//Letters to YVYNYL//

HALAN “Little More”

/ When you love writing music that is sad, it tends to go slower and is muscled up through grumbling angst. It’s good to keep working on the craft of writing a song that feels danceable. Dancing is the antidote to being sad. Songwriter Helen Zhou’s new single was launched with the endeavor to stop moping and add a little skip to her step. The single came out on April 16th, 2021.

Hi Mark,

I grew up in Singapore learning classical piano but was never really good at it because I never played any of the pieces according to the style of the period - I added too much pedal to Bach and played Mozart too aggressively. For that reason, and that reason alone, I failed my piano Diploma exam.

I moved to Los Angeles for college and sang poorly in various rock and metal cover bands before finally learning how to scream and sing properly when I graduated. Post-college I found myself in an original theatrical metal band which promised much but did not do much, so I decided to learn how to produce music and make my own songs, and actually get stuff done.

I released my first songs in 2020 of the dark alt-pop genre. I almost exclusively write sad songs because music is my outlet for sad feelings, particularly the “romance” kind. So I found myself releasing a debut melancholy alt-pop EP titled “Best Intentions” about guys who had the worst intentions towards me. Fodder for me to mope around.

Towards the end of 2020, I realized that my music did not really match up with who I am and want to be. Pre-pandemic I liked going to metal concerts and headbang until my neck is stiff or electronic concerts and dance until my body turns into meat pulp. I miss upbeat music, and I want to make upbeat music. So I decided to change my style of production.

This year I still write sad songs about romantic letdowns but what the hell, I make them so at least I get to party to the songs. I make dance-pop now and my first release is “Little More,” about a texting relationship with a guy who promised much but did not do much. I wrote the song in 2020 as a sad indie pop song initially but revamped it into what it is now, a fierce rebuke to YOU, Mr. Gif, who can’t open up or progress a romantic relationship. Bye!

I hope you enjoy the song.

Best,
HALAN

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//Letters to YVYNYL//

Little Fuss “Watch Out”

/ I’ve been a bit checked out of the internet this year, despite endless swiping my way through my dumb phone. I came across this letter today and it made me remember how many wonderful songs I get here and how great it is to touch base with artists who are still slogging along in this swamp as the rest of us. Have a listen to this new lovely new song from duo Cody Von LehmdenandOlivia Martinez.

Hi Mark!

First of all, I want to thank you for curating this blog and all you do for the music community. I know firsthand how big of an impact you have had on individual artists and creators as a whole. In fact, it feels like a wild, full-circle moment to be writing to you because, in a very direct way, YVYNYL is responsible for starting my own music career.

Nearly five years ago my brother, who was in my band, The Candescents, wrote to you in what we saw as a longshot that anyone would take a chance on a small, upstart indie band from rural Ohio. You decided to feature us, however, based on nothing but a self-produced song and a few grainy photographs. I remember waking up on the morning after it was released to a flurry of excited messages from my bandmates, and we watched as your blog post slowly caused the song to spread across the internet—gaining traction from an army of bloggers and deep-internet music lovers.

It was perhaps the most exciting and fulfilling moment of my entire life to see absolute strangers supporting something that I was a part of. Little did I know at the time, your decision to feature us and our music would start me out on a half-decade journey that would culminate with getting signed to Dirty Hit Records, going on several North American tours, and forming a life based around my love for music. While I consider myself lucky to have been a part of such a dream scenario, both my brother and I departed in early 2019—the reasons for which could be an entire article in itself!!

The world however keeps turning, and I have somehow found the past couple years to be even more exciting than the last. After leaving the band, I packed up all of my possessions and music equipment into my car and drove to the east coast—with little direction or purpose other than my desire to continue making music. I ended up in Boston where I auditioned for Berklee College of Music and was accepted to study in Valencia, Spain. While studying abroad, I met Olivia Martinez, and immediately we bonded over a shared passion for cheap wine and creating art. Since being kicked out of Spain due to COVID, we’ve remained singularly committed to growing together as artists, and our project, Little Fuss, has become our medium into which we have put all of our energy. Our single “Watch Out” and accompanying self-shot music video is the first taste from our debut EP.

Both lyrically and musically, this song represents the need for us to keep pushing forward as songwriters and not become complacent in following a set formula. The need for discovery is an intangible part of what makes this band so special, and that is perhaps best exemplified by our DIY approach to almost every aspect of our music. All of the supporting material, including the video and artwork, was completely done by ourselves during quarantine. The music video in particular was shot and edited over the course of two days and is our first foray into videography. We couldn’t be more proud to share this art with you that we care so deeply about, and we hope that you enjoy it!

Over the past year, this project has served as a constant reminder to only look back as a means to appreciate what you have. Because of that, I don’t view Little Fuss through the lens of The Candescents, but rather as a completely separate and important entity. This song is just the start of what I know to be a long and fruitful songwriting partnership, and we would greatly appreciate it if you considered featuring us on your blog!

Thank you for reading!

- Cody Von Lehmden

Support YVYNYL, an independent music project here!

Got a story to tell? Submit it to Letters to YVYNYL.

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Clever Thing @ The Finsbury

Clever Thing played The Finsbury, north London on 25 March 2016, supported by Holloway and Nova Twins.

Last Train @ Hoxton

French band Last Train headlined the Paris is Burning night at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen on 4 February 2016, supported by Keep Up and Jagged Joy.

Requested:

Gemini

Infp

Lesbian

Ravenclaw

Oceans // Misterwives