Suggested tracks are marked in red.
| Song Title | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Burn Out | 3:31 | |
| Sin Ti (Spanish Version) | 3:29 |
Suggested tracks are marked in red.
| Song Title | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| It's Hell | 2:57 | |
| Whatever Works | 3:12 | |
| Foolish Love | 3:27 | |
| You'll Be the Death of Me | 3:05 | |
| We're No One | 3:02 |
Suggested tracks are marked in red.
| Song Title | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| As Strangers Would | 3:01 | |
| Smoke and Mirrors | 3:54 | |
| What Is It Like | 3:48 |
Shoegaze. Indie. Dreampop. All are apt descriptions of Youth Sounds, but how can one really classify gossamer vocals weaving modest melodies through moody synths, twinkling pianos, an acoustic guitar, and a distinct, danceable drumbeat? As far as the band is concerned, they’re not interested in a genre. They have set out to capture a nostalgic mood.
Youth Sounds officially began in the gulf’s cultural stronghold, New Orleans, in late 2009. Unofficially, the band began long before that. Siblings Erika and Federico Mejia sang in church choirs and taught themselves when their parents could no longer afford lessons.
“There are important memories that we all have, that for some reason or another are tied to whatever music spoke to us the most at that particular time,” says Federico Mejia. “It’s always the music of our youth, past loves, past successes and past failures and that’s what the name and our music encompasses.”
Youth Sounds is made up of the Mejia siblings, (Federico- bass, Erika- vocals, and Nicolas- drums), Federico's wife (Taryn Mejia- keyboard) and a close friend (Adrian Frye- guitar). The group decided to blend their diverse, yet complimentary influences (The Beatles, Radiohead, Broken Social Scene, The Bird and The Bee, Frou Frou) while recording their debut EP, The Bit Parts and their sound has taken off from there.
With the August 2010 release of The Bit Parts and the February 2011 release of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Youth Sounds is still a band in its infancy yet the indie press community welcomed them with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Listed as an iHeartRadio Artist to Watch and one of the Top 100 Unsigned Bands by Music Connection Magazine, Youth Sounds is surely making a good impression on the indie music scene. Hailing their EPs as unassuming yet impressive, BPM Magazine, Obscure Sound, and many others top bloggers are eagerly awaiting a full-length debut.
Become part of what everyone is talking about at: www.YouthSoundsMusic.com
The brother and sister duo straight from New Orleans is not another indie band. With a sound of a little bit of Broken Social Scene mixed with The Bird and the Bee, Youth Sounds will blow you away with their soft vocals and sick house backbeats. Their EP titled “The Bit Parts” will make you listen to this act over and over with tracks like “Smoke and Mirrors” and “What Is It Like”. Their track “As Strangers Would” has the perfect combination of easy listen and indie melodies that will make you coming back for more.
CLICK HERE for more information on Youth Sounds and to listen to their tracks.
Youth Sounds are a boy/girl duo based over in New Orleans that struck me for their authenticity. Their 3-song EP The Bit Parts doesn’t sound like the product of a lengthy production process, but rather a snapshot of the group’s performance with some glitz, glam, reverb and delay. All 3 tracks on the EP have a distinct and danceable drum beat, complete with a noticeably deep snare drum and a never ending pulse. Atop that is this eerie female vocal singing some really reserved but awesome hooks. The entire effect is something that sounds a bit sluggish, but contented. Sleepy but never bored. It makes for a good summer-time jam as I see it, check ‘em out:http://myspace.com/youthsoundsmusic
Youth Sounds – "Smoke and Mirrors" (2010)2010/04/17
Audio Stream: http://music.lafamos.com/youthsounds
http://music.lafamos.com/system/main_photos/8/small/artist_8.jpg?1269890851I've been doing this whole "song of the day" thing for over a year now, and so occasionally I am approached via email by someone trying to get exposure for their band, small label, or whatever. I'm totally cool with it as long as they understand I only post songs that I like. I make no promises! Up until now, I have been unimpressed with the material I have been sent. Some of the music was either half baked, it just didn't move me, or they sent me so much I was overwhelmed and still haven't figured out if any of it is worth my time.
The first time I listened to "The Bit Parts" EP by "Youth Sounds" I thought it had promise. A few more listens and I'd even say this band from New Orleans is not only worth a listen, but they are worth some exposure! In "Smoke and Mirrors", the song that impressed me the most from the EP, they are reminiscent of the vocals of Sarah McLachlan (think of the album "Surfacing", "I Love You" in particular) mixed with a more Indie Rock instrumentation for a vaguely downtempo like feel. New and yet familiar. Refreshing. Definitely worth a listen, and I am interested to hear more than the three songs they've only *just* released.
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Click here for more info on Youth Sounds – The Bit Parts – "Smoke and Mirrors".
I'm not sure where you can buy the EP yet. I'd say send a comment to the band here…
Hailing from New Orleans and fronted by brother and sister Erika Mejia and Federico Mejia, Youth Sounds have drawn from influences like Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene and crafted a sound that’s reminiscent of the ambiance and atmosphere of Interpol and The National.
With Erika taking lead vocals and Federico taking the lead on the Piano, other bands members Adrian Frye and Taryn Mejia contribute to the sound that’s at times haunting and at times 80s new-romanticism, equal parts big hair and colourful clothing. This is definitely promising, I mean it has to be to show up here, right?
Their debut EP “The Bit Parts” consists of three songs; “As Strangers Would”, “Smoke And Mirrors”, and “What Is It Like”. The first and last can be heard on their MySpace page, but below you can hear “Smoke And Mirrors” as well as “What Is It Like”.
Keep up to date with Youth Sounds – MySpace | Twitter | YouTube
Youth Sounds – “What Is It Like”
Youth Sounds – “Smoke And Mirrors“
Youth Sounds is a delightful group out of New Orleans that has seeped onto my radar. They’re making tunes that are pop-inspired and dreamy, but are infused with some heartbreaking lyrics. It’s all about balance though, and for these guys it works. Their EP, The Bit Parts is a short 3 track introduction to what they’re all about, and I, for one, am excited to hear more.
Youth Sounds – The Bit Parts EP
There’s some good sounds coming from LaFamos, a PR and marketing company based in Hollywood and I must thank the lovely Felicia for sending me the new EP by Youth Sounds. Felicia reckons they sound a bit like The National – I must disagree…..they’re better, more accessible – easier on the ears with Erika’s Mejia’s soft and whispery voice gliding over Federico’s piano leads and house backbeats they sound feels familiar and inviting.
The peaceful ambience that is Youth Sounds comes from a brother and sister duo that I believe understand music, understand who they are and what they have to offer. Hailing from the streets of New Orleans, Erika and Federico are self-taught musicians that gained experience in church choirs and developed their crafts by remaining artistically stylish.
I’m looking forward to hearing more from these guys
Filed under Now This Is Music.
Tagged with Youth Sounds.
Written by Laughing Dog – 6 October, 2010
Source: http://musicforthemonth.com/2010/10/06/youth-sounds-the-bit-parts-ep/
Oh, the sonic joys of youth! When laughter was crisper and songs weren’t transient, but left deep lasting impressions on our souls. Doesn’t it feel as if some of the best memories in you life were enhanced by a subtle song playing in the background? Or perhaps, the music was the main attraction–driving around in the the car with your high schools friends and singing your favorite chorus to the cars beside you. Those were the days. For my latest interview, I got to speak with Frederico (see pic below) from the band Youth Sounds. By the end of the interview, I was reminiscing, hopefully you’ll recall fond memories as well. Enjoy!
What inspired the name Youth Sounds?
I was thinking about band names and what would go well with our sound and Youth Sounds just seemed to fit with what we were doing. Our music is really driven by a sense of nostalgia. I feel that as we get older our memories are intermingled with a handful of pop songs and albums that really meant something significant to us during the time the memory was being created. I want Youth Sounds to have that affect on people. So, hopefully in a couple of years when people think back on what they were listening to, maybe one of our songs will be tied to one of their memories.
Is it harder or easier to be in a band with your sibling?
I would have to say that it’s a lot easier being in a band with my sibling. We’ve been working together for so long that we’ve reached an understanding with one another. We respect each other’s form of artistic expression and trust each other’s ideas and opinions completely. I trust that any decision she makes will be made for the betterment of the band and that the end result would be a positive one and not at all detrimental. I believe that she shares this point of view as well, and the confidence we have in one another really affects all our musical endeavors.
As brother and sister, what is the worst argument you’ve gotten into?
I can’t really recall any intense arguments we’ve had in recent years. We’re actually really close so we don’t get into it when we disagree about something, but believe me, as kids we had some genuinely ridiculous arguments to say the least. There’s one minor spat that comes to mind that ends with Erika’s foot in a wall, lol. I will spare the long details on how she got her foot in the wall but let’s just say that the result of that argument was the both of us getting into some major trouble, hahaha.
Who are your influences and do they differ between the two of you?
They definitely vary between the both of us. We’re a very musical family and we’ve been surrounded by music all our lives, so our appreciation for different genres started very early. Our grandparents and parents have been a huge influence, introducing us to so many artists with varying styles and sounds. So we’re very open in our selection of music and I believe that has really helped us find our bands sound. Erika is really into soulful artist with unique voices and will freely admit that she’s a sucker for some good ol’ R&B. My music selection changes daily whether I’m listening to all of David Bowie’s albums or Broken Social Scene, Ryan Adams, or Billy Holliday. It all depends on what I’m in the mood for.
You’ve just finished recording your new EP The Bit Parts what song are you most excited to show other people?
Honestly, we’re very excited about all the songs on this EP. We’re ready to get them out there and into people’s hands so that they can hopefully enjoy the music we’re making. This EP has been a long time coming and we want to share it with whomever is willing to listen. And if not, we’re just gonna have to hit the streets with our instruments and harass passersby with our obnoxious singing, hahaha.
Was it always a party growing up in the capital of Mardi Gras?
Yeah it’s definitely always a party down here in the big easy. No joke, this is the city that will turn anything into a party no matter what it is. It could be something arbitrary, like ending your shift at work, or important, like your kid graduating from kindergarten. You’ll have all these kids together on a space walk and all the adults getting plastered, partying it up. For all the locals, Mardi Gras has become something you learn to survive. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a really beautiful and a unique experience but it is in no way convenient for the locals. Basically, the whole city shuts down, so you can imagine how difficult it can be getting from one point to the other. But growing up in a city with so much culture and life is absolutely a plus, no doubt about it.
One of the tracks on The Bit Parts is called “As Strangers Would,” which leads me to the question have you ever taken candy from a stranger?
No, I can’t say that I’ve ever taken candy from a stranger. I wonder if anyone does that any more?
From what I understand, the members of Youth Sounds have been in the music game for a long time. This is just their latest project. So go on, become a friend on MySpace why don’t ya.
FEATURED :: “As Strangers Would” - Youth Sounds
Got an email a few weeks ago from Felicia of LaFamos, a PR and branding firm for independent artists and bands. She sent over this awesome New Orleans residing pop-rock group that go by the name ”Youth Sounds.” They just released a three track EP called “The Bit Parts,” which you can pick up over at iTunes. This four-piece band fuses all of their talents together, to create one traditional catchy rock band. A band you can jam out to in your room. Incorporating dreamy soundscapes, airy nostalgic vocals with hints of moody synths and propelling backbeats, Youth Sounds has truly acquired a unique taste for rock.
“What Is It Like” – Youth Sounds
I’m a big fan of indie-pop music these days and I was glad when I discovered Youth Sounds (again through Shaunelle at LaFamos). Originally formed by brother and sister Federico & Erika Mejia, the two truly created a nostalgic vibe to their music. Also with the addition of Taryn Mejia and Adrian Frye, the foursome lives up to their name. Their recent release of The Bit Parts EP is further proof of this. With cheerful melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, Youth Sounds have created something special. My personal favorite off the EP is “What Is It Like”.
“What if what we had is real, and we hesitate to turn the page?
What is it like to love one another?
One day we might be good for each other.”
Not only is the music youthful, but the lyrics emit a childlike sense of hope and innocence. I believe this is where the nostalgia in their music stems from. Don’t be fooled that Youth Sounds are at all juvenile; they have perfected their craft to produce something worth listening to. You can stream the rest of their EP here: http://music.lafamos.com/youthsounds!
http://thehiddenmixedtape.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/what-is-it-like-youth-sounds/
Sometimes I get albums from bands that are very new. Enter New Orleans band Youth Sounds. The band itself seems to be only a few months old but the personnel seems to have known each other for quite some times. For their entire lives, if you could imagine. Three of the four members are related, two being a brother-sister team. The band itself promotes their brother-sister image heavily in what would only seem to benefit their short time of being a band together. New band demos are definitely my favorite thing to review and listen to, so let's get down to it.
This band is so new that the few shows they have played (I actually only found one flier for a show they played a few days ago) have been mostly local shows and on top of that mostly not reviewed (even through tweets) and definitely not documented via video (or even camera phone). For that, I am sorry that I can't personally go to one of their shows or band practices and film something so you can listen to these guys via something I can embed into this article. As a consolation, check out 66% of their album on their MySpace page.
Impressive. Maybe it was right for them to lean heavily on their family relationship since there is some real chemistry that pokes out through these songs. Compared to what is out there right now, this isn't too far off from something that can get really good and really big if they so wanted to. Simple structure done right. No one is outshining another in this EP. It's as if they have had these songs sitting in journals and diaries for years and decided to finally push these songs out onto an album. Good for them if that was the case.
I usually don't have objections to EP releases, and mostly prefer them, but I do have one problem with the second track off the album. "Smoke and Mirrors" seems to have a very similar vocal melody to that of their first track, "As Strangers Would". Because of this, I am slightly annoyed. This band seems to be equipped with every intangible you could have: instant chemistry, balanced song writing, a professional demeanor, a style of music that doesn't jar with personal tastes... to fall asleep on tracklisting and/or production is something that just shouldn't happen. For those who won't buy this EP, the two tracks that are available are the only tracks you really need. "Smoke and Mirrors" would most likely impress in a full length release, but wrapped up in the middle of these two other songs it seems to be the most forgettable of the three.
There isn't much to say for a band that has very little to show for now. In context of the rest of the scene, a band like this exists... but did that same band exist after only a few months of being together? This band has everything it needs to succeed. It just needs to do so now. I will be anxiously awaiting the next release from these guys, along with some live show bootlegs. If they work it right, I'm sure these guys can jump on a national tour (or at least a tour that goes further than the NOLA region). I'll be waiting.
http://402productions.com/reviews/2010/06/nw-reviews-youth-sounds-the-bit-parts-ep/
“As Strangers Would” by Youth Sounds.
At Keep The Record On Play we like discovering new music and sharing it with you. A couple days ago I discovered this pretty rad indie pop group in our email. They’re called Youth Sounds and I’m pretty much loving their stuff. Check out their Myspace and grab their EP ‘The Bit Parts’ on iTunes.
Source: http://keeptherecordonplay.tumblr.com/post/1552801330/as-strangers-would-by-youth-sounds-at-keep
Born out of New Orleans, LA in late 2009, Youth Sounds carries with it a dreamy kind of indie shoegaze sound. The quartet manages to weave melodic vocals through a landscape of moody synths, danceable beats, and solid riffs.
“As Strangers Would”, the first single of their The Bit Parts EP, is a solid indie hit that doesn’t break new ground or blow your socks off, but it’s good! It’s a wonderful balance of both dreamy rock and catchy pop.
Genre: Alternative/Indie/Rock
Country: EUA
Tracklist
01. As Strangers Would
02. Smoke and Mirrors
03. What Is It Like
BY RAY MILIAN ON 6/30/2010 LABELS: INDIE POP, NEW ARTISTS
DJ Oliver Wickentower recommends you get to know Youth Sounds. They’re the least oily thing out of the Gulf Coast right now? Download tracks and get info from the blog link.
Youth Sounds - As Strangers Would
These musicians have absorbed the soul of New Orleans. Cajun, blues, jazz this is not. But this is loaded with talent, promise and heart. Good up-front drumming setting the tone and whetting the appetite for what will come next: be it an electric guitar frolic or some tasty electronic blips and beeps. The female vox is somewhat gauzy and understated in a good way, never overwhelming the mood and allowing room for the aforementioned instrumentation.
Please “Youth Sounds,” release a full LP and send me it when ready for my reviewing pleasure!
Youth Sounds – As Strangers Would
Youth Sounds – What Is It Like
Official Bio:
“Beneath the veil of treachery, I count the lost of loyalty.”
The peaceful ambience that is Youth Sounds comes from an innovative brother and sister duo that understands who they are and what they have to offer. Hailing from the streets of New Orleans, Erika and Federico Mejia are self-taught musicians that gained experience in church choirs and developed their crafts by remaining artistically stylish.The combination of Erika’s soft and whispery voice gliding over Federico’s piano leads and house backbeats on their debut EP “The Bit Parts” expresses the aptitude this duo possesses. Youth Sounds feels familiar and inviting in their effort to bring fresh melodies during hard times.Youth Sounds’ elegant appeal and dreamlike moodiness branch from their appreciation for art and film. Encompassing these ideals in their music captures the essence of purity in their craft. Take part of Youth Sounds’ journey at:
~ by castleqwayr on July 7, 2010.
http://castleqwayr.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/youth-sounds-the-bit-parts-ep/
There is something dreamy but luscious about Youth Sounds’ lead vocals that belies their ability to crank out a solid rock line. The four piece from New Orleans have a very subtle way of working their way into your head. It took me a few times passing through their new EP The Bit Parts before I realized I was unconsciously humming the chorus from “Smoke & Mirrors” during my bike ride to work. They have a far amount of room to grow but given the chance and the support I have now doubt their sound could one day be epic. For now it’s easily consumable and very nicely presented.
Youth Sounds
“As Strangers Would”
Hailing from the streets of New Orleans, Erika and Federico Mejia are self-taught musicians that gained experience in church choirs and developed their crafts by remaining artistically stylish.
I was recently sent Youth Sounds’ EP The Bit Parts by LaFamos, a PR and branding firm for independent artists. There’s a bit of a School of Seven Bells vibe I’m getting here.
Posted by Josh Taylor on 7/13/10 • Categorized as Features
by Josh Taylor
The gulf has been plagued by some tragedies in the recent past. First Katrina and now the biggest oil spill inhistory. Yikes. Now that I think about it, I haven’t heard of very many bands coming out of the area either. I don’t blame them; it must be tough to make music when you have other things on your mind.
Then again, there are bands like Youth Sounds, born from a devastated New Orleans and a gulf that is becoming increasingly oily. Youth Sounds are a mosaic of several now-defunct bands. The band is also a family affair, fronted by siblings (brother and sister), so you’ll find opposing influences fused together in a wordless compromise that only siblings understand.
Usually it takes band’s years to develop their style and decide on a direction, but with Youth Sounds, everything appears to be inherent. It’s almost as if, right after Katrina, the band began cooking up song ideas and making artistic decisions so that the first chance they got, they could lay everything out. Well, as of now, the band has completed three tracks.
Those tracks – “As Strangers Would,” “Smoke and Mirrors” and “What Is It Like” – went on to be The Bit Parts EP and display the band’s serene tranquility and downplayed driving house beats. The production is modestly polished — crisp but not too shiny. All three are striking for their cohesiveness and inventive songwriting. The band respects traditional song forms and includes instrumental dynamics at the appropriate point in their songs to make their choruses a bit grander and the bridges exciting.
“As Strangers Would,” the first track off the EP, begins with an ominous synth landing and then suddenly plunges into the driving beat the will propel the whole track forward, despite the whisper-y vocals that characterize the band’s DIY sound. The chorus is brief, and come to think of it, so are the verses, but they adequately explain the meaning of the song: two people drifting apart to the point of becoming strangers. The first time I heard Youth Sounds’ “As Strangers Would,” I thought of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Maps”; beautiful, yet a tad bittersweet.
The next and most laid back song on the EP is “Smoke and Mirrors”, with a soothing acoustic guitar intro that carries throughout the pensive and regret-filled track. Mid-song, the heavy drum beats come back into the mix and keep the song from getting too sleepy. The melodies are drawn out and mellow in the best sense of the word. Erika’s Mejia injects her vocals with a detached demeanor, complimenting the song’s reflective tone with extraordinary prowess.
The last song is “What Is It Like”, and even though the subtle melodies remain, the music is incredibly buoyant. The background melodies push the drums into the background more than the other two songs, where the beats dominate in the foreground. The lyrics are sad, but the mood of the song isn’t, lending an interesting irony to the consummate final product.
All three songs on the EP are equally attention-worthy. Of course with only three songs, there isn’t much room for filler either. The band is able to define and vary their sound a bit in those three easy-to-digest songs, all of which are lyrically engaging and striking with a theme of yearning extending throughout. When it comes to choosing an exact genre, some like indie, twee, shoegaze, downtempo, ambient are worthy candidates. But Youth Sounds will no doubt appeal to fans of other genres as well for their stylish thoughtfulness.
I hope that Youth Sounds goes on to build more momentum and is able to take their ideas and record them with success. I have a feeling that this band has more up their sleeve and are just waiting for the opportunity to create. On the other hand, maybe the brother and sister are a couple of perfectionists and are carefully crafting something special. All I know is that after three songs, I’m hooked and I’d like more. So to Youth Sounds: Keep it coming, and tell the other band’s in the gulf to get it together. You guys are making them look bad. If you can create something so utterly wonderful in times like these, I’m sure they can too.
RIYL: Georgie James, The 1900s, Metric, Office, The Owls, The Eames Era, Headlights, Mates of State, The Broken West, Great Northern, Viva Voce, The Little Ones, The Essex Green, Imperial Teen, Dressy Bessy
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Youth Sounds – As Strangers Would
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Youth Sounds – Smoke and Mirrors
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Youth Sounds – What Is It Like
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Youth Sounds - As Strangers Would
From New Orleans, this group is made up of family members who are partly self-taught in music.Experience, they have been through in the church choir, but purely melodic, there is not many clear traces of it in this stylish indie rock.
Written by Mats and published July 14, 2010
Source: http://www.tram7.se/2010/07/14/youth-sounds-as-strangers-would/
The Bit Parts EPMon, Jul 19, 2010 | Edit this entry
Post filled in: Bands to Watch, Indie
So there is this band called Youth Sounds that I’ve been seeing popping up on a few blogs I frequent that I finally decided to pay attention to. They didn’t catch my attention at first, but after I saw them featured for the third time, I thought I’d give them a chance. I listened to one of their songs and I was instantly hooked by their stylish indie sound.
Youth Sounds creates enchanting atmospheric music with leisurely melodies that linger in your head. The sound is taken to a new level by the resounding drum beat that keeps the sound fresh and dynamic and keeps the breathy vocals from being too depressed. In fact, they’re not really depressed at all, even when the subject matter dives into deeper emotional exploration.
The root of the band is a brother and sister duo from New Orleans who gained their musical experience in church choirs. This was the last thing I expected to come out of New Orleans but I’m not surprised that the city’s cultural vibrancy contributed to the band’s artistry.
I’ve tried to buy their EP The Bit Parts but it isn’t available yet, so I retraced my steps and was able to listen to all of their EP by visiting various blogs, (it’s easier than it looks, since the EP is only three songs to begin with) but I still wanted more. When I heard they put up a new demo on MySpace, I was sure to head on over and listen to “Foolish Love.”
Upon first listen, I noticed that their signature driving beat was missing. Overall the song was a little empty musically, but then again, it is a demo, so I wouldn’t be surprised if more layers are added as the song progresses. Erika Mejia’s vocals aren’t as smooth or distinct as they usually are, but her delicate way of handling words is still beautifully intact. Nice to know, that it isn’t the vocal effects that are doing all the work.
I’m very curious to see what direction this song takes it. Part of me wants to see Youth Sounds show their musical diversity and create something different from their other songs, but another part of me wants to hear them bring back the house beats. I’m torn, but it’s interesting to hear the song in the middle of its creation when its identity is being forged. It’s like watching a little kid grow up and wondering what kind of adult he or she will grow up to be.
As of now, the band is unsigned, but I suspect they won’t be for very long. Give their music a listen on MySpace or visit them on Facebook and if I were you, I wouldn’t be afraid to tell them what you think about their new song.
http://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/12-7-2010/new-music-youth-sounds.html
Their Three Song EP The Bit Parts Reviewed by Sarah Morrison
Dreamy, lilting and with an occasional sharp edge, the debut EP from New Orleans’ Youth Sounds stands them in promising stead for things to come. A short but sweet endeavour at three tracks long, The Bit Parts EP is, in the varying parts that its title suggests, pop, electro and soft rock, and tugs the heartstrings whilst maintaining a very stylish and polished sound – especially for a first-time outing.
Youth Sounds are a brother-sister outfit made up of self taught musicians Erika and Federico Mejia, who honed their respective crafts in church choirs before moving on to their own project alongside Adrian Frye and Taryn Mejia, making the group very much a family affair. Erika’s delightfully soft and creamy vocals float above music that takes the EP from uplifting electro/rock, laced with synths, electric guitar and piano in ‘As Strangers Would’, to the tentative, emotive acoustic guitar-led ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ that leads into a strong, enveloping epic of a track before falling back to its timid origins, and finally to ‘What Is It Like’, a bona fide pop/rock anthem complete with twinkling chorus and piano lead, guitar fuelled backing.
What we have here is an accomplished and mature debut offering from a band that needs eyes fixed very firmly on them because they are surely bound for something great, and if they can get it this right on their first time out, just imagine what the debut album is going to bring to the table. I for one will be waiting expectantly.
Since the last post I’ve camped in Ocracoke, NC at the Outer Banks and for two consecutive weekends attended a USSF class to get my D License for coaching soccer, and this past weekend went down to Roanoke, VA for the tryout sessions for the Olympic Development Program. I’ll be coaching down there trying to develop and identify players for the state level OPD program with the 95 boys. Busy.
A while back I stumbled across this 3 song EP from a brother and sister duo out of New Orleans. Indie anthemic pop. I like it and its nice to see vibrant new music coming out of the resurrected city of New Orleans.
Youth Sounds – As Strangers Would
Youth Sounds – Smoke and Mirrors
Youth Sounds – What Is It Like
EP Review: The Bit Parts - Youth Sounds
Brother and sister duo Youth Sounds' The Bit Parts EP treads a line somewhere between the dazed show gazing vibes of School of Seven Bells and something much more 'pop'.
Which means it is something of an unashamed pleasure. And so there is nothing challenging about The Bit Parts and in all honesty, in some ways that is a shame. The duo are clearly at their best when forced down a path other than the straight up ditty that is opening track 'As Strangers Would'. 'Smoke and Mirrors' goes for a comparatively stripped back approach - it is the distortion of The Jesus and Mary Chain applied to the Pixies quiet-loud-quiet methodology. By far the best of the three tracks here, it really allows Erika Mejia's breathy, whispered vocals to shine.
So The Bit Parts demonstrates that the Youth Sounds have promise. The choice is theirs as to whether they turn into an interesting band or simply the coolest band your mum listens to.
Head over to Youth Sound's MySpace for more.
BP x
Youth Sounds is a family affair from New Orleans and their effortless chemistry is responsible for their polished indie sound. The songwriting is elegant and done right without a pretentious displays of talent. I suppose that is what is so charming about the band, really. Something about the band’s aura is tastefully restrained, with every note beautifully executed, in the right place at the right time, and nothing else.
Even their debut EP, The Bit Parts, displays just three essential songs, each one being just as strong as the other. No filler, no excess. It’s refreshing and underwhelming, quite the opposite of what many of us are used to, no doubt. Rather than attacking listeners with an in-your-face gimmicky display, the band opts for a gentle whisper, and rather than being easy to ignore, the songs are patiently seductive. I swear their spell is working because I’m sure I’m not the only waiting on the edge of my seat ready to take in whatever little ditty they cook up next.
post brought to you by: dyson
3 songs is plenty to introduce you to the group Youth Sounds. Based out of New Orleans, they’re a band fronted by the brother and sister duo Erika and Federico Mejia and have put together a short EP of incredibly solid songs.
A full and powerful sound is topped with smooth vocals that leave you somewhere wondering if they came from the 80’s or present. A passion for 80’s synths is definitely noticeable from Federico but they don’t overpower the EP. The songs remain acoustic sounding with banging drums reminiscent of The National’s ‘Boxer’ (drum sounds I rave about), but topped with a shimmering edge to the production.
Youth Sounds is ironically a very appropriate group name. The band is less than a year old and only have ‘The Bit Parts’ to provide us. They’re currently working on writing more songs leading up to a full length. So make sure to keep an eye out for more to come from these guys and gals. If they can keep the quality of the tracks up, I would expect that album to be a killer one.
Having a listen to the lead off track on ‘The Bit Parts’ EP titled “As Strangers Would”. I feel like this is their sound that they feel most comfortable with. And that’s definitely fine by me. I personally can’t wait to hear more out of them.
Youth Sounds – As Strangers Would
Source: http://dysonsound.com/2010/08/youth-sounds-the-bit-parts-ep/
Youth Sound come from New Orleans and are based on the brother-sister duo of Federico and Erika Mejia. So far they've released only a 3-tracks EP titled The Bit Parts, which came into our hands. I must say, this band reminds me of a new-age Blonde Redhead. Fresh sound, sweet pop/rock melodies and a beautiful voice by Erika make this one a instant hit. Will be waiting for more from this band. Keep it up!
Artist.SiteTagged under: EP , new artists , The Bit Parts , Youth Sounds
YOUTH SOUNDS – WHAT IS IT LIKE
The indie quartet of Federico Mejia, Erika Mejia, Adrian Frye, and Taryn Mejia from New Orleans is known as Youth Sounds. They only came together late last year and they are, well, a young band. Their name might be misleading though–their sound is mature and refined.
Their sound may best be described as shoegaze. I wouldn’t disagree with that characterization but it’s a little more than that. The heavy synths combine with the dreamy vocals and light piano to provide for an enchanting sound. The enchanting sound is being well received in the blogosphere and it’s got a chance to break through. Perhaps the best way to describe what I’m trying to say and have failed to get across so far is to say that Youth Sounds have delivered art that can succeed in an increasingly commercial world.
August saw the release of their first EP. It was widely praised and rightfully so. The Bit Parts EP is available on iTunes. You can check Youth Sounds out on Facebook and Myspace. If you’re on their Myspace, check out the stream of the demo, Foolish Love–I’m a really big fan of that song. I’m also a big fan of What Is It Like so I’ve included that here.
Youth Sounds, based out of New Orleans, have the talent to be America’s equivalent to The Joy Formidable. It’s hazy but it’s also filled with crunching riffs, that balances the line between sweet and naughty. “As Strangers Would” shows off the lovely vocal ability of lead singer Erika Mejia and sets on to a world of moody, heavy-hearted filled souls. The song builds up this emotional intensity that never raises Erika’s voice but the instrumentation arises to new huge energy levels, giving off this radiant light of hope. All 3 songs on their debut EP are fantastic and are a great blend of innocence and the drive to be larger than life. Can’t wait to hear more of them.
Be sure to check out their Bit Parts EP here http://music.lafamos.com/youthsounds
http://handclapmovement.com/post/2612846366/youth-sounds-based-out-of-new-orleans-have-the
Review: Youth Sounds – The Bit Parts EP
Youth Sounds are a new group from New Orleans, formed by siblings Erika and Federico Mejia. As with many new acts on their first EP, there’s a sense that they are still finding their feet before establishing their signature sound.
As a singer, Erika is quite unassuming, delivering a cracked whisper whilst the music around her is formed by meaty percussion and layers of guitars, which veer between indie rock and dreampop in tone. Nevertheless, it’s a combination which works well for ‘As Strangers Would’. ‘Smoke And Mirrors’ begins with sweet acoustic melody and the most hushed of vocals; taking nearly three minutes to explode in to harder riffs. Finally, ‘What Is It Like’ signs off in pleasant fashion, suitable for drivetime accompaniment.
‘The Bit Parts EP’ is rather undemanding but still produces highly palatable, fuzzy rock fare. It threatens to catch fire but cautiously holds back before it becomes anthemic. It’s tough to assess them after just ten minutes of music but you sense there’ll have to be more dynamic on their next release.
http://leonardslair.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/review-youth-sounds-the-bit-parts-ep/
Shoegaze. Indie. Dreampop. All are apt descriptions of Youth Sounds, but how can one really classify gossamer vocals weaving modest melodies through moody synths, twinkling pianos, an acoustic guitar, and a distinct, danceable drumbeat? As far as the band is concerned, they’re not interested in a genre. They have set out to capture a nostalgic mood.
Youth Sounds officially began in the gulf’s cultural stronghold, New Orleans, in late 2009. Unofficially, the band began long before that. Siblings Erika and Federico Mejia sang in church choirs and taught themselves when their parents could no longer afford lessons.
“There are important memories that we all have, that for some reason or another are tied to whatever music spoke to us the most at that particular time,” says Federico Mejia. “It’s always the music of our youth, past loves, past successes and past failures and that’s what the name and our music encompasses.”
The duo decided to blend their diverse, yet complimentary influences (The Beatles, Radiohead, Broken Social Scene, The Bird and The Bee, Frou Frou). Once they added Adrian Frye and Taryn Mejia to the band, they were ready to record their debut EP The Bit Parts.
With the August 2010 release of The Bit Parts, Youth Sounds is still a band in its infancy. Yet the indie press community welcomed them with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Hailing the release as unassuming yet impressive, BPM Magazine, Obscure Sound, and many others are eagerly awaiting a full-length debut.
http://artistoftoday.tumblr.com/post/3033020949/shoegaze-indie-dreampop-all-are-apt
Youth Sounds
The Bit Parts EP
Release Date: August 3, 2010
Track Listing
1. As Strangers Would
2. Smoke and Mirrors
3. What Is It Like
Personnel
Erika Mejia
Federico Mejia
Adrian Frye
Taryn Mejia
Unofficially, the New Orleans-based Youth Sounds got their start when siblings Erika and Federico Mejia sang in church choirs and taught themselves music when their parents could no longer afford lessons. In 2009, the Mejias decided that they would officially form a band, adding two more members Adrian Frye and Taryn Mejia for the sessions that would become their independently-released EP, The Bit Parts which was released last August. And although, this EP captures a band early in its career, the blogosphere has been gushing about them lately – and after listening to the album, I can see why: it’s been a while since I’ve heard a debut album that’s impressed me the way that this one has.
The arrangements throughout this short EP are elegantly simple – guitar, drums, keys and the like with some atmospheric background noises here and there – and gives a lot of space for vocals. “Smoke and Mirrors” is a stunningly gorgeous song in which Erika Mejia’s voice sounds as transient and ethereal as smoke gently crawling up a window. Musically, roughly two-thirds of the song is moody and hushed before it explodes into a torrent of sound until the song’s conclusion. “As Strangers Would” and “What Is It Like” are perhaps the more straightforward, power pop songs on the album as they’re full of unexpectedly full bass, power chords – and most importantly, some very pretty melodies. Interestingly, the album reminded me a lot of Great Northern’s fantastic, Trading Twilight for Daylight. It’s a shame that such pretty melodies are so increasingly rare. But I’ll say that for a debut, The Bit Parts EP is certainly impressive.
This article appears with the kind permission of the folks at The Whiskey Dregs Magazine.
http://thejoyofviolentmovement.tumblr.com/post/2975641756/album-review-youth-sounds-the-bit-parts-ep
Youth Sounds create blissful pop songs
Youth Sounds‘ 10-minute, three-song EP The Bit Parts is the sort of pop music that makes me remember why I like pop songs. There’s nothing here that’s especially groundbreaking: mid-range female vocals sing over a soundscape that’s half Spiritualized and half pop-rock. But the band goes at it with such enthusiasm and with such feeling that it’s hard not to like it.
It helps that the production is gorgeous. I’ve become more and more interested in production as grotty lo-fi bands have become popular again, and everything here is praiseworthy: The acoustic instruments sound perfect, the consistent drone sounds warm and full instead of grating, and the vocals sound real instead of tweaked. It makes the hushed beginning of “Smoke and Mirrors” resonate, while the majority of “As Strangers Would” hums for the same reason. “What Is It Like” is a bit too ’80s in places, but other than that it’s beautiful too.
I can’t wait to hear more from this band. They have a solid grasp on what they want to do and the production to back it up. This is the type of music that causes me to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and bliss out. There’s not enough of that in the world.
http://independentclauses.com/2011/02/youth-sounds-create-blissful-pop-songs/
It's been almost 8 months since I heard any music by Youth Sounds yet it's safe to say those 8 months away have been put to good use. Youth Sounds return with a brilliant new 5 track EP. Taking a huge leap forward with their music 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow' is a true stand to sophisticated indie/pop. Building on the success of their debut EP 'The Bit Parts' Youth Sounds continue to produce mind blowing beautiful music.
Myspace: www.myspace.com/youthsoundsmusic
Twitter: www.twitter.com/YouthSounds
http://www.sos-music.co.uk/2011/02/youth-sounds-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and.html
Continuing the trend of great second albums, Youth Sounds' eagerly anticipated sophomore album delivers on all the promises of "The Bit Parts EP". Their ever-present laid-back and overall smooth approach to making music bridges the gap between the two ensembles and creates a certain coherence between the tracks; and it doesn't hurt that they can make a pretty catchy tune that makes you want to sing along even on your first listen. The best first impression has got to be "It's Hell" followed by "We're No One", which takes nothing away from the rest of the album, I just cracked a smile as soon as "It's Hell" started playing. The ear-worm prize would have to go to "Whatever Works" but this is just a perk of the song, what makes this album special is the heart and soul that clearly shines through each of the five tracks; each song is so well put together and executed and everything from the pacing to the vocals seems chosen with care and never feels like a rush job which only cements my admiration for this still-up-and-coming band. In short, this is an amazing follow-up to the "The Bit Parts" and is worth a listen for anybody looking for a unique sound.
Youth Sounds’ The Bit Parts- EP last year was such a great record and now they’re back with more. About a week ago the four-piece released a new EPTomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. This new album has more of a darker/electronic groove feel to it. And it’s great! It’s a little hard to explain but once you hear you’ll know what I mean. This sound seems to work for them but hey, everything these guys churn out turns into catchy goodness.
http://therecordstack.tumblr.com/tagged/Tomorrow_and_Tomorrow_and_Tomorrow
Youth Sounds – Tomorrow and Tomorrow…
Youth Sounds – Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow… EP
February 18th, 2011
Independent
Score: 7.5
The EP format seems to have taken on new life in recent years with indie artists turning out just enough material to keep their name afloat until the financing for a full album comes together. On their second EP, Youth Sounds have mastered the format by creating a cohesive, well articulated slice of indie-pop that feels perfect at five songs. Their first outing ran only 10 minutes and left us wanting more. Here, the five songs fulfill the promise of the band’s well crafted sound while setting the stage for further growth. Opener ‘It’s Hell’ could have been a hit single on The Killers’ Hot Fuss with a chorus that swallows you whole and provokes happy singalongs. It’s one of the most irresistible songs to arrive in 2011 and the band’s most guitar-driven track on the EP.
‘Whatever Works’ bubbles with synths and showcases Erica Mejia’s voice, which dispenses ample amounts of dreaminess throughout. The band slows down a little on ‘Foolish Love’, which conjures up an electronic sunset that starts in 1984 and ends in 2011. Mixing together The Cure and Frou Frou, ‘We’re No One’ looks towards a future where the influence of new wave and the first decade of the new century fuel new explorations for indie music. As strong as an EP gets, Youth Sounds are moving towards something bigger and listening to the journey only makes me smile.
Jason Lent
http://sunonthesand.com/2011/youth-sounds-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow/
Youth Sounds
Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow
You may remember that a couple of months ago, I reviewed the New Orleans-based quartet, Youth Sounds’ debut The Bit Parts EP, which was an elegantly simple album that managed to convey an ethereal fragility while reminding me a lot of Great Northern’s Trading Twilight for Daylight. So when I received a review copy of the band’s latest and now most recent effort Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow, I was curious as to how the band would continue to develop and refine their sound, especially in light of their impressive debut.
What I will say about Tomorrow… is that it continues Youth Sounds’ winning formula of uncannily stunning harmonies, relatively simple arrangements while combining the power, indie pop of Bit Parts’ “Strangers Would” and “What Is It Like.” Although the album is short – it feels as though its maybe 20-25 minutes long – the album does reveal itself over repeated plays in unexpected ways. Whereas their debut had beautiful moments that defied easy categorization, this album feels much more straightforward and a bit conventional. That ain’t a bad thing, if done correctly but on a certain level I kind of felt as though I wanted a little bit more of a challenge and a little bit more weirdly fragile beauty along with it. “You’ll Be The Death of Me” is perhaps the closest moment to that, thanks to Erika Mejia’s gorgeous, hushed vocals. “It’s Hell,” the album opener, has bit of an anthemic pull that the band hadn’t shown before. And as a whole, the material still manages to sound beautiful – onTomorrow… the guitars routinely sound like chiming bells and they manage to add subconscious emphasis to the lyrics. And although the arrangements are simple, there’s a sense of the overall sound being subtly layered from several distinct parts.
Admittedly, Youth Sounds’ newest effort to me is a bit flawed – the material doesn’t feel as challenging as some of their debut EP’s songs. But honestly saying that the material is conventional is about the worst thing I can say about this one, because where it works, it works. In what may very well be a year of rather disappointing releases, Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow is certainly one of the better albums I’ve come across this year.
Released on February 22, 2011
Track Listing
1. It’s Hell
2. Whatever Works
3. Foolish Love
4. You’ll Be The Death of Me
5. We’re No One
http://thewhiskeydregs.com/2011/03/23/youth-sounds-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-album-review/
Anything even mildly resembling neo-shoegaze/dreampop will usually cause me to rubberneck as I did during the first ten seconds of “Smoke and Mirrors” by Youth Sounds. The completely self-produced New Orleans ensemble was originally conceived by siblings Federico and Erika Mejia, who developed a love of music at an early age, and participated in church choirs when their parents could not longer afford music lessons. In August of 2010 Youth Sounds debuted the short but sweet Bit Parts EP, after adding additional members Adrian Frye and Taryn Mejia to help fill things out. Last February’s Tomorow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow… was the second formal collection for a group who has garnered a fair amount of praise, despite a reality brief assimilation period. So, as good as the material has been thus far, it might all just be a prelude. “It’s Hell” is undoubtedly (and ironically) the most lighthearted number offTomorow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow… Erika Mejia’s breathy vocals stir memories of Elizabeth Fraser and Beth Gibbons, and sound amazing on the out of character, guitar driven track. If the progression between The Bit Parts EP, and Tomorow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow… is any indication, there’s a hell of an LP lurking out there…
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow… – EP – Youth Sounds
http://www.thenoisecollective.com/2011/03/youth-sounds-%E2%80%93-it%E2%80%99s-hell/
Today’s song is “It’s Hell” by Youth Sounds. This song is off the band’s sophomore release of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow... This album is the follow up to the band’s 2010 The Bit Parts. Youth Sounds officially began in the gulf’s cultural stronghold, New Orleans, in late 2009. Unofficially, the band began long before that. Siblings Erika and Federico Mejia sang in church choirs and taught themselves when their parents could no longer afford lessons. With the addition of Adrian Frye and Taryn Mejia the band was complete. In the short time Youth Sound has been together they have received praise from indie press. Listening below you can hear why.
For more information on Youth Sounds check out their MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter pages. Get their album Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow… now on iTunes!
http://www.eatsleepbreathemusic.com/blog/2011/03/song-of-the-day-its-hell-by-youth-sounds/
You’d be surprised as to what changes in a year. Last time I reviewed New Orleans native Youth Sounds they had three songs and supposedly only one live show under their belts. Their raw indie-pop nature was something that needed to be harnessed into something… more. Their latest album,Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow… is some sort of idea towards the next steps in that direction.
The Pros
If you were afraid to hear a fresh new band change direction, don’t be. Youth Sounds pin point their sound and drive it home. The difference between The Bit Parts EP and this newest release is the full sound. There is a bigger vibe to it, as if it could fill out any venue, whereas The Bit Parts had this sort of dorm-room, open mic vibe. Also, there is a lot better spacing for each track on this album. Of course, this album has six tracks whereas the past EP has only three… but it should me noted that there is not feeling of repetition that I felt before.
The Cons
I don’t know what it is… I can’t pin point it… but I really wish this band was a little more minimal. Either that, or I wish they maxed out on their electronics a little more. They are sort of in this limbo where there is this kind of 80s/early 90s vibe about them mixed with these beautiful vocals but there is no real feeling of direction other than this sort of dated sound. It’s good, but it’s just something I’ve heard before. At times, I could imagine the lady-fronted version of The Radio Dept. At other times, they have this sort of Gypsyblood vibe.
One more con that seems apparent is the lack of variety on this album. Of course, it’s good one-off songs. Track for track, it’s good music. But in the context of an album that should be listened to from front to back, it seems as though there are five songs that are relatively similar and one slower track , “Foolish Love”. I’m not too sure how to remedy that, but I would assume increasing the variety of each instrument (different effects would be a start) could help out a bit.
The Verdict
The jury isn’t out on Youth Sounds quite yet. There is a lot of musicianship that should be praised in this band. There is a lot higher expectation because of that, as well. Between now and their next album, some sort of epiphany should occur that reveals what this band should dare to try. May it be more electronic based stuff, may it be different instrumentation, may it be a completely different genre. Youth Sounds, this time around, sound like the happy version of The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. I’m hoping they become a lot more like Youth Sounds next time.
I had another of those extremely annoying dreams last night. Let me set the background first. If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know that I usually avoid pop music reviews as a guiding principle. Well the dream was the one where I create the perfect pop song; or at least a catchy chorus from a possible song. This chorus stayed in my head for about 10 minutes before fading into the ether with wakefulness. These songs are to the best of my musical knowledge, unique, and if placed in the right hands, would likely be top-40 hits. To make things worse, I have no clue how to transcribe music from these dreamy basics to anything sellable. So while I might eschew pop music like the plague, it is the simplicity and beauty of these songs that bang around in thecollective consciousness of a major part of our U.S. population. This dream type had kept its distance from my imagination for at least 10 blessed years, only to be the last thing I remembered when I awoke this morning.
Now getting to ‘Youth Sounds’, they are not to be sloppily called pop music. Shoegaze, or better yet: dreampop are better descriptors for their sound. This new EP is very good! My favorite track is Foolish Love. Now if I could just keep all that self-created pop music out of my own dreams I might actually rest!
Youth Sounds – It’s Hell
Shoegaze. Indie. Dreampop. All are apt descriptions of Youth Sounds, but how can one really classify gossamer vocals weaving modest melodies through moody synths, twinkling pianos, an acoustic guitar, and a distinct, danceable drumbeat? As far as the band is concerned, they’re not interested in a genre. They have set out to capture a nostalgic mood.
The duo decided to blend their diverse, yet complimentary influences (The Beatles, Radiohead, Broken Social Scene, The Bird and The Bee, Frou Frou). Once they added Adrian Frye and Taryn Mejia to the band, they were ready to record their debut EPThe Bit Parts.
With the August 2010 release of The Bit Parts and the February 2011 release of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Youth Sounds is still a band in its infancy. Yet the indie press community welcomed them with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Hailing the release as unassuming yet impressive, BPM Magazine, Obscure Sound, and many others are eagerly awaiting a full-length debut.
http://castleqwayr.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrows-youth-sounds/
The talented Youth Sounds are back with a new EP called, Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow… The 5 song player sees the band take on a sharp right and delve deeper into making more pop-oriented tunes. While previous EP, The Bit Parts, was more focused on ambient, atmospheric worlds, the band has now decided to focus a lot more on Erika’s vocals. I actually really appreciate how the sound has grown, and it doesn’t just feel like more of the same. One thing does remain the same is the same excellent lyricism. Standout track “It’s Hell, finds way to be both endearing and devlish, a deadly combination that is used to perfection.
Youth Sounds earned artist-to-watch buzz in 2010 with the release of their debut EP The Bit Parts, a three-song dose of dreamy indie-pop. Fine-tuning their sound further on the recent EP Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Youth Sounds finds the right balance between intelligent melodies and ethereal vocals. While the band started in 2009, the foundation was laid years earlier for siblings Erika and Frederico Mejia who grew up singing together in church choirs. As the musical history of New Orleans post-Katrina begins taking shape, Youth Sounds are a promising piece of the story. I caught up with Federico this month to talk music.
Youth Sounds was looking for a rhythm guitarist on Facebook last month. How did the search go?
Honestly, not well at all lol. Actually, the reason for the post was to find some musicians outside of our group of friends, most of whom are already members of a band and have commitments to their own projects. So it was an attempt to venture out of our musical circle — funny thing is some of the responses we received were from our friends who were looking for side projects. At the moment, we’re still looking for a guitarist who can solely invest time into Youth Sounds. We know how busy it can get working on more than one project, trust me we’ve been down that road before and unfortunately, it becomes way too much of a hassle.
Can we expect some live dates to support the new EP in the coming months?
We recently had a show on May 4th that was great. We’ll be booking some more shows in the coming months so that we can promote the new album; we definitely want to start venturing out of the New Orleans area and start performing out of state, that’s something we’re hoping to accomplish this year.
How does the writing process work within the band?
There are so many things that inspire new songs. Personally, I’m a storyteller so that’s how I like to write lyrics, in a form of narrative, and the stories can come from anywhere. Sometimes, they’re my own experiences or just straight fiction, it all depends on what I want to write about and what I think others could relate to.
Which track on Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow… are you most proud of as an artist?
My favorite track would have to be ‘You’ll Be The Death Of Me’, it has a great groove to it and it really highlights the new direction in our sound and that’s definitely something we want to keep on pursuing.
Shifting to New Orleans, how has the music scene rebounded post-Katrina and what is the indie music scene like right now in the Big Easy?
The indie music scene is slowly making its mark on the city again. Prior to Katrina, the indie community was really blossoming, venues were constantly featuring indie acts and bands were getting opportunities to headline major venues in New Orleans. However, after the storm, many musicians were displaced and many of them did not return. This kind of forced venues to start focusing heavily on jazz acts, which was great because it was motivating the musicians that were living here and our jazz heritage — it’s basically the musical heart and soul of New Orleans. But there is a reemergence of indie acts in the city now and we’re starting to see the indie bands take the forefront.
Growing up with Erika, how aligned were your musical tastes and when did you begin performing together?
Erika and I grew up listening to the same music; we’re only four years apart so whatever she was listening to, I was listening to, and it went on like that for years. But as we got older, our taste in music changed and we started listening to different artists and introducing one another to new music. We were both performing at a really young age, we grew up going to church so we were heavily involved with a lot of church choirs and youth bands, so we’ve had the benefit of performing on stage for quite some time now.
The band’s sound feels unattached to any particular style with post-punk, new wave, house, and indie-pop all swirling together in different amounts depending on the song. If you had to narrow down the list to a few key influences on Youth Sounds, who would they be?
That’s always a hard question to answer, especially because there are so many amazing artists that influence our sound and us. But if I had to make a shortlist of the musicians that have had a major influential role it would be: New Order, David Bowie, Radiohead, and Broken Social Scene.
What can we expect from Youth Sounds during the latter half of 2011?
A lot of hard work lol, some more shows to promote the new EP, and we’re going to keep on writing new material.
By Jasper Sounds
With our insatiable urge for new bands and talent to promote from the mainstream tripe of the current music topography out there, we found another band that we’ve digging right now and they’re from New Orleans out of all places.
Youth Sounds officially began in the gulf’s cultural stronghold, New Orleans, in late 2009. Unofficially, the band began long before that. Siblings Erika and Federico Mejia sang in church choirs and taught themselves when their parents could no longer afford lessons.
As a band, I love their sound because of the indulgent hints of genres of the past that I like back in the day that may or may not surface as much today like Shoegazer, a genre more popular in the 90s with bands and artists like Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star and Catherine Wheel.
We got to talk to Youth Sounds about their beginnings in music and of course their EP Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow.
Check it out!
Hey Youth Sounds thanks for doing this interview with Nerdy Frames. So can you introduce yourselves and tell us how Youth Sounds started off as a band?
(Erika Mejia, Federico Mejia, Adrian Frye, & Taryn Mejia) It’s actually a pretty serendipitous story. The three songs off our first EP “The Bit Parts” were actually intended for a friend of mine in Tennessee.
She had an idea for a project and I offered to help write some of the songs for it. Needless to say the project fell through and the songs were put on the back burner. At the time Erika, Adrian, and I were working on our own project called We Are English, we had a handful of songs that were studio ready and we wanted to release them. But there was something in the pit of my stomach telling me that we needed to record these other songs as well, that they needed to be heard. So we had a band pow wow, called our producer and gave him a rundown of what we wanted to accomplish with our sessions.
We recorded the material and at the end of our sessions we found ourselves at a crossroad. We needed to make a decision as to what project we wanted to pursue and where to focus our time and attention. The vote was unanimous and Youth Sounds came into existence… Fun fact the girl on the cover of the new EP is the friend I wrote the songs for originally.
How would you describe the band’s overall harmony, I mean do you guys have the usual tiffs that most bands do or do y’all get along nicely?
Erika and I have been working together for a very long time now, so outside of being siblings we’ve develop a great working relationship within the context of the band. I would have to say that the same goes for our relationship with the rest of the band, of course we have our disagreements here and there and it’s mainly attributed to the fact that I’m a bit of a slave driver, or so I’ve been told lol. But at the end of the day we all get along really well and the family dynamics helps strengthen the unity between us.
Silly question time but why the name Youth Sounds?
I’ve always felt like the music that moved us in our teens and even the songs that we remember in our adolescence will always be connected to some important event in our lives. It’s like anytime we hear a certain song our immediate reaction is always nostalgic, no matter if the memory is positive or not we still let ourselves revisit specific times in our lives through music.
And as adults those songs, that band, their music, all of it takes on a whole new meaning, we understand the world differently and the music of our youth speaks to us differently. That’s where the name Youth Sounds comes from, it’s for those moments that we will never forget and it’s a very important thing we share as human beings and as a band we want our music to be a part of that.
Being from New Orleans, what can you tell us about the music scene there, I mean besides Jazz being one of the well known genres known in the area, is there a indie scene of bands there?
You always hear people talking about the different cities that they’ve visited and how those particular cities are worlds within themselves. That might be true, but if you haven’t visited New Orleans you’re definitely missing out on a city with one of the most diverse cultures. This city lives a breathes music, you can go to any corner of the French Quarter and someone somewhere will have an instrument in their hand, be it a brass band playing on the corner of Canal and Bourbon or a cellist taking request in front of Café Du Monde, it’s really a beautiful experience.
Now as for the indie music scene it is slowly making its mark on the city again. Prior to Katrina the indie community was really blossoming, venues were constantly featuring indie acts and bands were getting opportunities to headline major venues in New Orleans. However after the storm many musicians were displaced and many of them did not return.
This kind of forced venues to start focusing heavily on Jazz acts, which was great because it was motivating the musicians that were living here and our Jazz heritage is basically the musical heart and soul of New Orleans. But there is reemergence of indie acts in the city now and we’re starting to see the indie bands take the forefront I this world within a city.
Would Shoegazer, electro pop, indie and Dreampop be apropos descriptions to the Youth Sound aesthetic?
I think that all those descriptions are appropriate; our songs have varying elements of all these genres and I think it’s due to the diversity of our musicians. We’re never all listening to the same artist or genre of music and I think that’s important to the creative process, it helps us bring different ideas to the table and allows us to take some risk in developing our sound.
Okay let’s break the ice somewhat, how do you come up with the music and lyrics to some of your songs?
There are so many things that inspire new songs. Personally, I’m a storyteller so that’s how I like to write lyrics in a form of narrative and the stories can come from anywhere. Sometimes they’re my own experiences or just straight fiction, it all depends on what I want to write about and what I think others could relate to.
The music on the other hand is a combination of things. I’m usually working on an idea and submitting it to the rest of the band, than together we lay out a musical foundation that we build the song on, tighten up the details and a new song is born.
Where do you draw your influences from musically or otherwise?
As you can tell a lot of our songs have a hint of 80’s electro pop to them, so we’re definitely products of our generation.
But we’re all influenced by a wide variety of music; we definitely take pride of how eclectic our iPods are lol. There are a handful of musicians that really influence us as band Radiohead, New Order, Broken Social Scene, The National, My Bloody Valentine, The Smiths, and David Bowie that’s just to name of few.
Your latest album ‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow’ is out now, fantastic album and it was recommended to me by a friend and I can’t get enough of it (Honest LOL). So what can you tell us about this release and how it differs to your EP which I take it was a debut right?
Yeah “The Bit Parts” was our fist EP… There were so many variables to consider when I started to write the new material for “Tomorrow…” the response to the first EP was so positive and the bar for our second outing was really up there. I didn’t want to disappoint our fans so I started to really feel the pressure of releasing something that they would enjoy and also live up to their expectations of us.
Honestly, I feel like that weight kind of attributed to the moody tone of the album and the challenge definitely pushed me as a musician, I was determined to successfully write a follow up that would be a matured progression from its predecessor.
Where “Tomorrow…” differs from “The Bit Parts” would have to be the overall feel of the songs. “The Bit Parts” is much more simplistic and straight forward, there are no undertones to the songs and that gives them a lighthearted appeal, something that’s easily relatable and sincere. As for “Tomorrow…” it starts off with a song that is also straightforward and has mass appeal, but as the EP progresses it kind of draws you in and demands your attention. If you’re not willing to sit and listen you’re going to miss out on a lot of the layers that each song has to offer all the little nuances. Like I said before “Tomorrow…” is a lot moodier and introspective, the stories and imagery slowly unravel connecting all the dots to reveal a more intimate narrative.
Do you have a favorite track from the album that you would recommend to our readers to check out?
My favorite track would have to be “You’ll Be the Death of Me” it has a great groove to it and it really highlights the new direction in our sound and that’s definitely something we want to keep on pursuing.
What has been some of the feedback with regards to your music? Because I can tell you this, I really like it!
We’re overwhelmed by the positive feedback and support we’ve been receiving, not only from our fans but from the music community as well. We’re truly grateful to how receptive everyone’s been to our music because we love what we’re doing, we love making music, and the fact that there are people out there enjoying our art is encouraging. We’re also thankful for our team at LaFamos, they’re the movers and the shakers and without their help we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be exposed to so many people.
For those who want to purchase ‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow’ where can we purchase this album? Is it available on Bandcamp?
You can purchase both EPs on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, were basically available for digital download on a number of music sites.
Unfortunately we are not currently on Band Camp but hope to be in the near future.
What’s left for you guys to do this year…..any tours, gigs, festivals..etc? BTW we’re from New Zealand, would you like to come here?
No tour spots at the moment, but that idea is not completely out of the picture. We’ll be working hard promoting the new EP, playing gigs, and secretly making plans to take over the world lol… We would love to visit New Zealand and hang out with you guys, just let us know when you want us to come down and we’ll be there.
Would you like to finish our interview Youth Sounds with some wise words or sage advice for our readers?
Actually if anything I would like to share this quote from one of my favorite author.
“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” – Oscar Wilde.
I think that says it all.
And with that we thank you
!
http://www.nerdy-frames.org/2011/05/youth-sounds-interview.html
Youth Sounds ‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow…’ Music Review
June 3rd, 2011 |
Review by Marin Nelson
Youth Sounds’ first album ‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow…‘, released in February of this year, has the nubile band looking into the future – and it’s a bright one. From the threshold of New Orleans, Youth Sounds began in 2009 when siblings Erika and Federico Mejia joined with Taryn Mejia and Adrian Frye. The result, good genetics aside, is the next wave of breezy shoegaze pop, the next Chairlift.
Tomorrow elevates pop from the confines of sure-fire consumption, and takes it back to its roots: a return to fresh, unburdened lyrics which resonate with the youth of now. A nice dose of some masterful electro doesn’t hurt either.
Although the sentiment of the album is decidedly carefree, it’s not without substance. Clearly mood-driven, Youth Sounds already have a distinct intuition when applying restraint. They know when to let Erika Mejia’s vulnerable voice shine, and when to apply thick, fitful layers of synth. The lyrics are puerile and unabashed, like the eyeliner-smudged diary of a highschooler. Yet Youth Sounds isn’t destined to be at the mercy of American teenagers. The fully-developed melodic strains cleverly weave through and compliment the textured vocals. Their sound is strongest when Mejia adopts a penetrating, apathetic tone to her voice, echoing Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Tomorrow opens with It’s Hell, a summer-ready anthem that’ll have you counting down the weeks until you see silhouettes dancing to it on an iPod commercial. Yeah, it’s that catchy.
Another standout track, Whatever Works, begins heavy and sweet, young and desperate. The pulsing backbeat is intoxicating, and will linger in your subconscious.
Youth Sounds is an appropriate name for a band still in its infancy, but if they continue to develop in same way as between The Bit Parts EP (see below) and Tomorrow, the name could quickly become ironic. They have all the prerequisites for a groundbreaking album, and while the five songs aren’t enough to satiate, they’re enough to capture Youth Sounds’ tomorrow: immensely promising.
Watch: As Strangers Would from the Bit Parts EP
http://vivoscene.com/feature/youth-sounds-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-music-review/
Musically speaking, New Orleans is best known for jazz, brass bands, bounce rap, and Lil Wayne — I mean hip-hop. However, Youth Sounds, the New Orleans-based indie band fronted by siblings Erika and Federico Mejia, is making strides to put Nola’s indie music on the musical radar, and its much-anticipated second EP, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, solidified the group as a band to watch.
Released in February, the record represents a simultaneous departure from and continuation of the band’s first release The Bit Parts, which was enthusiastically received in the blogosphere and earned Youth Sounds a spot among Music Connection magazine’s Hot 100 unsigned bands of 2010 — not too shabby for a 2-year-old band. But with only three songs, the short length of the debut EP was the record’s sole drawback, and it may have been premature to sing their praises. Until now.
Staples of the first record — Erika’s soft and ethereal vocals, a nostalgic mood, melancholic lyrics, a driving synth — can be found on the second album, but this time, those sounds mix with a more danceable backbeat and create a happier feel. Think Frou Frou meets the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Youth Sounds’ broad musical reach — shoegaze, indie rock, indie pop, dreampop — leaves us wondering eager to hear what this band has under its sleeves next. Take a second and watch a live performance of their track “We’re No One” from the Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow EP below. We’re sure you won’t be disappointed.
Above is a video and below a few more pics:
http://invadenola.com/2011/06/youth-sounds-another-addition-to-the-new-orleans-indie-rock/
Youth Sounds are an aptly named band hailing from New Orleans who released their second EP earlier this year, ‘Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow’. It builds upon the synthy, dreamy, floaty sound the band exhibited on their first EP, injecting it with more percussion and more emotion. While their first EP was a great listen in its own right, it really does seem as if the band were told “Once more, with feeling”.
And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Have a listen to the excellent It’s Hell, the opening number of the EP and also probably my favourite track, although it’s not without some stiff competition.
Youth Sounds is fronted by siblings Erika and Federico Mejia, and this no doubt contributes to the sense of unity and cohesion in their music. Erika’s vocals are nothing short of sublime, floating gently beneath the synth only to emerge with a fierce, attention-demanding power.
Youth Sounds impossibly manage a sound that seems both DIY and polished, striking the balance of production and post-production perfectly. They have a great, memorable, and unique feel to them, and I’ll be surprised if they don’t start taking off in terms of popularity very soon.
http://andpluckyourstrings.com/2011/08/30/youth-sounds-its-hell/
Influenced by The Beatles, Radiohead and Frou Frou, Youth Sounds is an indie dream pop band from New Orleans. Their danceable drum and acoustic guitar provide light feeling, up-tempo beats.
Headed up by siblings Erika & Federico Mejia, the group created waves in the Big Easy music scene in early 2009. Since then, Adrian Frye & Taryn Mejia have been added to the stronghold, rounding out the foursome known as Youth Sounds today.
No warm-up could be complete without the Youth Sounds track “It’s Hell,” (do not be deterred by it’s name) from their second EP Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.
Source: http://claimyourjourney.com/2011/08/music-youth-sounds-its-hell/
If anyone can appreciate the hardship and elation that comes with self-starting an indie pop band, it's Erika and Frederico Mejia. Playing mostly around the New Orleans area, the brother-sister duo have been trying to carve out their niche by crafting songs that alternate between indie folk rock and electro dream pop.
And while they know any aspiring indie artist can never be afraid to be different, there always seems to be some pressure to create something sellable, music that someone wants before you will ever be noticed. It doesn't always matter how good of an artist you are, someone else has to hear it too.
"It's no longer enough to be a band with an EP or album, or even playing gigs," said Frederico. "Even for us, I honestly believe what's holding us back is that one big song, writing that one song you just can't get out of your head."
While Youth Sounds may not have hit that one song that gets them signed, several come close. As Strangers Would and Smoke And Mirrors off their first EP and We're No One as well as Foolish Love off their second, Youth Sounds delivers delicate arrangements around a potentially explosive range. There is something here, especially within their indie roots.
"My favorite song from The Bit Parts EP is Smoke And Mirrors because it comes from a place where, in a relationship or anytime in your lifetime, no one really knows who you are," says Erika. "It takes a lot for a person to be vulnerable enough to set aside all the flair and proudly state 'This is who I am and you can like it or not, I don't care.'"
On Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow, Erika points toward We're No One. Not only does she enjoy singing the arrangement, but also the meaning of the song; That people are a collection of flaws and assets. Nobody can ever be perfect.
Hearing her talk about the songs, one almost gets the impression that she is the songwriter. Her deep connection to the material comes across so convincingly. It's her brother, a natural storyteller, whom Erika trusts to write songs that she can own as a performer, relate to, and deliver with sincerity.
"Although I do a majority of the writing, the end product is collaborative," says Frederico. "All of the musicians get a demo copy of the song and write their parts, which are then fine tuned during rehearsals."
Expect their next release to define the direction of the band.
It's at rehearsals when the band syncs their musical vision and pushes subtle nuances into the work, much like any family would. And they are a family. The balance of the band includes Adrian Frye, Taryn Mejia and recent addition Nicholos Mejia. Each of them lend differences in the direction the band could take.
Even two of Frederico's favorite songs, What It Is Like and You'll Be The Death Of Me, fall on opposite sides of the spectrum for him as a lyricist. The first is a contemplative look at relationships that end before they begin. The latter is about how people can push you away.
They are also very different from the songs Erika singled out, but that's what makes Youth Sounds so listenable. While there is an undeniable connection between Erika and Frederico, they see some things differently. Ask them how they fell into music, for example, and both will tell you a funny story about how their parents chose piano lessons so they could prove they were ready for the commitment, despite Erika wanting to learn violin and Frederico guitar.
"Frederico picked up the piano because he felt the love and passion for the instrument," says Erika. "I initially resisted, and felt more freedom and emotion through singing."
"I never practiced [the piano]. I honestly hated it," said Frederico. "Erika was the better pianist."
But that's where the innocent differences end. They are both quick to express gratitude to their parents for funding the lessons as long as they could. And then, when the family could no longer afford it, each pursued respective passions — Erika focused on singing while Frederico taught himself guitar, piano, and drums, perhaps as a songwriter more than a player.
Youth Sounds' Dual EPs Hits 4.2 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.
There is something very right about Youth Sounds. And while I lean more to the indie flair of The Bit Parts, Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow includes some sharply thoughtful dream pop tracks. Most of the magic is in the lyrics and the vocals, but it's easy to hear that the instrumentals are coming into their own as they grow.
The real tell for this emerging band will likely come with their very next release. Their music video, Whatever Works, is about to be released. So are new songs for their upcoming LP. Look for it to be released soon, under the album name Favors.
For now, enjoy a few tracks from The Bit Parts and Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow on iTunes. You can also find The Bit Parts - EP on Amazon. Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow... can also be found there. Both sites will also likely carry Favors, which should reinforce the band's dream pop sound, with a bit more drums.
