The Brisbane-bred bedroom singer, songwriter and producer, Yoste (pronounced like 'lost'), recently released his dreamy six-track debut EP try to be okay via Akira Records, and in the process perfectly captured the struggles of getting older and all the nostalgia that follows.
He explains that try to be okay is an ode to the rift where his musical career begins, and where his childhood ends. The overall production shimmers with elegance, as simplistic percussion dances into atmospheric pads that are riddled with guitar riffs, creating a childlike bliss. Yoste then thoughtfully adds his subtle vocal, that pours with powerful emotion even if only for a couple seconds, leaving the listener hanging on to his every last word.
"The songs are built on and drawn from my concerns and experiences over the past couple of years, not only as a new artist but as a person on the cusp of adulthood. Thinking about it now, I suppose that's why most of the instrumentation is so ethereal, very much trying to capture a sense of nostalgia and childlike wonder. At the same time most of the lyrical content is quite adult. I was grappling with an overwhelming fear of mortality, questions of identity, alienation, inadequacy – all the fun stuff."
"Howl" comes as the last piece to the puzzle and speaks about "looking inwards, finding comfort in simplicity, realizing those things can come at the cost of certain relationships, and moving on." The vocal dominates the space in the track, while acoustic guitars softly accompany along with muted vocal samples and crisp high hats, creating yet another signature ambient pop tune.
Other singles like "Moon" include fun elements such as a vocoder, while others offer a relaxed mid-tempo beat like "Empty." However, one truly can appreciate the work by simply just playing it from start to finish. In doing so you allow Yoste to paint his full picture and maybe even leave you with a couple of answers to questions you didn't know you had.
"What is lovely to reflect on, however, is that some of the songs make sense of some of those feelings, and even arrive at something resembling a solution. Where those moments exist, I'll leave to listeners to interpret."
And if the EP isn't enough check out the music video for "Blue," which features the story of love and loss being told through dance in front of James Turrell's captivating light exhibition at the Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art. Or grab tickets to his tour in a city near you, dates below.
Connect with Yoste: Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Spotify
