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Caity Vs. Sam & Yuri
There comes a moment of pride in a big-sister's life when she realizes that her youngest sister is all grown up and listening to awesome music. When they move out of that "my favourite song is whatever is #1 on the top 40" phase and come into their own and develop their own tastes. I had that moment of realization that my youngest sister Skye had come into that phase of her life when I took her car to the dealership for her to get her oil changed. Having forgotten my iPod and somewhat dreading what top 40 ear-assault might be in the CD player I warily turned on her stereo to hear something that shocked me to my core. The car was flooded with beautiful melodies, haunting piano and acoustic guitars, lyrics that gave me chills and after ten minutes of searching the car for an empty CD case, or a label or SOMETHING that could indicate what amazing band I was hearing was, I admitted defeat and called Skye to ask her what was in her car stereo.
She told me about this boy she worked with named Yuri whose music she loved and how he played with a boy Sam to form "Sam and Yuri". The moment I got home I logged onto MySpace and searched for them, amazed at the hometown talent I was hearing. Now you readers know that we at The Sound Faction have extremely wide and varying tastes in music, and that's the beauty of our little group, but when I passed on the MySpace page to the other staff members here, there was one thing we could all agree one: these boys have TALENT. So it is with great pleasure that I introduce you all to Sam and Yuri from Bangor, Maine!
"Our history and our experiences that have compiled, I think, to get us where we are right now. I mean, it may be our first record as Sam And Yuri, but there was a lot of cultivation, a lot of growth before it. So it represents the maturation that we've gone through up until that point."
Yuri: Sam & Yuri
So how we like to start off is by having you guys introduce yourselves for our readers who may or may not know who you guys are.
Sam: Hao!
Yuri: Hi, We're Sam and Yuri. Or Yuri and Sam. Because I'm Yuri. And that's Sam.
Yuri: Hi, We're Sam and Yuri. Or Yuri and Sam. Because I'm Yuri. And that's Sam.
So how did you two start playing together? How did you meet?
Sam: This is one of our favourite questions. Yuri?
Yuri: You want me to answer this?
Sam: Yeah, I want you to take it.
Yuri: All right. Well um, we both live in two completely different towns. We come from separate worlds. He lives in Glenburn Maine, and I live in Bangor Maine. So right from the beginning our worlds kind of collided. We ended up going to the same high school at Bangor High and immediately--
Sam: We hated each other.
Yuri: Yeah. (laughs) No, I wouldn't say hate.. But um--
Sam: There was some male competition.
Yuri: Yeah. Yeah.
Sam: We were young though.
Yuri: Subversive testosterone… conflict.
Sam: And eventually we went camping together.. And spent the night together. Spent some time in the woods together under the trees singing songs, and we realized that regardless of how much of a D-bag Yuri can be, music brings us together. And that's more important than his political views.
Yuri: (laughs) … Political views?
Sam: (laughs) I'm just kidding. We fell in love as soon as we met- Yuri: We don't have views.
Sam: I don't know, we met camping, this one time we went camping together and we became friends and ever since then we've just become huge parts of each others lives.
Yuri: We became friends just like how anyone becomes friends. Just getting to know each other. That's plain and simply it. At first we didn't quite get along we almost shied away from each other because of our personalities. But music was the bonding kind of thing. We talked a lot about music, we were both learning and just kind of new, dipping our feet into the musical water and we really helped each other get through that and grow from it.
Yuri: You want me to answer this?
Sam: Yeah, I want you to take it.
Yuri: All right. Well um, we both live in two completely different towns. We come from separate worlds. He lives in Glenburn Maine, and I live in Bangor Maine. So right from the beginning our worlds kind of collided. We ended up going to the same high school at Bangor High and immediately--
Sam: We hated each other.
Yuri: Yeah. (laughs) No, I wouldn't say hate.. But um--
Sam: There was some male competition.
Yuri: Yeah. Yeah.
Sam: We were young though.
Yuri: Subversive testosterone… conflict.
Sam: And eventually we went camping together.. And spent the night together. Spent some time in the woods together under the trees singing songs, and we realized that regardless of how much of a D-bag Yuri can be, music brings us together. And that's more important than his political views.
Yuri: (laughs) … Political views?
Sam: (laughs) I'm just kidding. We fell in love as soon as we met- Yuri: We don't have views.
Sam: I don't know, we met camping, this one time we went camping together and we became friends and ever since then we've just become huge parts of each others lives.
Yuri: We became friends just like how anyone becomes friends. Just getting to know each other. That's plain and simply it. At first we didn't quite get along we almost shied away from each other because of our personalities. But music was the bonding kind of thing. We talked a lot about music, we were both learning and just kind of new, dipping our feet into the musical water and we really helped each other get through that and grow from it.
Okay so you guys are based out of Bangor Maine now and on your website it says that you also lived and played in Key West so how do you feel about the local scene here and do you think that it gives you an advantage or disadvantage to be part of a smaller scene to start out with?
Sam: I would say that we're not… we wouldn't be who we are if we hadn't spent so much time in Bangor Maine. But I wouldn't necessarily say that it's an advantage. We could use some competition honestly. We could use an industry to jump into. Right now it's like we're trying to put ourselves out there but there's not really an industry for us so we can't really make much money around here so it's hard we have to keep jobs on the side. Definitely if it was bigger and there was more competition it would drive up the pay and then we would be able to do that full time, it would be a much different experience. And that's sort of what it was in Key West for us, there were a lot of local bar bands and that's basically what we were… let me know if I'm talking too much!
Yuri: There wasn't really a scene for us in Key West either. There was a scene, you know what I mean, it's a really touristy area, there's a lot of bars, there are a lot of musicians there really great musicians that make their living off of playing the bars that's really the kind of scene, you know what I mean… that they can fit themselves into. Playing bar gigs is a lot different than going out and trying to show people your music, just like “Hey, this is what we're playing, this comes from us” You know, people sitting in a bar getting drunk that's not really what they're interested in, they just want some background music, to hear a song they recognize.
Sam: So I don't know, did we answer your question? (laughs)
Yuri: It's an advantage.
Sam: There's sort of a duality to it.
Yuri: It's funny that you should say that.
Sam: Yeah, it's almost like there are pros AND cons.
Yuri: No. I don't think so. There can only be one. Yin or Yang.
Sam: (laughs) It has good and bad.
Yuri: There wasn't really a scene for us in Key West either. There was a scene, you know what I mean, it's a really touristy area, there's a lot of bars, there are a lot of musicians there really great musicians that make their living off of playing the bars that's really the kind of scene, you know what I mean… that they can fit themselves into. Playing bar gigs is a lot different than going out and trying to show people your music, just like “Hey, this is what we're playing, this comes from us” You know, people sitting in a bar getting drunk that's not really what they're interested in, they just want some background music, to hear a song they recognize.
Sam: So I don't know, did we answer your question? (laughs)
Yuri: It's an advantage.
Sam: There's sort of a duality to it.
Yuri: It's funny that you should say that.
Sam: Yeah, it's almost like there are pros AND cons.
Yuri: No. I don't think so. There can only be one. Yin or Yang.
Sam: (laughs) It has good and bad.
So when we first listened to your music at The Sound Faction, what stuck us the most was the maturity level that you were able to achieve on your first record which is “Drip and Bleed”--
Sam: You were mistaken.
(Laughs) Mistaken?
Sam: We are not mature.
Yuri: Our music is mature. Not us.
Yuri: Our music is mature. Not us.
How about musically mature, how about that?
Sam: Okay… yes.
Okay! What I mean is in the scene right now it takes bands usually two or three records to achieve the level of maturity in your music that you've reached within your first record. What do you think it is that sets you apart from everyone else right now?
Yuri: Our history and our experiences that have compiled, I think, to get us where we are right now. I mean, it may be our first record as Sam And Yuri, but there was a lot of cultivation, a lot of growth before it. So it represents the maturation that we've gone through up until that point. It represents a really monumental step in our lives, you know what I mean? I think that's probably what separates us the most. That's in essence who we are, the sum of all of those experiences, all the music we've made, all the music we've experimented with.
Sam: I would also say that we don't have a lot of pride that other people are trying to find in their work. If you're trying to make really good music and you want to come up with something extremely original you're just going to dig yourself into a depressing hole because there's nothing that you can do that hasn't been done, and we know that, so I think that's what separates us is that we're not really proud. We just do what we can do, and if people like it good. We know who we are and we're ready to put that out there and see what people want to do about it.
Sam: I would also say that we don't have a lot of pride that other people are trying to find in their work. If you're trying to make really good music and you want to come up with something extremely original you're just going to dig yourself into a depressing hole because there's nothing that you can do that hasn't been done, and we know that, so I think that's what separates us is that we're not really proud. We just do what we can do, and if people like it good. We know who we are and we're ready to put that out there and see what people want to do about it.
What inspires your lyrics, and is there one that means the most to you specifically?
Sam: Love. That's a big inspiration I'd say.
Yuri: Experience. Of love, I guess. It's all just the same thing. Just being here, and experiencing the feelings, the miracle of like us being here, thinking thoughts, feeling feelings and no one really knows why. Especially recently in our music that's just a lot of what we were exploring into. There's a wall that you just come to when you try and divvy up life and try and figure it out. When you divide everything, right down to the atom. There's a wall that you come to and it's just “Why do things happen. Why does organization exist? Why is anything anything?” And that just has a lot to do with the influence. And just reaching that wall and realizing that there's nothing that you can seek nothing to be sought out it's just all here and it's all just happening right now. So we just try and take from what is around us and what happens to us and how it makes us feel. It's all the same thing, it's all just one thing, this love… that love… it's all just one love.
Sam: Yeah. I think he said it pretty well. I think our music is just about one thing.
Yuri: Experience. Of love, I guess. It's all just the same thing. Just being here, and experiencing the feelings, the miracle of like us being here, thinking thoughts, feeling feelings and no one really knows why. Especially recently in our music that's just a lot of what we were exploring into. There's a wall that you just come to when you try and divvy up life and try and figure it out. When you divide everything, right down to the atom. There's a wall that you come to and it's just “Why do things happen. Why does organization exist? Why is anything anything?” And that just has a lot to do with the influence. And just reaching that wall and realizing that there's nothing that you can seek nothing to be sought out it's just all here and it's all just happening right now. So we just try and take from what is around us and what happens to us and how it makes us feel. It's all the same thing, it's all just one thing, this love… that love… it's all just one love.
Sam: Yeah. I think he said it pretty well. I think our music is just about one thing.
So music has that innate ability to touch people in different ways, the same song can affect me completely differently than it would affect you. What does it mean to you to make music that means something to other people? If that's not too twisted and convoluted.
Sam: I would say that in this case there's a little duality to it.
Yuri: …What do you know??
Sam: There are some pros and some cons.
Yuri: Huh…
Sam: A pro is… I mean it's mostly just pro… It's good to make people feel good, but we may make them feel, but we can't make them think, and that's the most frustrating thing about it: we're really trying to say something to people but it's really hard to say it because it's completely ineffable. It has pros and cons. It's good to make people feel, and good to be part of an experience where you just lose yourself in it, and it's great and zen, it's a beautiful thing. Yuri: But that's like you said thre's a duality to it. The pro of that is like, it's just all about the personal experience and you can't feel it, but they're going to feel something, and that's their thing and that's how they feel so that song is theirs. That's their experience. That's like giving a gift, you know what I mean? I'm going to give you something: I don't know what it is, but I'm going to give it to you, take it the way you take it, and I hope you take it well. And if they do then that's all I could really hope for.
Yuri: …What do you know??
Sam: There are some pros and some cons.
Yuri: Huh…
Sam: A pro is… I mean it's mostly just pro… It's good to make people feel good, but we may make them feel, but we can't make them think, and that's the most frustrating thing about it: we're really trying to say something to people but it's really hard to say it because it's completely ineffable. It has pros and cons. It's good to make people feel, and good to be part of an experience where you just lose yourself in it, and it's great and zen, it's a beautiful thing. Yuri: But that's like you said thre's a duality to it. The pro of that is like, it's just all about the personal experience and you can't feel it, but they're going to feel something, and that's their thing and that's how they feel so that song is theirs. That's their experience. That's like giving a gift, you know what I mean? I'm going to give you something: I don't know what it is, but I'm going to give it to you, take it the way you take it, and I hope you take it well. And if they do then that's all I could really hope for.
All right, for the kids out there with bands of their own who are trying to crack into their own local scenes, what would you say to them to try and give them a little boost?
Sam: Stop looking at the world around you, start looking at the world inside you.
Yuri: Well put.
Sam: Word.
Yuri: Well put.
Sam: Word.
What's been the biggest moment for you guys so far? Conversely what's been your biggest challenge?
Yuri: The biggest monument of achievement? Um… that's kind of a hard question. It's hard to define a moment, I guess.
Sam: I would say when we met. Probably the best moment. Probably the most important moment of us. It's up there on the pedistal.
Yuri: Or the moment that influenced the chain of events that led to us meeting.
Sam: Ahh yes, yes.
Yuri: I can't just stick to one moment, I guess.
Sam: Yeah, it's not just about like, how an event happens, or a value amount is put on a situation. What's really fortunate and awesome is just how things fold together. Like meeting Cory Deshane the guy who produced “Drip and Bleed” if we hadn't of met him, we wouldn't have had the means to present our music so well to people. Truly. We would have tried, but it wouldn't have come out as good. So we're just… I hate to use the word lucky but I suppose we were lucky in meeting him. There are just all kinds of things that have just happened and we've been fortunate to have met people who like us and have supported us.
Yuri: Everything has led up to this moment right now.
Sam: I would say when we met. Probably the best moment. Probably the most important moment of us. It's up there on the pedistal.
Yuri: Or the moment that influenced the chain of events that led to us meeting.
Sam: Ahh yes, yes.
Yuri: I can't just stick to one moment, I guess.
Sam: Yeah, it's not just about like, how an event happens, or a value amount is put on a situation. What's really fortunate and awesome is just how things fold together. Like meeting Cory Deshane the guy who produced “Drip and Bleed” if we hadn't of met him, we wouldn't have had the means to present our music so well to people. Truly. We would have tried, but it wouldn't have come out as good. So we're just… I hate to use the word lucky but I suppose we were lucky in meeting him. There are just all kinds of things that have just happened and we've been fortunate to have met people who like us and have supported us.
Yuri: Everything has led up to this moment right now.
Excellent! What can fans of your music look forward to in the future?
Sam: Can I take this one? Can I take this one?
Yuri: You got it!
Sam: Domination! (laughs) We're gonna keep just making music and keep trying to say it like it is, hope that people figure it out. That's it.
Yuri: Or at least love it. It doesn't matter if they don't figure it out. If they like it.
Sam: We're just here to be an influence on people's lives to just give them a little friendly advice when the time comes.
Yuri: Just putting ourselves out there and it depends on the reaction that we get, the reflection that we get. If we get reactions from other people that influence us, keeps us going, it's that support that gives us foundation. If people didn't want to listen to us, obviously eventually we wouldn't have anyone to listen to us, so that's kind of what we're banking on, people liking us so that if we put ourselves out there they'll like us or they won't, and the ones that do will show us support.
Sam: It's so hard to make music and live your life, pay bills and try and figure out your right path and whatnot. So if we can just take the time to just make music that really means something to us and just put it out there, I think some people will like it, some people won't. We're just banking on the fact that some people hopefully will like it.
Yuri: We wouldn't be here right now if we didn't have the support of people that truly support us.
Sam: We're pretty redundant.
Yuri: We're just talking about one thing so we'll be saying it over and over again.
Yuri: You got it!
Sam: Domination! (laughs) We're gonna keep just making music and keep trying to say it like it is, hope that people figure it out. That's it.
Yuri: Or at least love it. It doesn't matter if they don't figure it out. If they like it.
Sam: We're just here to be an influence on people's lives to just give them a little friendly advice when the time comes.
Yuri: Just putting ourselves out there and it depends on the reaction that we get, the reflection that we get. If we get reactions from other people that influence us, keeps us going, it's that support that gives us foundation. If people didn't want to listen to us, obviously eventually we wouldn't have anyone to listen to us, so that's kind of what we're banking on, people liking us so that if we put ourselves out there they'll like us or they won't, and the ones that do will show us support.
Sam: It's so hard to make music and live your life, pay bills and try and figure out your right path and whatnot. So if we can just take the time to just make music that really means something to us and just put it out there, I think some people will like it, some people won't. We're just banking on the fact that some people hopefully will like it.
Yuri: We wouldn't be here right now if we didn't have the support of people that truly support us.
Sam: We're pretty redundant.
Yuri: We're just talking about one thing so we'll be saying it over and over again.
(Laugh) All right, well the staff of The Sound Faction is made up of five completely random girls, probably some of the most random people you'll ever meet--
Sam: Like the Motley Crue…
(laughs) So what we like to do at the end of our interviews is ask five off-the-wall, whatever we think of a four in the morning questions to just chill out on a lighter note with our readers. So are you ready for it?
Sam: Yeah! Bring it.
Okay! What girls fashion trend confuses you most?
Sam: Wow.
Yuri: Oh wow.
Sam: That's funny because I've been thinking about that a lot! And there are a lot of answers. What's your answer?
Yuri: What's my answer?
Sam: Yeah.
Yuri: I don't know if I'm really… confused… by it.
Sam: Can you repeat the question?
Yuri: Oh wow.
Sam: That's funny because I've been thinking about that a lot! And there are a lot of answers. What's your answer?
Yuri: What's my answer?
Sam: Yeah.
Yuri: I don't know if I'm really… confused… by it.
Sam: Can you repeat the question?
What girls fashion trend confuses you most?
Yuri: What about the girls fashion trends that guys take up? That confuses me a little bit.
Sam: Haven't we done that?
Yuri: Like girl pants? Yeah, I wore a lot of girl pants. Every step I took was a bundle of confusion. Anyway… we're kind of beating around the bush.
Sam: Yeah, I think that neither of us know like… what's trendy!
Yuri: You're wearing trendy sunglasses, Sam! It's funny you should say that!
Sam: (laughs) But really I don't think we know what is hip in girls fashion. I'm really sorry.
Sam: Haven't we done that?
Yuri: Like girl pants? Yeah, I wore a lot of girl pants. Every step I took was a bundle of confusion. Anyway… we're kind of beating around the bush.
Sam: Yeah, I think that neither of us know like… what's trendy!
Yuri: You're wearing trendy sunglasses, Sam! It's funny you should say that!
Sam: (laughs) But really I don't think we know what is hip in girls fashion. I'm really sorry.
(laughs) That's okay!
Yuri: High heels! I just don't get them!
Sam: What's up with that?
Sam: What's up with that?
Okay, how about this: which is worse, Cheeto fingers, or Juice moustaches?
Yuri: Cheeto fingers.
Sam: Cheeto fingers. I'm just copying his answer.
Yuri: I could truly just put myself in either position and I would feel much more comfortable with a juice moustache. … what kind of juice?
Sam: Cheeto fingers. I'm just copying his answer.
Yuri: I could truly just put myself in either position and I would feel much more comfortable with a juice moustache. … what kind of juice?
Grape juice, how about that?
Yuri: Oh! Nevermind. Cheeto fingers.
Sam: I thought it was red juice, it would just look like you had big lips.
Yuri: Or chapped lips.
Sam: right. That's what I usually just go with when I've got the juice stain. Yeah. Cheeto fingers.
Sam: I thought it was red juice, it would just look like you had big lips.
Yuri: Or chapped lips.
Sam: right. That's what I usually just go with when I've got the juice stain. Yeah. Cheeto fingers.
If you could be the champion of anything, what would it be and why?
Sam: Freestyle rapping. Because it's awesome. I won't be though. I should probably put that out there. But it would be awesome.
Yuri: Champion. The Champ. … Rock paper scissors. I'd like to be unbeatable.
Sam: That would be awesome. I should have said that.
Yuri: You should have. But you didn't.
Yuri: Champion. The Champ. … Rock paper scissors. I'd like to be unbeatable.
Sam: That would be awesome. I should have said that.
Yuri: You should have. But you didn't.
What is the first record that you ever remember buying?
Sam: New Found Glory, Hit Or Miss.
Yuri: What is that band, umm… Chum-
Sam: Chumbawumba?
Yuri: Chumbawumba! Is that the name of the band? (sings) “Kissin the night away”
Sam: I get knocked down.
Yuri: What is that band, umm… Chum-
Sam: Chumbawumba?
Yuri: Chumbawumba! Is that the name of the band? (sings) “Kissin the night away”
Sam: I get knocked down.
I believe it's called Tubthumping, isn't it?
Sam: Tubthumping…
Yuri: Yeah! That or Alien Ant Farm. Or Korn.
Sam: Basically all the classics.
Yuri: Yeah! That or Alien Ant Farm. Or Korn.
Sam: Basically all the classics.
What is your dream four band lineup?
Yuri: To see?
Mmhm! They don't have to still be a band, anyone that has ever been a band or produced music.
Yuri: Okay. Four?
Four bands.
Sam: Can we do four together? Because they would be pretty close. (they start whispering to each other) Okay we're ready.
Yuri: We'd like to see probably the show start with Coldplay and then go into a little Wu Tang what would be next?
Sam: Maybe we should have Simon and Garfunkel open it, have The Beatles close it.
Yuri: Yeah? So the Beatles are in it, Wu Tang, Ahh! Simon and Garfunkel not good as openers.
Sam: Wait, we haven't seen them, that's why we chose them.
Yuri: Oh yeah! We would love to see Simon and Garfunkel and The Beatles in their prime, definitely. And Rick Charette probably.
Sam: Maybe we should have Simon and Garfunkel open it, have The Beatles close it.
Yuri: Yeah? So the Beatles are in it, Wu Tang, Ahh! Simon and Garfunkel not good as openers.
Sam: Wait, we haven't seen them, that's why we chose them.
Yuri: Oh yeah! We would love to see Simon and Garfunkel and The Beatles in their prime, definitely. And Rick Charette probably.
All right, well that's it for the questions, but I'm going to have you guys look right into camera and give us your shameless self-promo! Whatever you want to add about yourselves, the album, whatever you want to say.
Yuri: Sam and Yuri, comin' atchya. (laughs)
Sam: Listen to Sam and Yuri's music. It's good for you: mentally, psychologically and emotionally. Also if you're spiritual there are some layers there that you can break down to and it will really warm your soul.
Yuri: I have some more, but I'm not going to stoop to the shameless level. (laughs) Sam and Yuri, I just don't see what gets better.
Sam: Basically we're like the best musicians ever.
Yuri: You said this is completely shameless right?
Sam: Listen to Sam and Yuri's music. It's good for you: mentally, psychologically and emotionally. Also if you're spiritual there are some layers there that you can break down to and it will really warm your soul.
Yuri: I have some more, but I'm not going to stoop to the shameless level. (laughs) Sam and Yuri, I just don't see what gets better.
Sam: Basically we're like the best musicians ever.
Yuri: You said this is completely shameless right?
(laughs) As shameless as you want to be.
Yuri: Let's get down in the dirt!
Sam: Shameless… I don't know. Yuri's pretty sexy I think.
Yuri: You should be ashamed of yourself!
Sam: but in all seriousness! We're producing a new EP right now it's gonna be called “The Pushaw Lake EP” and once that hits stores you should pick it up and think about it.
Yuri: But don't listen to it. Not until you think about it first. I'm kidding! You can't think about it until you listen to it first. But then you can't not think… unless you're sleeping. Is dreaming thinking?
Sam: Is thinking dreaming?
Yuri: Maybe. It's all relative.
Sam: Shameless… I don't know. Yuri's pretty sexy I think.
Yuri: You should be ashamed of yourself!
Sam: but in all seriousness! We're producing a new EP right now it's gonna be called “The Pushaw Lake EP” and once that hits stores you should pick it up and think about it.
Yuri: But don't listen to it. Not until you think about it first. I'm kidding! You can't think about it until you listen to it first. But then you can't not think… unless you're sleeping. Is dreaming thinking?
Sam: Is thinking dreaming?
Yuri: Maybe. It's all relative.
We want to extend a huge thank you to Sam and Yuri for taking time out to chat with us! Make sure you drop by MySpace.com/samandyuri to give their music a listen! Also head over to the reviews section to see a review of their record Drip and Bleed
