Yeasayer
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Defunct | 2019-12-19 |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn , United States |
| Products | Experimental rock music |
Yeasayer () was a Brooklyn-based American band specializing in experimental rock, established in 2006. The group consisted of Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton, and Anand Wilder. They officially announced their disbandment on December 19, 2019.
Origins
The founding trio—Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton, and Anand Wilder—first attracted significant attention after their 2007 performance at the SXSW festival. Keating and Wilder initially connected and collaborated musically during their high school years at the Park School of Baltimore, an institution known for nurturing experimental artists.
Chris Keating completed his studies at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2004, earning a degree in Film, Animation, and Video. It was during his tenure at RISD that he began exploring innovative musical styles, which eventually led to reuniting with Wilder and forming the band.
All Hour Cymbals
Both Keating and Wilder served as lead vocalists and primary songwriters, jointly crafting the band’s sound. Having played cello since childhood, Wilder explained their songwriting method to Pitchfork, emphasizing the importance of harmonies: "When I write a song, I'm always thinking of the harmonies; for me the song doesn't really exist without the harmonies." He also commended Keating’s innate talent for melody and composition despite lacking formal musical training.
Their first single was released as a double A-side featuring "Sunrise" and "2080," tracks that appeared on their 2007 debut album All Hour Cymbals, issued through We Are Free. The band characterized their style as "Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel," with Wilder acknowledging influences ranging from 1970s Bollywood film scores to Mapfumo records and Celtic music. Critics identified spiritual undertones within the album, which Wilder attributed to their receptiveness toward various religious musical traditions.
Throughout the album’s promotional period, Yeasayer became known for live shows enriched with psychedelic visual elements. In 2008, they toured alongside MGMT, Man Man, and supported Beck. That year also saw them perform an a cappella set on the Paris metro. Their festival appearances included major events such as Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Music Festival, Austin City Limits Festival, Bonnaroo, Sasquatch! Music Festival, and the Reading and Leeds Festivals. In 2009, Yeasayer contributed the track "Tightrope" to Dark Was the Night, an AIDS benefit compilation produced by the Red Hot Organization.
Odd Blood
Yeasayer's sophomore album, Odd Blood, arrived in February 2010 through the support of Secretly Canadian and Mute Records. This release marked a shift towards stronger pop sensibilities compared to their previous material. Wolf Tuton attributed this change to an emphasis on 1990s dance influences and more concise songwriting structures. Meanwhile, Keating described the album as a deliberate move away from the dense textures of their debut, favoring clarity and streamlined arrangements.
In the same month, Yeasayer was featured on the cover of The FADER (issue 66).
Odd Blood garnered significant praise from critics and achieved commercial success, securing spots on several year-end best album compilations by publications such as Time, Spin, and Under the Radar. Additionally, in January 2011, The Hype Machine recognized Yeasayer as the most blogged-about artist of 2010. Songs from this album were incorporated into television programs including 90210, America's Next Top Model, The Good Wife, as well as the 2012 movie Pitch Perfect.
Radical Friend directed the music videos for "Ambling Alp" and "O.N.E".
To promote Odd Blood, Yeasayer embarked on an extensive touring schedule that included appearances at high-profile festivals such as Coachella Music Festival, Dutch Pinkpop, Lowlands festival, England’s Latitude Festival, and Australia’s Splendour in the Grass. Their performance at Splendour led to an invitation to participate in the 2011 Laneway Festival.
In April 2011, they issued End Blood exclusively for Record Store Day, featuring two tracks that were left off the original album.
Fragrant World
In May 2011, Yeasayer introduced "Devil and the Deed" during an appearance on Conan O'Brien's talk show. While touring across North America, they also performed "Demon Road" and "Henrietta," all of which would be included on their forthcoming record.
Their third studio album, Fragrant World, was released on August 21, 2012. The band adopted an inventive promotional strategy by sending physical copies of "Henrietta" to 200 fans, fostering a direct and personal connection. The remainder of the album was unveiled through an online scavenger hunt featuring clues that led to each track alongside artwork by Yoshi Sodeoka. To further amplify exposure, Yeasayer performed "Longevity" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon shortly before the album's official release.
Following their progression from Odd Blood, Fragrant World embraced a more experimental direction, consciously distancing itself from pop elements in favor of darker and more abstract rhythmic explorations. Wolf Tuton highlighted their intentional avoidance of mainstream pop styles, while Anand Wilder emphasized prioritizing innovation over crafting catchy hooks.
Prior to the album launch, Yeasayer incorporated numerous new compositions into their live shows, reimagining older material to maintain audience engagement and freshness. Collaborating with Casey Reas and The Creators Project, they developed an interactive stage setup featuring mirrored prism structures that enhanced performances through dynamic light reflection and refraction.
On June 21, 2013, the band announced intentions to commence work on their fourth album after summer. By July, Wilder confirmed that songwriting had started and studio sessions were planned for winter.
On November 12, 2013, Yeasayer expanded their catalog with the release of Good Evening, Washington D.C., a live recording captured at the 9:30 Club, showcasing their energetic stage presence.
Amen & Goodbye
Yeasayer revealed their album Amen & Goodbye on January 7, 2016, with the official release following on April 1, 2016. This announcement coincided with the debut of the music video for the track "I Am Chemistry."
On February 10, 2016, they unveiled a video for "Prophecy Gun," which incorporated sculptures portraying public figures such as Donald Trump and Caitlyn Jenner. The band characterized the visual style as a fusion reminiscent of "Sgt. Pepper, Hieronymous Bosch, Dali, and Pee-Wee's Playhouse."
The third single, titled "Silly Me," was released on March 2, 2016. This song introduced a more pop-centric approach that the band described as emerging from an alternative spectrum.
Erotic Reruns
On April 10, 2019, Yeasayer announced their fifth studio album, Erotic Reruns, which was subsequently released on June 7, 2019. The album came out under their own label, Yeasayer Records.
Disbandment
The group officially declared their dissolution on December 19, 2019, stating: “We have decided that Yeasayer has reached its end.”
Influences
Frontman Chris Keating attributes his creative inspiration to literature, poetry, and cinema, viewing art as an ongoing conversation. Their musical influences span artists such as Mystikal, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Talk Talk, Dead Can Dance, along with elements of classical music.
Discography
- All Hour Cymbals (2007)
- Odd Blood (2010)
- Fragrant World (2012)
- Amen & Goodbye (2016)
- Erotic Reruns (2019)