Initially beginning as a project to make music from the sounds that ‘people didn’t know they make’, Orange County man Ben, better known by his stage name YYU, has spent the last 18 months experimenting with a new kind of ‘goosebump’ minimalism, creating some distinctly unique music in the process. Two EPs and two full albums later Ben has gradually refined his trademark eerie glitch-beat sound to produce tracks which have a powerfully spatial quality to them. Naturally warm vocals are paired with a varied mix of clicks, beeps, silences and short samples of percussion to create a soft haze of electronica. Your hands/moo.3 opens his latest album, TIMETIMETIME&TIME with a looping repeat of the album’s title, gently cutting through a thick texture of piano chords and clipped snares; whilst I haven’t left sets Ben’s softly quivering vocals against a backdrop of simple guitar melodies, staying with you long after the album has ended. We caught up with Californian producer to find out more about his creative process, what he’s got planned next, and his particular penchant for cat photography.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you come from? Where are you going?
I’m a person who likes to create, just looking for a place to sleep at night. I was born in Petaluma California on planet earth. As far as where I am going, at the end of the month I’m taking a train back to my room.
Talk to us about your creative process?
I try restricting myself a lot. Sometimes I go into it knowing exactly what I want but lately I have come to terms with the fact that most of time it’s all very subconscious, and that it’s best to let whatever “it” is come naturally. Figure out what it means later. I feel like you get something more raw that way.
How would you describe your sound?
Ghostly or something. Maybe the first or second bite into a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit at anytime of day.
Where do you go to get away from it all?
My bed or down the street with a soda and my digital camera taking pictures of random cats I meet.
What’s …
… now?
Cigarettes, coffee, music and toast.
… next?
Working on a new collection for Ramp Recordings. Hopefully they like the stuff.
… the story behind your name?
I reeeally LOVE the letter Y and the name of my previous project felt really silly. I wanted to make a name that was simple, something a little more serious, something I could go by no matter what age I was.
… your earliest memory?
I don’t know how old I was but I was a little one and I was at my uncle’s house. It was winter and there were icicles in the kitchen window. I remember reaching out for them from my grandpa’s arms.
… your favourite past time?
Creating.
… the world coming to?
Something different soon, I hope. I have faith in humans; I just hope that we can all work together soon.
Tell us something we don’t know.
I have one pair of webbed toes.
More info:
Album for free:
Album for sale:
http://beerontherug.bandcamp.com/album/timetimetime-time
by Tom Curry
