Hiya folks thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide to start the band / become a soloist?
First hearing Beatles records when I was about 9 or 10 years old. Everything about them: their songs, lyrics, clothes, haircuts and their smiles. They always just looked like they were having so much fun making music.
Introduce us you / all to the members and your musical history?
Dean Molyneux – Lead Singer / Guitar. Starting playing guitar at about 12 and knocking about in bands, recently moved to Manchester and formed Yakumama.
George Stead – Drummer / Backing Vocals – Started playing the drums at the age of 14 and has been in and out of bands ever since. Met Deano in 2017 and we have been writing and playing together in a few bands that have resulted in Yakumama.
Whats one question you’re sick of being asked when interviewed?
What is the bands musical history.
Do you sign up to any conspiracy theories?
There’s no way that Tiger Woods is human. He has to be at least 15% superman – the guy is an absolute joke.
Did you buy anything you don’t need in the pandemic?
I’m a drummer, and I bought a guitar. Which is still just gathering dust in my bedroom. I played it every day for about 2 months and learnt a couple of nirvana riffs and an oasis song then sacked it off. Stick to the drums mate.
What useless party trick do you have?
I can po-go stick non-handed.
What was the most fun you have had on stage?
In a previous band the two of us played in, we were booked to play Bingley Music Live and open the main stage – our set got moved due to bad weather and we ended up playing the second stage but at about 6PM after Circa Waves had just finished – it was the biggest crowd we’ve ever played to and we were loving it. Autographs and pictures after and shit. Hilarious.
What was the worst experience on stage?
There’s been a few. We used to play in a working men’s club in Burnley for extra cash and one night I reckon there was more people with their backs to us than there was watching. Broken glass all over the floor, football on in the background – never again.
Tell us something about you / each member that you think people would be surprised about?
Deano’s a serious little artist and painter – he painted the artwork for our debut single ‘Let Me Out Alive’.
George spends half of his life on a golf course. He used to be half decent but since he joined a band, he’s lost his touch on the greens.
If you had to describe your band/music to an alien how would you describe it?
I wouldn’t bother really man. We have a hard enough time trying to describe our music to human beings, never mind attempting to get aliens on board. I reckon I’d just tell them to play the tune from their spaceship – I reckon it would sound class in fairness.
What makes you stand out as a band/artist?
We’re a two-piece playing music that we love who aren’t really trying to ‘stand-out’, hopefully that makes us stand out in the current climate. The music scene in Manchester is full of people trying to stand-out which is great if that’s what they’re into, but it’s just never been our style. Who knows though, it’s still very early days in the Yakumama camp – we could be all wearing makeup and catsuits by this time next year if that’s what it takes to get our name on festival posters.
Right now, what’s pissing you off the most?
Bradford City AFC. Most frustrating football team in the universe to support.
Whats your favourite song to play live and why?
As I write this, we’re yet to play our first gig – which is mad but as I say it’s still early days. But from playing it in the room, Deano wrote a tune recently called ‘All Day’ which is a little beauty. We’re loving playing that at the moment – feels like exactly what we want the band to sound like and we can’t wait to hear people think of it live.
I hear you have a new single/album/ep, what can you tell us about it?
‘Let Me Out Alive’ came amount a couple of weeks ago and we love it. It was one of the first tunes we wrote together as Yakumama. It got played on Radio X the weekend it was released and from what we’ve heard – people are really into it.
Talk me through the thought process of the single?
Let Me Out Alive is all about working for a living and looking for a way out of the mundanity of it all. It’s about getting from one place to the next and looking forward to tomorrow, having hope in the future and not letting what’s happening today get you down too much.
What was the recording process like?
We recorded it at The Nave in Leeds just before Christmas. Beautiful studio – really cool little place. We recorded it alongside two other tunes which will be coming out over the next few months.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the single?
Your pockets are far more important than you may think.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
No, never – that’s the way it was meant to be otherwise we wouldn’t record it like that. You can’t think like that about music you’ve recorded otherwise you’d never get anything done.
What are your plans for the year ahead?
Play our first bunch of shows, write a ton more music – release the next two singles and film some cool acoustic covers and sessions in mad locations. Look out for those on our social channels soon. Oh, and spend more time Mr Peter Jakeson.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
I think we just wish that the world would share ‘Let Me Out Alive’ a little more. If we’re going to make this daft little dream a reality, we’re going to need peoples help and playing our debut single to the new girl at work and the geezer down the pub would be a great start. Thanks, in advance and lots of love, Yakumama xxx