Ep473: Damon Che and Kristian Dunn of Yesness

Ep473: Damon Che and Kristian Dunn of Yesness

Author: The Vinyl Guide November 11, 2024 Duration: 47:57

Yesness is a 2-piece featuring Damon Che (Don Caballero) and Tristan Dunn (El Ten Eleven). We discuss their formation, writing and recording their debut album "See You at the Solipsist Convention", math-rock, post-rock, other dirty words and lots more.

Topics Include:

  • Formation of Yesness
  • Kristian and Damon struggle to find musicians to collaborate with
  • The "California No"
  • Making an album from different parts of the country
  • Meeting for the first time in the recording studio
  • Over recording and having a lot of material to work with
  • Working with instrumentals vs music with vocals
  • Album title origin story
  • Songs start as riffs, song titles come much later
  • Strange song titles
  • Using extra songs for b-sides
  • Origin of the band name "Yesness"
  • The band almost became "Keister Island"
  • What does Damon think of the title "Math Rock"?
  • Genres become limiting
  • Not listening to Post-rock or Math-rock
  • What's on heavy rotation and playlists?
  • The Spotify algorithm still struggles to satisfy
  • El Ten Eleven's "New Years Eve" coming after 3-LP set "Tautology"
  • "New Years Eve" and "Valley of Fire" were conceived together
  • The "Yesness" debut always needed to be a full length LP
  • Can the Yesness LP be played live?
  • Yesness challenges playing live – equipment stuffups
  • Will they tour overseas?
  • Selecting the album cover
  • Damon recently upgraded his vinyl system
  • Looking for records
  • Status of the Don Caballero  master tapes and reissues
  • Damon's YouTube video channel
  • Grab all the pressings of your favourite albums
  • "Everything in between the speakers and stylus is snake oil"
  • Interview wrap up

Vinyl copies of Yesness "See You at the Solipsist Convention" can be ordered here.

Photo by Berto Campus

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

 


There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when two people who are deeply passionate about music get together, surrounded by shelves of records. The Vinyl Guide-Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds captures that feeling perfectly. Hosted by Nate, a dedicated collector and enthusiast, this podcast feels less like a formal interview and more like you're overhearing a great chat in the back of a record store. The discussions naturally weave through artists' creative processes, the stories behind iconic albums, and the tangible magic of the format itself. You'll hear from musicians, producers, and other insiders who live and breathe vinyl, offering perspectives that go far beyond the liner notes. But it's not just about the artists; it's for the collectors, too. Episodes often delve into the practical, nerdy details that make this hobby so compelling-like distinguishing between a common pressing and a rare, valuable find, or learning how to properly care for your collection so it lasts for decades. It’s that blend of artistic insight and collector-focused knowledge that gives this podcast its unique character. Whether you're a seasoned cratedigger or just appreciate the warmth of an analog recording, these conversations offer a rich, human connection to the music you love, all centered around the grooves of a vinyl record.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds
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