When Yee Loi step on stage and get ready on their instruments, the air in the basement of Yungblud’s shop in Denmark Street is buzzing with excitement. The siblings don’t give the audience much time to prepare, as they kick their set off with their loud and energetic single ‘Why Ask Why’.

The lyrics to the following song, ‘Down in the Bunker’ are reminiscent of the combination of humour and horror found in a lot of Ramones and Misfits songs.

In addition to already released songs, Yee Loi also played some new songs from their upcoming album ‘Flicks, Licks, Party Tricks’, as well as their punk rock cover of Elvis’s ‘Mystery Train’. Matilda fittingly also pays homage to the King of Rock’n’Roll by wearing an Elvis t-shirt, alluding to how Yee Loi combine punk rock with rock and roll to create their own sound.

While the influence the Ramones have on their music is undeniable, Yee Loi’s original songs show that they are finding their own style with their new tracks. They exude confidence on stage, although at times their moves still look a little too well-rehearsed, but it’s evident that they’re putting their hearts into it.

When Yee Loi said in our interview that their shows are fast, loud and sweaty, they weren’t joking. While showcase performances for journalists cannot fully capture the intensity and adrenaline of actual punk rock shows for an audience of fans, the gig hinted at the high energy to expect at a Yee Loi concert. You’ll get the chance to see for yourself when they are going on their UK tour supporting Transvision Vamp next month.

INTERVIEW WITH YEE LOI

Hello, lovely to meet you. Can you quickly introduce yourselves?

Matilda: I’m Matilda and I’m the drummer and lead vocalist.
Rose: I’m Rose and I’m the guitarist, who sings a little bit.
Donnie: I’m Donnie and I’m the bass player.
Rose: And we’re Yee Loi!
Perfect, nice to meet you.
Yee Loi: Nice to meet you, too.
Recently, you had a lot of big events: You opened for Adam Ant, you met and worked with CJ Ramone, you were at the Ramones 50th Anniversary tribute event where you met lots of people, like Billie Joe Armstrong… Rose: And John Travolta.
(They laugh)

…and Billy Idol and Travis Barker, and you’re on tour again soon with Transvision Vamp…so do you sometimes pinch yourself and wonder how this is all real?

Rose: Literally every single day we do one of those things I go what are they having little old me here for?
Matilda: Yeah, those were all pinch yourself moments.
Rose: We’re finally reaping the benefits for our hard work, so it’s less of a pinch, more of a “Go on, son”.
Donnie nods.

Recently, in a few interviews, you described your music as punk rock’n’roll. Do you remember the first song that got you into punk rock? And also the first song that got you into rock’n’roll?

Rose: It was probably the Ramones version of California Sun by The Rivieras, so originally a surf one. So that’s for punk. And then for rock’n’roll it would be Runaway Boys by the Stray Cats. That was my rockabilly introduction. (turning to Matilda) And I think you agree on that?
Matilda (nodding): Yeah, same stuff. We were in it together.
Rose: Well, we shared a bedroom, so whenever I was cranking the music, she was listening.

What’s your favourite memory of being in a band so far?
Rose: Getting to do the tour and getting to travel around with my family and playing those…
Matilda: Yes, definitely the Adam Ant tour and getting to play those big…Yeah, actually being in a van just travelling…
Donnie nods.
Rose: …doing real musician stuff, showing up, doing sound checking, doing the stuff, getting everything back in the van, all that.
Matilda: And hopefully more memories to come like that.

You did a lot of covers already, like Ramones songs but you also did Mystery Train by Elvis. So, if you could cover any song from any music genre, do you have a favourite one that you would love to cover?

Rose: I would love to do like a daft one, a bit like when the punk band The Dickies did the theme to Banana Splits. Something daft like Roadrunner, I know that’s already been done but like a cartoon, an old fashioned cartoon or something that would really be good…I just have to think what would be not too niche. But sometimes niche is good.
Rose: Yeah, but they might think that I wrote this song myself, I think.

And how would you put your own twist on it?

Matilda: Oh, we always put our own twist on it.
Rose: Speed it up, put 600 guitars on it…
Matilda: …big drums…
Rose: …and cool harmonies.

That sounds great. In three words, what can people expect at your upcoming tour. What will it be like?

Rose: Fast, loud, sweaty.

Sounds like a good tour. And which song are you particularly looking forward to playing live on this tour?

Rose and Matilda: Miraclist.
Matilda: Yes, and also Picture Perfect. Those are from our new album.

Rose: And we always love doing the newest singles, it’s always exciting.
Matilda: Basically all the songs from the new album. Can’t wait for people to hear them.
Rose: ‘Cause the album is our proudest thing at the moment and we really wanna hone our own image even more, so people know what to expect when they hear from us and I think that’s a good impression.
Matilda: Yeah and they’re really fun to play live.
Rose: And they sound really good.

I’m excited to hear them soon. Talking about your new single right now. You said that ‘Social Suicide’ is about how many people online are now obsessed with clout chasing and are willing to sell their souls for likes. How do you stay positive in an environment like that?

Rose: Don’t put too much thought into it. Don’t let it occupy your mind too much. I’ve got a lot more important things going on in my personal life and I know people can’t help it but you know… it is all encompassing sometimes but I think my advice for everything is don’t think about it too much, just play, whether that’s guitar or just play about.
Matilda: Touch grass.
Rose: Yes, touch grass, as the kids would say.
Matilda: You can be on your phone, but be in the real world too.
Donnie nods.
Rose: Yes. It’s easy to get too in it…
Matilda: …too caught up…
Rose: …and it sends people West and I don’t think it should be like that.

Do you have a dream gig? Like a venue or playing with a certain artist?

Rose: I would love to play the Hollywood Bowl.
Matilda: Yes, the Hollywood Bowl. We always say the Hollywood Bowl.
Donnie nods.
Rose: This is what we always say because you see it in films, so yes, Hollywood Bowl. Or even like one of the big festivals like Glastonbury. Little old me on a big old stage. And it’s hard to think about who we’d like to play with.

You probably had a few of them already, but what’s the most punk-rock moment right now that you’ve experienced so far that perfectly captures your spirit as Yee Loi?

Rose: That’s a brilliant question that I do not know how to answer. I just think every single gig that we do where they expect like something from these two girls and their little brother or whatever, these Asian whatever the hell, and we’re just like right, listen to this, it’s blooming loud and y’know in your face…
Matilda: We don’t even speak in the beginning, we just go straight in.
Rose: And we’ve got songs that just segway into each other and you don’t even get to catch your breath, so I think every show that we do.
Donnie nods.
Matilda (nodding): Yes.

Rose: Sorry that there’s no story about me getting into a bar fight but…predictable (rolls her eyes).

So to the more negative side. Did you have to face a lot of stereotypes as two girls doing punk music? How do you deal with it?

Rose: People don’t take you seriously and one thing that I feel strongly about is women in the music industry, other female musicians, whether they’ve been this way to protect their peace or whatever they’ve been through, when they aren’t as supportive and they kind of shut themselves off. Because I think we’re on the same boat, it’s hard, you know, we’re different and y’know, they should help out and wanna speak to me about it…And then obviously you get the race side a bit, which is just nonsense.
Matilda: Yeah, it’s always comments online, as well, from like keyboard warriors…
Rose: Yes and it’s like how unintelligent are you?!
Matilda: …try saying it to our face.
Rose: It’s just the daftest stuff. I think a lot of them wouldn’t even go to concerts in the first place.
Matilda: Yeah, it’s just fat old men behind keyboards.

If your music was in a film, what kind of film would you pick for yourselves?

Matilda: Ooh…
Rose (pointing to Matilda): This is the film buff.
Matilda: Well, we’ve discussed this before and we were like action or horror or…
Rose: …well, not quite psychological horror but more in like a kind of slapstick, sort of Ramones or Misfits kind of way where it’s like so and so is being murdered.
Matilda: …Comedy horror. Or yeah, just like a big action film maybe.
Rose: Maybe no romance…
Matilda: I didn’t say that, did I?
Rose: No, I’m just trying to think of both sides.
Matilda: I think sci-fi and Rose said no to that but I think sci-fi, too.

It could work. Okay, so do you have something that you want to say to your fans at the end of the interview?

Rose: Keep on rocking in the free world!
(they laugh)
Matilda: …and listen to our album when it comes out.
Rose: Listen to our new album, listen to whatever we have out at the time when you’re seeing this and also we have a national tour next month with Transvision Vamp, so you can catch us in your city. Kachow!
Matilda: See you there!
Make sure you listen to our new album Flicks, Licks, Party Tricks, which is out on the 15 th of January and make sure to preorder it as well.

Perfect, thank you for the interview!

Review and Interview by Lea Brost for THE SONGBIRD HQ