Exclusive video premiere of ‘Beyond Being’ by Yop, taken from the upcoming EP, out this Winter on cassette, CD and digital via Wahshtuff Records.

The dictionary describes transformation as a marked change in form, nature of appearance. Yop are the embodiment of that definition, transforming from their raw punk past (Shithatt and Alps) to a more understated present. Where the Ballina duo used to rely on “bang bang heavy heavy” to entertain, they now use subtlety and repetition, mixing conventional instruments with synthesizers and drum machines to produce their self-proclaimed kraut-punk.

Conor (guitar and synth) and Sid (bass), who share vocal duties, first attempted to make the transition in 2016 (see 2Q16 on their bandcamp) but due to other commitments Yop was put aside (not forgotten) for a while. Then in 2019 with the demise of Shithatt the time was right and they began jamming. A lot of trial and error followed as this was totally new ground for the pair who had always played with a drummer. And that gave time for songs to develop.

‘Beyond Being’ was recorded in the infamous Ballina Punx HQ in January 2022. It’s from the second batch of songs written by the pair and sees them a little more confident in their new surroundings. The bass plays one note for almost 2 minutes and the simple drum beat repeats on a loop. They spent the first few months of this year getting a mix they were happy with. The song was then mastered at CHR mastering. The video is a band produced silly take on the classic, shots from the studio. A Covid induced sleepless night was the inspiration for the artwork. The b-side is a cover of The Butthole Surfers ‘Human Cannonball’, fast becoming a favourite at Yop live shows.

Speaking on the band’s objectives Conor said, “We’re trying to explore different avenues, keep it interesting, try and make it a bit different. For me it gets a bit boring if I’m playing the same music year after year after year”. And Sid adds, “For me the idea of this was just to make punk music you can dance to”. Their first gig was at the online fest Spilt Milk, based out of Sligo and run by the excellent Art For Blind label. Since then they’ve played some home town gigs at the Ballina Arts Centre, Ballina Fringe Festival and Tarbh 47, Galway (Ar Imeall Fest), and Cork (An Spailin Fanach). They released a two song demo in August 2021. And some live versions of songs have been floating around the internet.

Headline photo: D Hickey

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