RECORDS LiVE

Tamara: Guys, look who I just ran into on my way home. It’s Val from Yungatita.

Val: What’s up everybody?

Tamara: Okay, so you brought some tunes for us to listen to today. Okay. First track.

Song Plays: SUPERWORLD – Dark Upper

Tamara: Who is this band?

Val: Okay, so SUPERWORLD… I picked a lot of, I guess you would say, obscure bands. I’m listening to a lot of local bands or bands that are local to California in general. And this band, they’re from San Jose. Originally, they were members from this other band called Leer, which is also a great band. This is their new project and they just dropped this EP. And oh my gosh, I just, it’s so good. We just played with them last week in Boyle Heights. They’re an excellent, amazing band. Such sweethearts too. I found out that they’re part of other bands that we like. I think the bass player or guitarist was in Spy. And they’re super nice and they rock so hard. I specifically love this song, you know? It’s fast-paced, there’s screaming in it. And it’s melodic.

I love the balance of melodic music with a breakdown or like, you know, some screaming and yelling because I personally like to scream. And yeah, I feel like that’s my forte.

So, this is a good mix of everything I like. They’re on Lauren Records, which also has a bunch of amazing bands on there. I would recommend to go check out Lauren Records. They’ve been around for so long. Lauren Records was part of VLHS, which was out here in Pomona too. So, there’s like a whole history behind that, that I was never a part of. But, you know, I know people that were a part of it. And yeah, the DIY music scene lead to bands like this. And yeah, I don’t know. I, I just love it.

They’re also, so sweet because my guitar player Jose, he broke his string after the first song that we played… By the way, which was also crazy, not to go on a tangent, but he almost didn’t make it from the airport to our show. He showed up like 15 minutes before we had to play. SUPERWORLD had just finished playing too. But they’re so sweet because Jose broke his string on stage and they let us use their guitar. So that was cool.

Tamara: I love that. Good boys.

Val: Yeah. So, they just dropped this recently. I’ve just been listening to this song a lot. I play it at least once a day.

Tamara: This is a cool part of the song. I love this like, wind down.

Val: Yeah. It’s kind of like a breakdown. And then like, just the angst. You know what I mean?

Tamara: I love it. Yeah. Do you think local music, friends’ music, people that you play with, that’s more in your rotation? 

Val: You know, lately it’s been kind of like that. I’ve been listening to a lot of local bands. It’s kind of really weird. This is what I’m listening to all the time. It’s a little weird because people will be in the car with me and be like, “What even is this?”

Tamara: You’re like, “Oh, it’s this obscure band.”

Val: But no, they’re super sick. I highly suggest you check out SUPERWORLD. They rock. Yeah.

Tamara: Nice. How was it blending your performance with their performance? You think they kind of fit together really well?

Val: You know that lineup was like so random. Aaron from Lauren Records decided to do it. We thought all of the bands were so cool. Star 99 also played and Dive Time, who I’ve also done songs with. It was such a random lineup but we were honestly really honored to be part of it because Star 99 and SUPERWORLD are like, just awesome bands. I was a little nervous that we wouldn’t fit, but for some reason it ended up working. Like it did kind of match or like make sense, you know? So yeah, I was relieved.

Tamara: Hey, so it’s a big genre switch right now.

Song Plays: Angélica Garcia – Paloma

Val: Yeah. This is Angélica Garcia. I love this song so much. She is from El Monte. So, she’s from here, the LA area. I didn’t really find out about her until a couple years ago, but she has an exceptional, amazing voice and it just impressed me immediately and captivated me. I love her music because it’s so whimsical and freeing. And this song especially gets me like, so emotional. The song’s called “Paloma,” which is, I think dove in Spanish. And I think the song revolves around grief, like losing somebody. But the person that was lost or whatever it was that was lost is still there with her in spirit, you know? And I don’t know, the song just gets me so emotional like I’m gonna cry. But yeah.

Tamara: How often do you get emotional listening to music? Or do you try to steer away from emotional music?

Val: Oh no, I will do it. I will literally I will cry for anything. Like, honestly even a really happy song that’s not sad at all will make me cry. I’ll just have this overwhelming feeling of like ecstasy and think, I cannot believe that there are humans in this world that just came up with something so beautiful. Like how is that real? It’s making me cry right now, you know? So, yeah, I get pretty emotional when I listen to music. I think that’s what makes it, I mean that’s why I like to do music.

Tamara: Do you get emotional writing your own music? Sometimes.

Val: Sometimes. Yeah. I’ll be writing in my journal like for like lyrics and stuff and I’ll be like, “Oh my god, like I don’t know if it’s just me but this is hitting right now.” You know what I mean? I’ll just be scribbling and there will be a tear on my journal. It’s kind of cringy but whatever.

Tamara: What’s your sign?

Val: I am a cancer. Yeah, who’s a cancer in here? Let’s go.

Tamara: Yeah, love cancers. I’m also a cancer. We love them. But yeah. I like this song because even though you say it’s like a sad message and a sad story, it’s also dancy and fun. It’s got like, a little euphoria to it despite the lyrics.

Val: Yeah, it is bittersweet because it’s finding a peace with grief and loss. So yeah, it captures that feeling because sometimes when you’re grieving, it’s really hard to put into words that you find a bright side to things, as weird as that is to say. She captured it so perfectly in the song. Like, I love this song so much.

Tamara: Yeah. How did you discover her music?

Val: I had a friend that actually joined her band. Because she is working out of New York now. And yeah, I found out about her through him posting about it and I was like, “Wow, my gosh, her music is so good.” And yeah, she’s doing really good. I think she went on tour with Idles and bands like that. She’s so talented.

Tamara: What is her live performance like?

Val: I haven’t seen her live yet. I’ve only seen videos, but they’re good.

Tamara: Another deep cut, another obscure band.

Val: I know. I’m so sorry, guys.

Song Plays: Collars – Posturing

Tamara: She putting you on.

Val: I’m putting you on. Nah, I’m kidding. Okay. This band. I love Collars. It’s funny because I’ve actually known the guys in collars for almost 10 years now. They’re all from the Antelope Valley and they’re young, or like I met them when they were still in high school. And it’s just so cool to see them come all this way and make the coolest music of all time. And this song in particular, “Posturing,” I play it at least three times a day. It’s like a coming of age feeling type of song. I don’t know exactly what it’s about. It’s one of those songs where I get lost in the music and the melodies, the vocal melodies and all that kind of become part of the music.

It just makes me feel like it’s one of those songs that have always existed. Like I’ve known it since I was a little kid, but it’s not. It was just dropped like two months ago or something.

Tamara: Yeah. It reminds me of high school when, what was that band called? They sang “Came Out Swinging” – The Wonder Years. Do you remember when The Wonder Years were big? It was that era of emo when they had vocals like this with the good whine kind of melody and the raspiness. That’s what it’s like. This does sound like it came out 15 years ago.

Val: Yeah. West Coast emo. But yeah, they’re cool. We got lucky enough to play a show with them recently. We went to Santa Cruz and we played this little dive bar with them and they’re just an excellent band. All of them are shredders. Like every band member is a shredder.

Tamara: How many members do they have?

Val: I think it’s four of them. Yeah, four of them. Actually, they just played here on Sunday.

Tamara: Were you here for it?

Val: I was. I was here for it. Yeah, and they sounded amazing here too, so that was fun.

Tamara: Nice, I love that.

Val: It comes full circle.

Tamara: You said they’re from Antelope Valley?

Val:  Yeah, they’re all the way from the A.V. Yeah.

Tamara: They got some good bands coming out of Antelope Valley.

Val: Honestly, they have great music out there. Like, all they do is they jam in their garages. In like, in the heat, you know? And they just come up with really cool stuff. But yeah, they’re an excellent band and I’ve been bumping this song like every day since it came out.

Tamara: It’s so good. Do you listen to like, their music often, would you say?

Val: Yeah. Some of the members from that band used to be in this band called Witchin Alleys, and they still do it. And yeah, I love them too. They’re just all shredders. I’m like, dang, you guys are just shredding out there in the desert all day, you know?

Tamara: That’s cute. Do you still see them as kids because you met them when they were in high school?

Val: Kind of a little bit. It’s just so funny to see them be adults now. They’re at the bars with us. Like, that’s so weird.

Tamara: They’re probably like 27.

Val: Yeah, 25.

Tamara: Right, they’re not even that young. I know they’re not young.

Val: Oh. I love this song.

Song Plays: Pardoner – Broadway

Tamara: Okay, tell me about this band. Tell me their lore.

Val: I don’t really know too much lore about bands, but somehow when I start talking, I’m like, “I didn’t realize I knew that much about them.”

Tamara: You’re like, “Oh, this person’s cousin was here on this day…”

Val: Okay, so they’re from Oakland I think, and they’re just one of those bands that I just like everything that they do. Every song. They just dropped an EP. I forgot what the name of it is, but they dropped it sometime last year, and it was in my rotation. Like, I was obsessed. And then I recently started listening this song again, and for some reason it’s been hitting like crazy. But yeah, they’re a band from Oakland, and they rock. I don’t know how often they play, but I would love to see them live because they just rock, you know?

Tamara: Yeah. Would you play with them?

Val: I would, but they’re too cool.

Tamara: No, they’re not too cool.

Val: They’re honestly way too cool. I could only dream to make bangers like this.

Tamara: You do make bangers like this.

Val: Aw, thanks. But yeah, their artwork is exceptional too. I don’t know who does it, but it’s just so sick. It’s like, they all have like a very similar vibe. I think it’s probably the same artist. I don’t know who it is, but yeah. It’s one of those types of bands where if I just saw the artwork on its own in a record store, I would get the album. There isn’t that much artwork that makes me actually be like, “Oh, I’m going to check out this band.”

Tamara: Do you think as an artist, you’re more particular about artwork?

Val: Yeah. I could be a little bit of a hater sometimes. If I see some kind of whatever artwork, I’m like, eh…

Tamara: You’re like, “Lazy.”

Val: Yeah, I’m like, “Hire me.” No, I’m kidding. I’m just kidding.

Tamara: Hire them. They’re an amazing graphic artist. Look at the Yungatita single covers and look at the Bed EP cover.

Val: Oh, yeah. I did Bed’s EP cover. That’s another band that’s in my rotation.

Tamara: That’s another band from Antelope Valley.

Val: Oh, yeah. They’re also from the A.V. They’re all in each other’s bands too. All of them are excellent musicians.

Tamara: They’re all so good. Yeah. They have to swap out through each band. How do you get approached to create artwork for somebody else’s song?

Val: I’m not going to lie. It’s the DMs. The DMs stay busy. The DM box stays full.

Song Plays: Junior Mesa – Losing My Grip

Tamara: Oh, this is good. Oh my God.

Val: Yeah. I love this song too. I mean, I love all these songs, obviously.

Tamara: You’re like, “Oh my god, wait guys. This song is so good.”

Val: But okay, yeah, Junior Mesa. Man, like, I love this song so much because it reminds me of Canned Heat. They’re a 70s band. They have this song called “Going Up the Country” that I love. This song kind of reminds me of that because it has a little flute. I love those bubbly little sounds. I think that’s why I like this song so much.

Tamara: This song is beautiful.

Val: Mm-hmm. I like the lyrics of it too. I relate, you know? And I just love a free form kind of singing. Where it’s like, there’s a melody, but it’s almost talking kind of a little bit. I just love a free song like this, just a kind of rock and roll type song.

Tamara: Yeah, it’s so good. It’s very Bob Dylan.

Val: Yeah, kind of. So, yeah. I love that coat he’s wearing on the cover. The coat is cool. I wish I had a coat like that.

Tamara: Yeah, it’s a really good aesthetic. Very Tumblr.

Val: But yeah, so Julian, who is Jules, plays synth and guitar for us now. And he’s actually in Junior Mesa’s band. Junior Mesa… He’s from, I think, Bakersfield. So also kind of a local band, I guess you could consider it. I think he’s in LA now. But yeah, Julian is in his band and because they’re in LA now, that’s why Julian’s in our band. And yeah, I don’t know. It’s just kind of like a small world, you know?

Tamara: That’s cool. That’s so funny. There’s so much heat coming from Bakersfield also.

Val: Honestly, it’s the desert.

Tamara: Like there’s nothing to do so those people become prodigies.

Val: Yeah, straight up.

Song Plays: Blueberry – wander

Tamara: This is a special band to you.

Val: It is. Oh my gosh, do people know? I didn’t do it for that. I’m not biased, okay? So, you know, I told you I’ve known the guys from Collars and Witchin Alleys, since they were kids. I actually found out about Blueberry at that time. And I just absolutely fell in love with Blueberry. So, I’ve liked this band for like, I don’t know, like seven years, eight or six years. I don’t know. It’s been a minute. And yeah. And then they dropped this album or whatever. And then yes, I am dating the singer.

Tamara: Unbiased though.

Val: Unbiased! I liked them before that. I swear.

Tamara: What do you like about this song?

Val: Okay, so I like almost all of their songs. And I definitely like their more upbeat, like kind of happier songs. But for some reason, this one has just been hitting. It’s a little bit slower in tempo. And it’s one of those songs that will get me emotional. So, I’m not going to lie. Like, I play this song in my car when I’m alone a lot. And I will legit be crying on the freeway like, you know, for no reason. Like I’m not even sad. The song gets me there.

Tamara: It just takes you to a place.

Val: So yeah, it’s a short song. But it helps me release any, you know, I get down in my feels a lot. It’s a good way for me to kind of release. It kind of makes me feel free. It’s getting me emotional right now actually.

Tamara: That’s cute. When you see them live, does it get you in your emotions? Does it make you feel free?

Val: Yeah, it actually does. And I turn into such a fan girl. I’ll be screaming like, “Yeah!” Even though I see often. They played here the other night too with Collars.

Tamara: They played with Collars. That’s amazing. So, you probably went crazy that night.

Val: Well, not necessarily because I was a little bit low key dying.

Tamara: West Nile.

Val: But yeah, I was still here to support.

Tamara: Amazing. Okay. Thank you for letting us listen to some amazing music.

Val: Yeah. Thank you for having me.

Tamara: I hope you had fun. And where can the people find you? Where can we catch you next?

Val: You could find us on Instagram and Tumblr. I recently booted up my Tumblr again. And you know, all the music areas where they find music. And we’re playing a show at the Fox Theater with SEPT, the band. Everybody who’s here, please come. It’s going to be fun.

Tamara: It’s an insane lineup.

Val: It honestly is. Ultra Q is headlining.

Tamara: Slow Hollows will be there.

Val: Bed is also going to be there. There’s a lot of a lot of cool bands.