Grape Juice With Yo Grapes

Interview || Graping around with Yo Grapes

Hello Craig and a very warm welcome to Think IN Electronic. It’s an honor to be doing this interview with you. Thank you for taking time out to answer a few of our questions.

1. How are you doing and what’s the best way to celebrate spring fever?

I'm well thanks, last night I was outdoors at night with shortsleeves which was pretty awesome.

2. To start off can you tell us more about who you are and how you found yourself in music and of course we have to ask about the name Yo grapes?

I am a male who plays a few instruments. I first got into music because my mom said I have piano hands. I was terrible at the piano so I started playing drums and then guitar. A friend of mine used to call me 'Grapes' and greet me everyday with “Yo Grapes, how you doing?” I like the way that sounded.

3. What’s ‘s the best thing about living in South Africa?

Musically it's pretty interesting, a lot of young bands coming out and doing super well which is great. Apart from that we have some pretty sick places to go on holiday to.

4. Your sound draws on inspiration from abstract pop-meets-electronica acts like Cut Copy, Pnau and perhaps even Toro Y Moi, would you say those genres allow for more creative freedom?

I would say pop-electronica offers a bit more freedom than just plain pop music. The electronic element definitely lends itself to more experimental stuff and the pop element keeps it coherent, that's the case in my song writing anyways.

5. You're also a drummer for Desmond and The Tutus, do you think having a performance background helped in approaching your own live shows as a solo artist with more confidence?

Somewhat, yes. It helped that being on a stage wasn't a completely foreign concept to me, definitely singing in front of an audience was a new experience for me though, that took some getting used to.

6. How would you compare the creative process involved in working on a song as a band as opposed to working on your own?

I can take a bit longer writing on my own. With a band it's aout everyone's schedules and so when you're at a song writing session together there's a bit more pressure to get stuff done in a certain amount of time. Both have pros and cons though.

7. How have you found the reception to your independently released album Grape Juice, especially now that it's been out in the world for some time?

Pretty good. I'm happy with what it has done for me so far. The coolest thing that came from it was a release on Flake Records based in Osaka, Japan.

8. A lot of your music feels like it would inevitably be snatched up for an indie film score starring Michael Cera. Do you have an all-time favourite film score that's stuck with you over the years?

I love the Garden State OST – that has been stuck in my iTunes for years now. A great collection of songs.

9. What are some of your non-music related inspirations that help usher on the creative process when you're in a creative dead-end?

I find being outside does a hell of a lot for creativity.

10. You're playing the Cool Inc tattoo expo this year. Do you have any tattoos and if so, what's the story behind your favourite one?

I don't actually have any tattoos, but I did have a tattoo it would be a picture of a dragon giving birth to a lion-scorpion cross while in the middle of a hurricane.

11. What can some of the Cool Inc guests expect from your set on the day?

I will be flippen charismatic.

12. We need to ask what kind of grape are you black or green?

Green. Seedless.

13. Any Last messages for your fans?

Dreams are for sleeping!

Catch Yo Grapes playing at the 5th Annual COOL INC TATTOO EXPO

19 - 21 September 2014