Pop Music Notes

One of the great things to me about writing on pop music is occasionally getting to interview artists about their music and where that comes from. I recently had a chance to have a few questions answered by Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP, whom were in different parts of the world at the time. Gotta love the Internet, right? Now that their “We No Speak Americano” is officially a hit in the States, where do they go from here?

John: First off, congratulations on the worldwide success of “We No Speak Americano.” Where are you at today?

Yolanda Be Cool: Why thank you very much! We are in Moldova… near the Ukraine & Romania

DCUP: Rio de Janeiro

John: What is the coolest place that you have gotten to visit because of “Americano?”

Yolanda Be Cool: The coolest place was Oslo last week… it was minus 6 degrees Celsius… haha! No, but the coolest place would have been a wave pool in Tenerife in the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco. They closed the wave pool for an hour so we could surf it all to ourselves. So much fun.

DCUP: Probably this place, but every new spot challenges the awesomeness of the last

John: So what comes first? The track or the sample?

Yolanda Be Cool: The sample usually… Certain songs, tracks, loops just stand out from the rest and we make a track around that hook.

DCUP: I just keep ideas when they come, whether a beat, a riff or a sample. Then combine them at a later date.

John: Now that the song has peaked in most places that it has been released, what’s next? Will there be an album?

Yolanda Be Cool: We working really hard finishing our debut Yolanda Be Cool album which will include collaborations with a load of amazing artists we have met whilst touring over the last year.

DCUP: We need to have a chat about that. But the second single is on its way.

John: How does it feel to see people all over the world embrace something you’ve created? Especially now that you’ve been nominated for 2 ARIAs in your homeland of Australia.

Yolanda Be Cool: It feels unbelievable really. We thought it might work in Italy for obvious reasons but the fact that is has worked in so many different countries and cultures still amazes us. We are stoked.

DCUP: When you can turn up in almost any country in the world and the taxi you take from the airport to the hotel will probably play your song, it’s awesome.

John: Will you be doing any type of tour in the US to promote “We No Speak Americano?”

Yolanda Be Cool: Yes, definitely. We have some dates at the end of Jan but then plan on doing an extensive tour in March next year.

DCUP: DCUP will be over in the second week of November for some DJ sets, and then again in the New Year with more of a live show. No gypsy dancers planned thus far

John: Last question…has success gone to your heads? If not, what’s the secret to not letting the grind of promoting a record corrupt you?

Yolanda Be Cool: It’s definitely gone to our heads. We request only pink and green Smarties in our rider now hahaha…just kidding

I think Johnson and I at the end of the day are just two normal guys who love music and love having a good time. So we just feel lucky our life is full of both of those things at the moment.

DCUP: Not at all. I think we are all the same dudes, just generally happier with our music careers and a little lower on sleep. The secret is to keep things in perspective; even if its one of the biggest songs of the year, there’s other big songs of the year, and many years of many big songs. Zoom back, and your not that big anymore. But you’re having an amazing ride, so enjoy it for all its worth.