News Mix #008: IYES

The word “eclectic” can turn sour when in the wrong hands. But you’d likely use it, without any pretence or otherwise, to describe the music of IYES. It makes sense too, considering the respective backgrounds of its members. Josh Christopher is schooled in playing on big stages across the UK, while Melis Soyaslanova travelled to England from Prague two years back. The two combine well. Josh’s “serious pop” roots entangle with Melis’ self-professed, more “experimental” approach. Comparisons to The xx and Purity Ring are rife, and it’s easy to see where they stem from, but both Josh and Melis are keen to stand several feet apart from any contemporaries. It’s this eclecticism, an ability to segue countless styles at once, that helps them stand out.

Two existing tracks - ‘Glow’ and ‘Lighthouse’ - are both marked as demos, but they may as well be considered full-on singles the way they’ve come along. Both share a good 50,000 plays on Soundcloud, and the Brighton duo only played their first London show at The Village Underground on 26th March. Backstage we spoke to the pair about their early days, as well as the mix they’ve compiled exclusively for DIY; a collection of songs that’s eclecticism defined.

Within the mix is an exlusive remix of ‘Lighthouse’ by CAPSUN - “He’s mainly trap,” says Josh, “but his work is ace and we love what he did with ‘Lighthouse’ so much we had to feature it.”

How did you guys first meet? Melis, you came from Prague, right? How did you end up becoming friends with Josh?
Melis: I was new in town, I didn’t know anyone. My flatmate had a couple of friends and they went to Josh’s for a drink in the evening and I came with them. I met him and I really didn’t like what he showed me from his music (laughs)
Josh: It was serious pop. It was Adele-style pop.
M: I wasn’t really interested in working with him because I’m more into alternative stuff. But then it came together somehow. He comes from a total pop environment and I’m more experimental. I just do anything that comes to my mind I don’t need no instruction. When we write something both of us take the best part of what we can do and put it into the song.

Your two existing tracks very distinct, emotionally. ‘Lighthouse’ is down in the dumps but ‘Glow’ is a love song.
J: The way it happened…With ‘Lighthouse’ we started with guitar and added melody, etc. With ‘Glow’, Melis came to me with the xylophone sound and we just messed with that and worked from there. I can’t remember the writing process.

Your experiences before IYES are quite different aren’t they?
J: I was a producer and I was in a few bands as a guitarist. Several different bands.
M: Josh was in about a million bands.

And did you study in Prague, Melis?
Melis: Yeah I studied in Prague and worked on experimental stuff with friends. I did have a band and we were doing quite well but it wasn’t like anything serious, it was just for ourselves. Then I came to Brighton, because I study at BIMM as well.

So was Prague an ok place to make music?
Melis: It was kinda boring for me because it’s just very restrictive regarding music. Not a lot of people appreciate what you do in the kind of way they do here. There’s not the same opportunity to make music and meet people who love it, who have the passion for it. I always wanted to come to England since I was 14. It was my dream to come here. So I knew regardless that if I was admitted to university I’d come here.

How does being in Brighton, at a safe distance from London, say, have an impact on your writing?
J: It’s so much more chilled out over there. I can write easily compared to in London. Over there it’s more frantic.

Do you always detach yourselves when you write music or do you do it in little fun sessions?
J: Yeah we just play around really. Have food, cook food. Have a drink and chill out. It’s very smooth.

What’s it like to get the attention from all sides with IYES. Surely experience in previous bands has made you a little more cynical about it all?
J: It’s talk. It’s just talk. I’ve had it a few times but it’s only now that it feels like it’s getting real. I’ve definitely seen the bad side to it all. But I’ve learnt now so when Melis asks to send someone a song I’m pretty quick in saying ‘no, nope’. We need to keep things close to our chest.

Tracklist:
Jessie Ware vs Azaelia Banks - Disclosure (VIP RMX) / 212 (IYES Mashup Bootleg)
Azealia Banks - 212
Deaths - Old Town Girl (demo)
Fyfe - Solace
Non Tiq - Love Machine
TALWST - Woman
To Kill A King - Cold Skin (tyde remix)
Cave Painting - Leaf (Post War Years Remix)
Radiohead - All I Need
MMOTHS - Heart (feat. Keep Shelly In Athens)
Fumin - Man Down
IYES - Lighthouse (CAPSUN Remix) (exclusive)

DIY Neu Mix - #008: IYES by Diy on Mixcloud