerabilities of a man we can grow to admire and respect. As part of cLOUDDEAD, Hymie’s Basement, and the heart of Why? [never too much anticon. appreciation] we swoon hard for this man, and luckily our bud Ryan Soloman of the San Diego band DUDES was able to keep the grin off of his face long enough to have a conversation.

[A quick heads up: this conversation was just before Why? left for their tour, they would have currently been on, but as you may have heard was cancelled partway through due to an injury.]

FMLY: So this tour… what influenced the decision to play smaller and more intimate venues?

Yoni: We want to get out there and give people a first chance to hear the songs that are going on the new record. The production on the album is in the final stages, so we want to share a taste of what the new album is like.

FMLY: The album isn’t due for release until Spring of 2012. How complete are the songs you’re going to be playing? Are you using the tour as a way to test the songs out, or will the songs be presented more or less how they’ll be on the album?

Yoni: Yeah, the songs are definitely done. The writing is complete, people will hear them how they’re going to be on the album.

FMLY: The tour press release says that the audience will be able to ask questions and interact with the band. Is there going to be a sort of formal Q&A portion of the show?

Yoni: Nah, there’s no actual plan to do a full on Q&A. You know, it’s intimate so people will come in and be seated. We just want to take down the barrier between audience and performer. But yeah, if someone wants to ask us something I’m sure they can.

FMLY: Your shows often feature collaborations, and Serengeti happens to be coming along with you on tour *. Is there reason to be even more excited?

Yoni: Possibly… Doug (from Why?) is going to be playing with him so there’s definitely potential to mess around. But yeah, no plans as of now.

FMLY: You produced Serengeti’s most recent album Family and Friends, what was it like working together?

Yoni:It was a lot of fun, man! We basically got together for a week, hung out, and were writing a song a day.

FMLY: Is producing for other artists something you’d like to continue?

Yoni: Absolutely.

FMLY: Are you thinking about taking it to the stars and crafting a beat for someone like Lil’ Wayne?

Yoni: Haha… I don’t know about that. I don’t know if that’s something that would realistically happen in my world, you know? But I just love making records and want to keep doing it, so we’ll see.

FMLY: Getting back to the album, how would you put it in context with previous Why? records?

Yoni: It’s pretty different than all of the Why? records. Maybe a couple of the songs off of Alopecia, a song like “By Torpedo or Crohn’s” or something like that. Very dry sounds, a lot of small room stuff.

FMLY: Who is doing the production this time around?

Yoni: It’s essentially just my Brother and I, but we have engineers and all that.

FMLY: Is there anything outside the realm of expectation you may have drawn inspiration from for this album?

Yoni: I’m not sure where the inspiration comes from. It just collects in you… so I can’t say for sure.

FMLY: How about any new artists that have impressed you?

Yoni: Heh, I don’t listen to music, man. When I’m working especially. When I’m working I really don’t listen to anything else. I’m listening to my mixes and that’s not really where my heads at.

FMLY: Random, but any hope in the future for a Why? and Baths collaboration?

Yoni: Perhaps! I really like Will a lot, I’ve only met him once. But he’s a really nice guy so we’ll see.