Y LUV are a funny bunch, as you’ll see reading on, but there’s nothing laughable about their music. Merging ‘Hot Fuss’ era Killers with the Edge’s enveloping melodies, this Californian five-piece (Freddy, Sam, Marcello, Evan and Luke) sat atop the Hype Machine chart when producer Gazzo decided to remix their track ‘Never Touch the Ground.’ The band met at university in LA and their forthcoming new EP promises more of what they call their “antidote to sullenness.”
Crack in the Road: So how did the collaboration with Gazzo come about?
FJ: He got in touch with us after seeing ‘Keep It Rollin’ on the Hype Machine Chart. We didn’t know him at all and still haven’t met him but he sure can remix the shit out of our songs.
Evan Newman: Can I get an Amen!
CitR: How have you been finding all the positive attention you’ve gained recently?
Sam Nardella: The attention’s great but nothings sealed yet. We’re just trying to put more work out there so we can get to the next level.
LH: It feels kinda like being emancipated by a tribe of hospitable gnomes from displacement in a magic jungle.
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CitR: You were were still finding your path on your previous EP ‘How Chill Can You Let Go?’ Are you’re firmly on that path with the new EP or is there still a way to go?
FJ: We’re still finding that path. But I think part of the point is to never really find your way. Keep searching. Keep it wide open.
CitR: What can people expect from your new EP?
SN: I would say it’s got some more complex stuff going on. Hopefully everyone likes it. However you never really know what people will think.
EN: I think it shows versatility on our part. The songs maintain that “Y LUV” feel while branching out in different directions.
CitR: Will it be like anything you’ve done before?
SN: I don’t think so. I was able to get more experimental on this one by using some analog delays. I was able to experiment in one session, which I’ve never done before.
EN: We’ll sound like Y LUV.
CitR: You just sent it off to be mastered too. How was the recording process? Was it quite easy or were there bumps along the way?
SN: There were a lot of bumps. However I could really lean on the other guys when I got discouraged or lost with the sounds.
EN: This is my first EP I have recorded with Y LUV since I joined last summer. It’s been great to work with a group of guys who can have way too much fun sitting down in a tiny room for hours and still get the job done.
CitR: Finally, what’s next for you all?
FJ: Release this EP. Release a video for Keep It Rollin. Release a Gazzo remix for Keep It Rollin. Work on new music. Play more shows.
LH: I’m thinking of getting a chinchilla.
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Interview: Y LUV

“All the records I love are analogue recordings. Digital sucks the life out of records and you miss out. It’s all sleek and slippery and feels like there’s a sheet of glass between the music.  We make rock ‘n’ roll music. I don’t like to put a tag on it but that’s how I see it. It’s true and honest.”
I’m speaking to Two Wounded Birds’ lead singer Johnny Danger who is bunged up inside with a sick bug despite it being being wonderfully sunny. It’s been mere months since the release of their self-titled debut which, recalling the hooks of Jerry Lee Lewis and Eddie Cochran, embodies the band’s fascination with all things vintage. The only tracks taken from their EP are the Tarantino-esque ‘Together Forever’ and ‘To Be Young.’ I ask Johnny why these were included on the album as opposed to the more upbeat ‘Keep Dreaming Baby.’ “That song isn’t where the band is right now,” he begins. “’Keep Dreaming Baby’ represented our honeymoon period and it didn’t feel right to include it. People had the wrong idea of what kind of band we were and I wanted to wait and release an album of real quality. It was a conscious decision to just wait and hold the album off until now.”
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Whereas other record labels might have pushed the band to release an album quickly, their signing with Holiday Friends Recording Co. has given them total freedom. Ran by Drums guitarist Jacob Graham, who signed the band after spotting them on MySpace, the label’s relationship with the group acts as a friendship rather than a business deal: “It’s nice we have someone that’s really happy to get involved with the music,” Johnny explains. “I think it’s important to work with people who are into music and what they’re doing. If you can find someone with a common interest you can bond and enjoy each other’s company. It’s not good to be with someone who’s not interested in what’s going on,” Johnny elaborates.”
Given that there’s more music available online than ever, I wonder if Two Wounded Birds would be as big as they currently are if they signed a deal today. For Johnny, it’s a question of whether people are actually into the music they make: “There’s so much saturation and everyone’s making music but is everyone in love with it?” he questions. “I don’t think so. Everyone’s doing it for the wrong reasons because it’s a fad or whatever. It doesn’t help that no one’s buying anything anymore. It’s more difficult for newer bands nowadays.”
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Johnny’s recently been working on new songs which he assures will be pushed out within the next year or so. “I’m working on things I’d love to get out at least April next year,” he tells me. “I don’t like the idea of waiting a long time to get things out.” Does this create more pressure on his songwriting? “It’s not like a chore. It overtakes your life in a good way. You become over obsessed with song writing and everything else fits in around that. I don’t feel any pressure.”

Interview: Y LUV

Interview: Two Wounded Birds