After releasing their debut EP Vitamin Y, Yassassin have announced their first single of the year ‘Citizen’. With a message about political empowerment designed to spark c-o-n-v-e-r-s-a-t-i-o-n, its whipsmart post-punk rhythms, serrated riffs and urgent vocal harmonies, recall the work of Elastica or the Long Blondes and add up to a rousing sing-along.
Whilst touring with PINS as well as supporting Deap Valley, The Garden and YAK since their last release,
Yassassin have welcomed Stephanie Anderson (Bruising) and Nathalia Bruno (DRIFT) to their new rhythm section. “‘Citizen’ has been an ever-evolving song that went through a huge re-jig when Steph and Nat joined the band”, Yassassin explain. “I guess it’s about realising that as messed up as our world is, there are still so many people who care and get themselves involved in fighting injustices. It really gives you hope. It’s important for young people to speak up, demonstrate, to get involved politically if that’s your thing, to write songs, make art.”
‘Citizen’ is the first teaser of new material recorded with Richard James and Euan Hinshelwood (Meilyr Jones, TOY, Emmy the Great) to come from Yassassin this year. “We played live to tape in order to capture more of an essence of the live shows”, the band explain on the recording process. “It heightened our senses and sharpened us up in a way that worked to get a better
sounding record – leaving in those errors adds to the magic.”
UK TOUR:
Fri 18 May – The Great Escape, Brighton (The Walrus)
Sat 2 June – Wychwood Festival, Cheltenham
Thur 14 June – The Lexington, London*
Sat 23 June – Future Sounds @ The White Hotel, Manchester^
Sat 21 July – Tramlines Fringe @ The Forum, Sheffield
Sat 2 Sept – Manchester Psych Festival, Manchester
Sun 9 Sept – The Lanes, Bristol±
Sat 22 Sept – Reb’Elle Festival, Leeds
Sun 23 Sept – Westgarth Social Club, Middlesborough
Mon 24 Sept – Sneaky Petes, Edinburgh
Tues 25 Sept – Fulford Arms, York
Thurs 27 Sept – Bedford Esquires, Bedford
Sat 29 Sept – The Forum Basement @ Sussex Arms, Tunbridge Wells Sun 30 Sept – Heartbreakers, Southampton
* with LIFE
^ with The Parrots
± with Matt Hollywood (Brian Jonestown Massacre)
