EMQ’s with YANOMAMO
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Sydney, Australia based Sludge-Ridden Doom Metal band, Ya̧nomamö. Huge thanks to guitarist Jason Higson for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
I’m Jason & I play guitar in Ya̧nomamö. The band began in 2011 as a side-project as we were all playing in other bands (Lomera, Mother Mars, Rituals of the Oak, Birdmouth). Almost 10 years and a couple of line-up changes later, and we are still going! We call our music SLUDGERIDDENDOOM and try to deliver the biggest riffs we can conjure, whilst maintaining swing & groove.
How did you come up with your band name?
We took it from the movie Cannibal Holocaust, though it is actually the name of a small group of indigenous people who live in villages in the Amazon rainforest on the border between Venezuela and Brazil.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
We are from Sydney, Australia. The scene here is pretty busy with lots of great underground metal bands of all genres working hard to produce great music.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
We’ll be releasing our new EP, “No Sympathy for a Rat” in August 2020. It’s our first release in 3 years & we are really keen to get it out!
Who have been your greatest influences?
For the music we create in Ya̧nomamö, I’d have to say Black Sabbath, Bongzilla, Church of Misery … I’d also include early KISS, in particular Ace Frehley, & Thin Lizzy from an overall perspective.
What first got you into music?
My father & my uncles introduced me to 70’s hard rock e.g. Thin Lizzy, KISS, AC/DC etc from a very young age. Music has been my passion ever since.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Bongzilla or Church of Misery.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Probably Roadburn … the line-ups are amazing year after year
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Nothing springs to mind…
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
We appreciate the support we get from our fans more than anything. Without the fans, we dont exist.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Honestly, nobody…
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Playing live shows is the greatest thing for me. I also love the creative process, but it can also be very stressful at times. It’s a double-edged sword, especially from a mental health perspective.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Like almost everything else, it would be the politics…
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Thin Lizzy – “Johnny The Fox”
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Vinyl! Music isn’t something you just download from the internet. I love the artwork & packaging which contributes to the overall musical package.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
It’s hard to narrow it down… but a couple stick out… Coven Festival at Crowbar in Sydney 2017 was really great. Also Playing The Tote in Melbourne at capacity with Conan was probably the highlight.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
My day job in project management! Hahahaha… being a musician isn’t a full-time thing for any of us. We all have families & jobs etc. but we do this because we love it.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Kobe Bryant, Gregg Popovich, Tony Iommi, Ace Frehley, Barack Obama
What’s next for the band?
Releasing the “No Sympathy for a Rat” EP in August & playing lots of shows to support it!
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
www.yanomamo.bandcamp.com/
www.facebook.com/yanomamoband/
www.instagram.com/yanomamo_sludge_ridden_doom/
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
I don’t care either way… they are choc/orange deliciousness!!!
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you for your time & for being a part of the metal underground. We really appreciate it!
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