Yoko-Zuna (Frank Eliesa, Swap Gomez, JY Lee, Kenji Iwamitsu-Holdaway) Photo: Jono Das
Verse Chorus Verse sees local artists break down the stories behind their music. For the latest in the series, Auckland electro/hip-hop outfit Yoko-Zuna give us a track-by-track look into their just-released new EP, Luminols.
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Canvas (Intro) (feat. Lukan Rai$ey)
Most of the jams usually start spontaneously. While the rest of the band were still setting up and JY (sax) was getting a feed, Kenji (guitars) started messing with a volume swell idea probably not thinking it would turn into anything. The progression was relatively straightforward and Frank (keys) started building on the idea. The track was intentionally recorded as an intro to the EP in a very organic kind of way with raw sounds and no click. We asked our good friend and upcoming MC Lukan Rai$ey for a spoken word piece but it turned into something much more. It gave it a very ‘calm before the storm’ type feel to the rest of the EP.
Lightning Sabres (feat. P-Digsss)
We wanted to create something that was fierce, driving and dynamically powerful for P-Digsss. We had him in well in mind before writing this track and we knew we had to give it a large degree of musical force based on the style he delivers on Shapeshifter records. We went in with the intention of being edgy but also very melodic. Once he came in, he absolutely nailed the song melodically and lyrically, taking it to a completely new energy level.
Orchard St. (feat. Tom Scott)
The piano melody came from an idea Frank had locked away in his vault. Frank just had the general melody recorded and the rest of us started to add to the idea. Once we had a basic structure we sent it to Tom Scott, who was one of the first people we approached for this EP. Tom blew us away with his storytelling and his approach to the track. Being the consummate professional he is, he came through and smashed out the track within a few hours.
One Question (feat. Laughton Kora)
This song was one of the first we wrote for the EP and it started off with one of Frank's basslines. Laughton Kora absolutely killed it with his vocal range on this one. With intricate sections, fast synth-lines and odd time signatures, Laughton nailed every inch of this song without fail.
Yes (feat. Heavy & LarzRanda)
This was actually the first idea written for the EP. The bassline, once again from Frank, came from messing around on the micro Korg, before we added some layers and a tempo change. Yes was made to get people moving. Add Heavy and LarzRanda to the fold, whose verses are some of our favourite moments on Luminols, and you have yourself a mini banger to end the EP.
Yoko-Zuna play their EP release show at the Kings Arms tonight with Miloux, LarzRanda and Lukan Rai$ey.
