#MusicExchange: Yoav

Artists on the show include Ross Learmonth, James Stewart, Flat Stanley, Andre De Villiers, Louise Carver, Mandisi Dyantyis, Derek Gripper and Paige Mac.

Yoav has also toured and performed with Imogen Heap, Underworld, Katie Melua and Lykke Li amongst others and performed at Coachella, Glastonbury, V-Fest, Osheaga Montreal (twice) and Hurricane Festival Germany, where he was voted Newcomer of the Festival.

I spoke to Yoav last week.

The new decade means:

If the last one was anything to go by, a lot of world wandering, hotel rooms and bizarre coincidences.

Fame is about:

Walking into a random bar in a random country and they are playing your song (except you can’t tell anyone because that’s a bit obnoxious and they might not believe you anyway).

Retirement will happen when:

The tunes stop running through my head.

I don't do:

Monday all-you-can-eat sushi buffets (they’re trying to get rid of the old supplies obv.)

What does music mean to you?

Music is a rather excellent way to make time beautiful.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?

When everything clicks during a live performance and you are just “gone” and you sort of seem to fuse with the audience as the whole room moves together.

Any funny moments on stage?

Head butted the microphone very loudly as I walked on when I opened for Tori Amos at the theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Which living person do you admire most and why?

I mean, there are so many wonderful people about. I am a huge fan of the dudes who make South Park. They boldly tell it like it is in a hilarious way that is impossible to ignore. Almost singlehandedly keeping edgy political satire alive.

What is your most treasured possession?

My trusty Lowden guitar. Stolen from me twice, but always found her way back home.

It’s your round, what are you drinking?

These days, a decent tequila on the rocks (or coconut water in the daytime).

What makes you stand out?

A rather weirdly unique way of banging on my guitar, mixing up musical styles and seeing the world.

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

Professional drifter.

Pick five words to describe yourself?

Quirky, spacey, persevering, mercurial (I just like the word, so I put it in), inscrutable (ditto).

Five favourite SA albums of all time?

Bongaziwe Mabandla – Mangaliso
Miriam Makeba – Africa
Tananas – Tananas
Black Coffee – Pieces of Me
Paul Simon – Graceland (I consider it a South African record, what with all the local legends who contributed.)

What song changed your life?

Again, hard to choose. Maybe “Where is My Mind” by the Pixies, which is a song I’ve always treasured. And a cover I recorded of it found its way onto a wicked movie soundtrack and beyond, so it literally changed my life.

Who do you love?

Inspiring folks who are having a blast doing their bit to wake up, heal and/or connect the world. I have several such amazing friends around the planet.

What is your favourite word?

Ask me another day and it will be different. Today,it’s hobnob.

Favourite fashion garment:

A badass anime character-style long coat that was stolen out of my dressing room at a festival in Switzerland.

Give us some real proper slang and what it means:

I’m afraid I’m most expert at local slang, and y’all already know what it means.

Top of your bucket list:

To finally get barrelled by a wave. I’ve been surfing (terribly) for years, but have never come close. I’ve always wanted to see the aurora, but whenever I’ve been far enough north, it’s decided to hide away from me. Also making a wonderful record with one of my musical legends, say Andre 3000 or Bjork, would be most bucket-worthy.

Your greatest achievement:

Possibly playing Coachella festival and then flying out to London the same week to perform live on TV on Jools Holland along with some of my musical heroes. Or it could have been the other way around –it’s a bit of blur now.

What do you complain about most often?

Stupid politicians all over the world.

What is your fear?

Somehow missing the one particular song I was born to write. Also, a zombie apocalypse (if the zombies are fast zombies).

On stage, I tend to:

Start off somewhat awkward until I lose myself.

The best life lesson you have been taught:

I don’t know about “best”, but the dude who told me that I should always have heaps of extra underwear and socks when I’d be touring my music on the road for months on end – he was pretty much spot on.

Wishes and dreams:

Keep on keeping on with my weird and wildlife and, somehow, at the same time find a cosy comfortable beauteous spot to reside in when I’m not off adventuring.

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