The meticulously crafted Yumi And The Weather brings together futuristic electro-pop that is as happy voyaging through luscious vocal sounds and catchy beats, as delving into more haunting and introspective places. After the recent release of the fantastic Something Tells Me EP we had to find out more about this special local talent. I had a couple of pints and a game of Battle Ships with the brains behind Yumi And The Weather, Ruby Taylor, to find out more.
 
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Harrow up in North-West London/Middlesex area. I moved down to Worthing when I was about 14 years old.
 
Is there much of a music scene there?
Yeah, when I got into high school everyone was listening to Garage, R&B and pop, but then at the same time I was listening to the Jimi Hendrix and Green Day as well as being in love with Sisqó and Craig David. So I was getting a real mixture of genres. When I moved down to Worthing everyone’s music taste was so different, it was all punk, ska and indie.
 
What kind of music were you brought up on?
My dad was really into Dad Rock and my mum was a massive Bruce Springsteen fan. She also had these really weird CDs in her collection as well, like a South American Pan Pipe album. At dinner time we used to always sit down as a family and listen to music like Doris Day and Dean Martin. My mums partner got me into more heavy stuff like Alice Cooper – I would be listening to R&B in my room, he would be like, “why are you listening to that crap” and give me Green Day’s Dookie album.
 
Can you remember the first album you owned/brought?
On cassette it was All Saints. The first album I bought for myself was Summer Dance 98’, I’ll never forget that album – haha! My first record that I bought was Jimi Hendrix’s Greatest Hits from this awesome record shop that’s not there anymore called Jamming With Edward in Harrow. I didn’t have a vinyl player at the time but I knew when I was in high school that I was going to be into vinyl – I think it was the idea that it made me feel older.
 
What was the first instrument you learnt to play?
The first instrument was the violin and I was pretty bad – it was so screechy. My dad played bass but he had a guitar lying around the house and I would always pick it up and play around with it. I felt that the violin was quite cool at the time and learnt what my dad was listening to, like plucking Deep Purple. I ended up getting bored of the violin so my dad started to teach me properly how to play the guitar. I then started to sing through learning the guitar, but I couldn’t really sing at the time. When I was at school I really wanted to sing this song on my own, I think it was ‘Silent Night’, but my music teacher said (not a mean way) that I need to strengthen my singing.
 
Apparently you were in a reggae band before Yumi And The Weather?
When I moved to Worthing I got really into the ska scene. There were lots of local bands that I really looked up to and at the same time I was listening to a lot of dub and reggae. I went to see Madness at the Brighton Centre with my mum and my dad went through a phase of listening to Bob Marley which I fell in love with. I ended up buying this compilation called One Step Beyond which had music from 60s old skool ska to 2 tone 80s ska. From then on, I suddenly started writing ska tunes which evolved into reggae.
 
What is the story behind the name?
Someone told me about a conspiracy where the government was controlling the weather, and I said, “right, so they control you, me and the weather?!” As soon as I said it, I thought it sounded really nice. I then thought about it in terms of a person too – how weather affects so many people, whether it is your emotions or the food that we eat, and how dependent we are on it as well as the catastrophes it can cause. Also in England it is such a typical thing to start a conversation off with.
 
How would you describe your music?
Colourful, emotive and half-silly half-serious.
 
What were your main influences for the Something Tells Me EP?
Break ups, falling in love, mental health and Phil Collins. I love the gated snare in Phil Collins’ drum production.
 
How do you approach the writing and recording process?
I do it all myself. I’m not the kind of producer how goes into the studio and lives there for ages without showering, I find that I need to get out and let the music have space. I know my samples so well that I can immediately decide what sound I want, sequence them and then build from there.
 
Have you been thinking about the next release?
I think I am going to do one more EP and then an album. I have enough for those already, I just need to finish them. I have just got a new studio that I am doing up, so I have been working my ass off to save money to put into it.
 
What has been a musical eye-opener?
When I was 16/17 years old, in a pub in Littlehampton called the Railway Club opposite the station, everyone was craving live music. People were forming bands and putting on nights but there was no one like the council backing it. We had to put on our business heads and put on our own shows to generate this musical youth culture. Everyone loved and wanted to go to these gigs all the time. Seeing bands perform at the Railway Club made me want to be in a band.
 
Who would be in your ultimate supergroup?
Prince on vocals and guitar. St. Vincent on guitar, vocals and backing vocals. Rick Wakeman (Yes) on synths/piano. James Jamerson (The Funk Brothers) on bass. Chris 'Daddy' Dave (D’Angelo) on Drums.
 
What would be your perfect line-up for a concert you are putting on and where would it be?
I had a dream years ago where I was on a beach looking at an island where there was a stage – that would be amazing. Nick Drake would start things off, then Jimi Hendrix, with Led Zeppelin playing before Bob Marley who would have to headline.
 
If you could work with any artist, who would it be and what would they bring to Yumi And The Weather?
I have always want to work with Slugabed (Activia Benz), this Electronic producer from London. I love his music and I get a really fun vibe from it.
 
If you could have written any song ever, which one would it be and why?
Anything that St. Vincent has done first comes to mind. Her song-writing is insane and you just cannot fault her voice. I wish I had written A-Ha’s ‘Take On Me’, I just love that song!
 
Have any gigs stood out for you this year?
This year I managed to see one of my dream bands at the End Of The Road Festival, The War On Drugs. I also got to see Alvvays there and fell in love with one of their songs called ‘Party Police’. Future Islands and Marika Hackman were also incredible. The whole festival blew me away – I even got to meet Nick Drake’s sister!
 
What music are you listening to at the moment, any recommendations?
I found this Hip-Hop group called Artifacts who are great. I bought tickets yesterday to see Jamie Woon in March. Jordan Rakei was supporting NAO at the Green Door Store recently, his voice and piano playing is amazing. One of my best mates is in a band called Pink Film, who are brilliant! He also sent me this incredible album called Back From The Brink – Pre-Revolution Psychedelic Rock From Iran: 1973-1979, which then got me into Awesome Tapes From Africa that Sam my booking manager showed me. NTS Radio is always good too.
 
What are your future plans?
To make as much music as possible and tour. I have a mini tour in January.