Yukon Era Interview

I N T E R V I E W
Lachie Thurlow of YUKON ERA
By Arpie Shirehorse
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Young Auckland band YUKON ERA have been having a whale of a time since forming back in 2015, culminating most recently in a stellar performance at Laneway Festival in Auckland. HUP caught up with guitarist Lachie Thurlow ahead of the band's show at Diggers this coming Thursday, March 16th (with Ancient Tapes and Contenders).

How did Yukon Era get together? I met Christian and Pierre through music at high school. Christian and I played in a band together which broke up mid 2015, but we didn't want to stop playing shows. So we asked Pierre to play bass for us, and asked our friend Ben to play keys. I was on drums at the time, but since then I have changed to playing guitar, as well as Christian, and asked our friend James to play drums. He had to do proper school though this year so we asked Christian's brother (also called James) to play drums.

What was the aim at the outset and do you think it's going to plan? I guess the aim was just to keep developing musically and get to play more and more shows to (hopefully) more and more people. I'm pretty confident in saying that collectively, we love playing live more than anything else. We've been super lucky and have had some amazing opportunities pop up to play some really cool shows so at the moment, I'd say it probably is going to plan!

The EPs have a really mature feel, to what extent is the band's sound influenced by other artists? We all have very different tastes in music, but there are heaps of overlaps. Common overlaps include Preoccupations, Jeff Buckley, Women, David Bowie, The Mint Chicks, and the list goes on! After a few spins of a new song, I can definitely hear bits and pieces that are similar to the bands we would be listening to heaps at the time, but we try very hard to not rip off other songs! Please call us out if we do.

What is Yukon Era's writing/recording process - is there one main writer or does everyone get to contribute equally etc. Christian will, more often than not, come up with the bones of the song, and then we all fill it out together usually. However Christian writes all the lyrics (bar one song).

What's the story behind latest single 'Tongue'? Had to go to Christian for this one: 
Well the song is a pretty personal for me. It's kind of a self assessment; taking a look at how I felt in a certain emotional situation and trying to figure out how I could feel something so strong over something so small.
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​Is there an album or new EP following on? We're currently writing the rest of our debut LP which should come out next summer. We're really keen to get an album out as we have been sitting on some material for quite some time, and Pierre, Christian, and I have never released a full length album before.

What is your favourite song to play live? I really like playing this new song called Quietly, which isn't out yet. Otherwise either Tongue, High Handed, or Daily Judgement.

Quickfire stuff..Sportiest member of Yukon Era? Christian 

Most likely to get arrested? James What for?! Something destructive hahahaha.

Favourite show ever seen? Tough one but probably Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the St James Theatre in Auckland.

If you could curate a show anywhere in the world with any 3 bands/artists playing - who/where/what are we drinking? It would probably have to be at The Smell in LA. I've never actually been there but it's legendary. The bands would probably have to be Women, The Mint Chicks, and (tacky I know) Nirvana. That would pop off. We'd definitely have to drink some Double Browns for the special occasion.