We all live in Maastricht, a cute small pretty city in the South of the Netherlands. The Indie-scene is tiny, and there are basically two bars and two squats that are not shit, so we got to know each other in the limited nightlife options the city had to offer. When our first cassette tape dropped, we got more and more shows, and together we started to shape our live show.

As music collectors and fanatics, we’re always searching for new sounds and styles. After the big seventies afrobeat revival, we discovered Thai funk from the seventies that inspired us. Apart from incorporating some vibes from Thailand, there is also a big portion of psychedelic, funk, indie, disco, and afrobeat present.

For us, a state of trance in music is induced by melodies & rhythm. The essence lies within the repetition of these aspects. We repeatedly play the same loop and riff over it like a mantra. This is what we think induces this state of mind; however, these repetitions are played more and more intensely every time. During the climax of a live show, this mystical trance, as you phrased so beautifully, turns into a hallucination of a dragon mixing your favorite cocktail.

Dancing is very ancient; it’s just very absurd that acoustic waves propagate through the air, hit your eardrums, and then you start to move on its tempo. Dancing is a result of the incredible impact music can have. It’s a form of expression that requires a certain vulnerability. When we get this energy from the audience, it’s just an extra boost for us, and we also start to express ourselves more. This, in turn, creates a positive feedback loop. On the other hand, dancing is not a requirement or a must to enjoy our show and music.

Corona had a big impact on us because our daily life and possibilities quickly changed. Also, things were changing in the band, musically and personally. So the theme of an age introducing itself or ending felt suitable to implement in the album. 

Hearing is very three-dimensional. It’s really cool because music is a result of evolution; we work together and synthesize sound with instruments and effects. So theoretically, we are tricking our brains and pulling our minds into a completely alternate universe. It is magical because you can’t see it, but you can imagine and feel it. These images and feelings are also completely personal. 

Five emotional people in one room is quite an interesting mix, so band rehearsals are not our strongest asset. But it is important to know your songs, so we definitely rehearse and practice by ourselves or make demos together. We appreciate fans that take the time and effort to come to the show, so we like giving them a blast! For our next tour, we want to give our audience a new and improved experience. After playing these sets on our previous tour, we understood each venue’s weak spots. We want to create some new ideas to incorporate into our performance.

We have quite some ambitions for the future. Currently, we’re building a sound studio in our attic, where we will record our next album. A new album means a new live show. Also, we dream of touring Asia and the USA.

Being on the road a lot, we listen to a lot of music while driving. But it’s hard to find music that speaks to all four of us. So thank the lord for noise canceling headphones. The only thing that works every time is ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Kate Bush. When it’s late at night, and we have had some drinks, the inevitable result is all of us screaming along with Kate.

Spending a rainy day in a record store and trying out new stuff is something we all like to do. A great way of discovering new artists is via Instagram. You can see what they are listening to by following artists you like—it’s easier than ever to share playlists and releases.

This mixtape is a collection of songs we have been playing on the tour bus for the last couple of weeks and features many lovely artists we met at festivals and shared the stage with this year. So big up for everybody in this playlist, and kisses from YĪN YĪN!