Yong Yong
Jannis Van de Sande
So, how started Yong Yong? Were you individually making music before you formed a duo?
Yong Yong
Music was always strongly present in our relationship even before we started. We would appreciate the same kind of stuff and share it with each other. Stepping into the practice came naturally; one day Chico found an old keyboard on the trash, with Chinese brand ‘YongMei’ with the most unpredictable monophonic personality. We jammed for hours with it and recorded what were the first Yong Yong songs, layering blindly melodies. One of them would be featured on the album Love. The object was powerful, accompanied us since then, becoming an identity beyond its material form. It started communicating with us, we would have the same dream were this figure talked with us about a place, this promised land. We played it every gig until it got total smashed on an airplane ride to the UK. We still have the corpse and the will to repair it one day. Even it’s unrecognisable and basically just a bunch of plastic and wires on a bag, we respect it and care for it.
jvds
Your music sounds like you’re fond of analog synths and drum computers. Any pieces of gear Yong Yong couldn’t do without?
YY
We have been always about working with the resources around us, purposely or not, from trashy keys to inherited drum machines. We experienced situations that fully changed our set up; the most meaningful one was this time we lost a backpack with most of our gear, including the computer we used in the set. We were lost at first, but it was a bless. Then Lord Prince Infinito came in touch with us, and explained all the previous visions that he had shown us and our situation in the cosmos. He made us re-think how we would do things, especially without the laptop. Which can be an evil burden. So I guess now we just try to understand and follow his teachings and signs. We should also pay respect to our friends; right now almost all our devices are borrowed.
jvds
To describe your music, people seem to find weird metaphors a very appropriate tool. Any favourites you recall?
YY
I think it's good when people feel the need to get poetic, and that applies to anything. One time this guys who were putting us on in Lisbon described our music as space blues. I think that was pretty cool.
jvds
Ever came up with some insane metaphors yourselves?
YY
I don’t know if you can call it a metaphor but Super-Natural and Avant Grime might be fitting.
jvds
Your aesthetic has a lo-fi and ambiguous feel to it, the music as-well as the videos you make. Do you consider Yong Yong to be a total concept?
YY
We wouldn’t call it a concept but its definitely total. Yong Yong gravitates around other identities that form our imaginary. Maybe it’s the one that became a more public form, but its part of the tale that is told on our video ‘Yong Yong—Tocha (DJ Tabako Edit)’.
jvds
You both moved from Lisbon to Glasgow, quite a change, I guess. What attracted you to the north and have these new surroundings changed Yong Yong’s music?
YY
Yeah we moved to the UK a year ago, we never chose Glasgow, our intention was just to find a new place. When we first came here we felt an instant connection with the place and the people we met. Our music changed, it would change anyway, but here the main difference is that stuff happens more easily than in Portugal. Although we’ve been very supported and even started for our Portuguese friends. Glasgow has more of a rhythm to it and it has been more easy to try make a living.