Interview with AstroYeti

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?  

Well, I got into music like most people I guess, as a teenager with a lot of angst. My first band was a high school punk band and I was the bass player and singer. If I wasn't in music now, I would just be doing the other things that I love! Art, video, graphic design, anything creative that catches my eye really. 

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Music is just one facet of creativity, and I try to explore them all equally. I would like to involve music in other creative projects. That's how AstroYeti came about, a puppet show with a serious music side. Or a band with a puppet problem I'm not sure which!

How long has your band been together?  

We've been playing together for years, but we formed this band about a year ago and wrote the music for Gnarly Gumlie's Voodoo Van together before heading to the studio. Some bands play live for years before ever turning out their first album. We wanted to hit the ground running with a release at the start of our career. 

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

We're based in Key West florida, a zanie place with a colored history that lends itself to all sorts of misfits and rejects. This place definitely has a large influence on our music and on the visual side of our production! One of Key West's many slogans is' where the weird go pro.' I think that's what we're trying to do here haha.

Tell me about your most memorable shows. 

Well, like I said we're a pretty fresh band, so our most memorable show to date is our last release of our single long road at the Green Parrot. It just felt great to be on our home turf, and get the whole town behind us to see what we're capable of as a trio. 

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

My two favorite places to play in the world are the Green Parrot in Key West, and Cross Club in Prague. There are lots of venues that I would love to play including Red Rocks and the Caverns in Tennessee, but if I never get to play those venues it's okay. I've had so many great experiences over the years playing an amazing places with the best people!

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Wow, tough question. I guess with this band I would like to open up for our buddies Dopapod once or twice, with Tame Impala and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard on the bill also :) 

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band?

Bands are a group that needs leadership like anything. The best bands that I know always have someone organizing them from within. So figure out who that person is going to be for your band and tried to divvy up some responsibilities to the rest. Bands that are complete democracies always implode in my experience!

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Take it easy on your parents, they're doing the best they can :-)

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

 I think long road hits home for all of us because it's a road trip song about a touring band. We've all toured and been in the smelly van with too many guys for too long, sleeping in uncomfortable places, waking up with a headache every day. This band is formed by three veteran musicians who know what they want and don't want out of the experience. Hopefully the smelly van days are over but probably not!

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

We like playing reggae live, as well as upbeat Funk music. So we tried to fuse that all together into one package. People often request high grade love because it's an easy good time reggae song to dance to and sing along with.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

We usually get together and work out some musical licks first, the words come after. But occasionally the words are written first as is the case of Blazed. One of us will come with the initial idea for a song, and then the other ones work out the music with them.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

On this first album, each song is its own beast with its own message. They were a bit all over the place in the end, but we think diversity makes it interesting. 

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

No disagreement so far, we are all just loving this experience!

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

We're already hard at work on a second album, and we want to be touring in the summer of 2023. We have a few releases coming up including The Green Parrot on Sept. 29th where we will be releasing You Do Voodoo Too, our next single.