Today, we’re delighted to introduce you to Black Yaya, the project of David Ivar, who is known for his work as a member of Herman Dune. After recently signing to City Slang, Black Yaya is set to release his debut self-titled LP on March 2nd. The first track from the forthcoming record, ‘Flying A Rocket’ is streaming online now.
The new moniker of David Ivar sees a previously unexplored side of his music come to light. With plenty of catchy guitar riffs, dreamy vocals and some sci fi-esque sounds, the album opener ‘Flying A Rocket’ showcases some enticing funk-laden sounds, providing a glimpse of what to expect from the forthcoming album.
Black Yaya is a new singer, songwriter, although he’s not new to the world of singer-songwriters. Indeed, he used to write, record and perform under Herman Dune. After travelling the seven seas and beyond with Herman Dune and recording more than ten albums with that band, Ivar decided he wanted to create something new so Black Yaya was born, the new moniker of Ivar.
One morning in November of 2012, David Ivar woke up with the strange feeling that he could not be in a band anymore, at least for the moment. He loved every moment he’d had shared with his friend, his brother, but he was different now. He needed to be able to speak for himself & for himself only. Something about being the voice of a band felt like he had to temper his feelings. As a band, he felt he was hiding behind a monster, but that big soft and furry monster had started to block his view a little bit, so he had to get it out of the way, at least for now.
For Black Yaya, David Ivar wanted to go back to recording everything himself, far from the recording facilities he had got used to with Herman Dune. He wanted to feel like he had when he was using four track tape recorders in High School, free to try anything with no pressure in terms of time spent working, or cost. His heroes were Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan and John Lennon he admired them with all his heart, they were singers, writers and guitar players, and that was all he cared for... And although it’s hard to point to anyone not influenced by these awesome names, he always felt joy bringing them up, and loved paying tribute to their impact on him. He felt they were the highest point of creativity, and that he’d better aim to the top, if one day he wanted to reach high, or at least to raise the level a little bit.
The forthcoming, eponymous self-titled record is the only official collection of Black Yaya songs known to date and will be available on March 2nd via City Slang. The initial limited vinyl edition will come with a bonus 7“ including 3 unreleased songs.
Whether it be the funk-fuelled grooves of ‘Glad Tidings’, the upbeat harmonica-notes on ‘Watchman’ or the mellow tones of ‘Through The Deep Note’ the debut LP from Black Yaya is packed with catchy pop-folk soaked tracks that makes the album so easy on the ear and marks a new and exciting step for David Ivar.
Album track list:
1. Flying A Rocket
2. Glad Tidings
3. Watchman
4. Lo & Behold
5. Through The Deep Night
6. Vigilante
7. Under Your Skin
8. Gimme A Gun
9. Save Them Little Children
SOCIAL MEDIA
https://www.facebook.com/davidivarblackyaya
http://instagram.com/blackyayayeah
http://blackyaya.com/
http://www.hermandune.com/