In a world of inflated egos and outrageous demands, Yolanda Be Cool, aka Bondi boys Andy and Matt, have kept their feet on the ground and let their music do the talking. The unavoidable worldwide number one breakthrough track, “We No Speak Americano” sold over 5 million copies and amassed over 200 million youtube views. Their critically acclaimed album “Ladies and Mentalmen” released on DIM MAK in 2013 featured indigenous Australian icon Gurrumul, house royalty Crystal Waters and Barbara Tucker, soul legend Betty Wright and US up n coming rap star Nola Darling. They even co-own/A&R for the seminal Australian record label Sweat It Out, home to artists such as RÜFÜS, What So Not, Motez and many more.
How did your music career get started in earnest?
Matt:
After a new years eve party, a friend left his decks and records at my friends place and I literally played on them all day until I couldn’t stand up. I was hooked. Making music came a little later, but was a natural progression from being your typical bedroom banger.
Andy:
I played guitar and sang in bands at school and university. Then I went to Ibiza, took a pill and came back and bought turntables. The rest it history.
Where are you from and does it have an influence on your music?
Matt & Andy:
From Sydney. And yes, for sure it does. If you think about it, reggae comes from warm places and techno from cold. Sydney is pretty warm and so even when we try to write something a little darker, it still ends up being brighter than we meant. haha
How many times did you want to quit trying to make this your career?
Matt & Andy:
Quitting has never really been a thing because how can you quit what you love. Obviously, choosing music as a career is full of ups and downs, but we thank our lucky stars every day that we get to do this thing we love and actually get paid to do it. We’d do it for free.
What was one piece of equipment that helped define your sound early on?
Matt & Andy:
We’ve had most of our success through sampling so I guess we would say other people’s equipment?
When you were getting started, which artists did you try to emulate (both musically and careerwise)?
Matt:
In our early days, as well as right now, we’ve always loved house music that has a bit of quirk about it. People like Riva Starr, Jesse Rose, Zombie Disco Squad and of course the big guy, Claude
Andy:
I totally agree with all the people Matt just mentioned above but also our hero AJAX (RIP), the co-founder of our label Sweat It Out, was a massive inspiration musically for us. He is still the best DJ we have ever seen with impeccable taste in music.
When you have a tough week or a rough tour, how do you get yourself back on track?
Matt & Andy:
Meditation, yoga, healthy living, and a dip in the ocean. Best way to reset.
Where and when are you at your most content/happiest?
Matt:
In perfect surf, warm water, with a few close mates.
Andy:
Chiling at home with the fam after a hectic tour, spending the days and nights in the studio working on new music, and getting ready to do it all over again.
About Chilimanjaro EP! Can you give us a little bit of background on how the EP came to be?
Matt:
Thank you. It came about slowly actually… we found the sample probably a year ago. We look for samples all day, then work on them, then park them… then sometimes come back to them. In this case, we were over at Sedz’ (Cut Snake) house which is about 90 minutes south of LA and we were working on some tunes (which are still parked hahaha) and we played him what became “Chilimanjaro,” and he loved it and had some awesome ideas so we just smashed it out together. Same with the B-side, “Afro Force,” really.
https://soundcloud.com/yolandabecool/sets/chilimanjaro-ep
Really excited to see that you’d collaborated with Cut Snake on the tracks. What was it like working together?
Matt:
Awesome. We are huge fans of Sedz and also great mates so it’s a perfect combo. He comes to us or we go to him. We work on tunes, go for a surf, work on tunes, have dinner, go to bed, wake up, do the same. So it’s a pretty awesome work/play environment.
Andy:
Oh, and when we are at his house, at night we battle out who can show the most ridiculous YouTube videos with him and his legendary girlfriend.
Which artists should we be keeping an eye on in the year ahead who are about to make a serious impact?
Andy:
In the dance world, Jordan Brando, who we just signed to Club Sweat – he is definitely on the up and up. I would say Dom Dolla, but you can’t really rise further than Beatport number one which he has just had. Next in line would be Torren Foot and Go Freek – they have been threatening hugeness for a while so it really is only a matter of time for them for sure.
Matt:
In the less dance world, Price J is going to be huge in 2019 – watch this space!!! We couldn’t be more excited about her. And then if you haven’t heard of Crooked Colours, well, 2019 going to be their year too!