Name: Yet No Yokai
Members: Samuel Birrer (drums), Thomas Seidmann (guitar & vocals), Simon Pfister (bass guitar)
Interviewee: Thomas Seidmann
Nationality: Swiss
Current release: Yet No Yokai's full-length album Wir Sind Da is out via Hummus.
Recommendations: Here are two albums I listen to a lot at the moment: Western Cum by Cory Hanson; Oh Death by Goat

If you enjoyed this Yet No Yokai interview and would like to stay up to date with the band and their music, visit them on Instagram, Soundcloud, and Facebook.



When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?

On a technical level, there are certainly some things happening in my brain that I cannot describe.

Other than that, I feel it in my heart.

What were your very first steps in music like - and how do you rate gains made through experience versus the naiveté of those first steps?

From the beginning, I relied on my intuition and what felt right to me. Over time, my experience grew, and now I know more efficiently what I like and what I don't.

I'm glad I didn't study music conventionally because I would probably have lost a significant part of my naive approach that way. So, there is still much for me to discover.

According to scientific studies, we make our deepest and most incisive musical experiences between the ages of 13-16. What did music meant to you at that age and what’s changed since then?

During that time, I started playing electric guitar with the band (Yet No Yokai, formerly under a different name).

When I discovered Tame Impala, everything changed.



Over the course of your development, what have been your most important instruments and tools and how have they shaped your perspective on music?

My guitars have been accompanying me for many years now and have always been a source of inspiration, joy, and balance. They are indispensable for our songwriting and live performances.

What, would you say, are the key ideas behind your approach to music and what motivates you to create?

We listen to a lot of music, and this constant exposure to different genres and styles fuels our creativity and helps us explore new horizons in our own musical journey.

Paul Simon said “the way that I listen to my own records is not for the chords or the lyrics - my first impression is of the overall sound.” What's your own take on that and how would you define your personal sound?

I'd call it a vibe rather than an overall sound, but Mr. Paul Simon is right.

Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to the waves of the ocean. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you've had with these non-human-made sounds? In how far would you describe them as “musical”?

Sometimes I like to record birds on my phone when I’m on a walk in the woods. It’s a cool source for guitar riffs if you get lucky.

From very deep/high/loud/quiet sounds to very long/short/simple/complex compositions - are there extremes in music you feel drawn to and what response do they elicit?

Naturally, we tend to like weird rhythm patterns more and more, maybe to break out of lazy, repetitive patterns and keep things dynamic. On the other hand, we love repetitive patterns too.

I'd say we like all sorts of sounds and compositions - if there's a vibe.

From symphonies and traditional verse/chorus-songs to linear techno tracks and free jazz, there are myriads ways to structure a piece of music. Which approaches work best for you – and why?

We improvise a lot and record these jams over and over until the songs take on a definitive shape. When the instrumental part is done and - in the best case - has a vibe, we start writing definitive lyrics.

We let the songs grow naturally, so to speak.

Sometimes, science and art converge in unexpected ways. Do you conduct “experiments” or make use of scientific insights when you're making music?

Except for wiring our studio and rehearsal space, there's not really much science going on.

How does the way you make music reflect the way you live your life? Can we learn lessons about life by understanding music on a deeper level?

Being open to change and not taking things too seriously is one thing I kinda also learned by producing and playing music.

Do you feel as though writing or performing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee?

No, you can mess it up. But drink it anyway unless you don't spill it.

What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more “mundane” tasks?

For me it’s all about being in the zone.

Every time I listen to “Albedo 0.39” by Vangelis, I choke up. But the lyrics are made up of nothing but numbers and values. Do you, too, have a song or piece of music that affects you in a way that you can't explain?

Right now, it's "Goon" by Thee Oh Sees. That song hypes me up.



If you could make a wish for the future – what are developments in music you would like to see and hear?

More creative spaces for people to make music in.