Sam Cohen

I can't remember exactly how I came across Yellowbirds' latest album The Color, but I'm glad that I did because it was one of the more interesting albums I listened to last year. Usually for me, the 'interesting' label is applied to some originally weird avant garde shit, but this album is far from experimental. In fact, The Color is extremely listener friendly... and it sounds original. How did they do that?

Yellowbirds is the moniker of narcissist Sam Cohen. Sam peaks my interest because he is able to incorporate so many genres into his songs by using remarkable tones and harmonies. The tracks sound very modern, but retro at the same time.

We caught up with Sam to ask him some deeply personal questions, but also about this refreshing sound that makes my ears ejaculate.

SYFFAL: Please describe the sound of Yellowbirds in haiku form:

Sam:
lily pad guitars,
words, and bubbling echo sounds,
bounce around in songs.

SYFFAL: What is the significance of a Yellowbird. Why is there no space between Yellow and Bird?

Sam: That's how we differentiate from the numerous other yellow birds. Yellowbirds.

SYFFAL: (Slow clap) That is Genius! Are you into avian porn?

Sam: No more than most people. A mild interest.

SYFFAL: I may have described you as a narcissist in the past because you are in love with the sound of your voice, but so am I. Can you self-harmonize all of the vocals on your next album?

Sam: Thanks! I actually didn't do all the harmonies on The Color. A lot of them are George Lewis (from Twin Shadow) who played bass on the record. As far as being in love with my voice, I'd say I've learned to live with it - definitely not in love with it.

SYFFAL: That is the LAST time I use the YouTube comments section as a research tool!

Do you ever run out of breath while performing Rings in the Trees live? You hold some of those notes pretty long. How long can you hold your breath under water?

Sam: I used to run out of breath. Just gotta remember to take a big gulp and relax. It's getting easier and I just stopped smoking which helps. Stay in school. The figure 52 seconds seems to be in my mind somewhere as my personal best underwater breath-hold. I was a kid, though, so I might have been lying but still remember the number.

SYFFAL: The auto-harp that appears through out the album tingles my loins. When did you say to yourself, 'this song could use auto harp?

Sam: I knew I'd be using autoharp as often as possible and wrote several songs on it and others with it in mind. It goes straight to the loins, and busy people like that.

SYFFAL: I also dig the remarkable tone of your guitar. It sounds almost sounds like you are playing a stringed version of the steel drums. What gear do you use to achieve this sound? I want to copy this aesthetic to use in my fusion doo-wop/reggae band named Peggy Sue and Rastafarian Tampons.

Sam: All the guitars are my home-made jazzmaster, my franken-Kay hollow-body, and an epiphone sheraton through a Gibson GA-20 with a Fender reverb unit or a Fender Vibroverb and an assortment of delays and fuzzes. Have at it!

SYFFAL: Shit, this might be more costly than I first suspected. You are as vintage as my Levi's acid washed jeans.

I hear so many influences in your music. In my review of The Color, I said that your multi-genre sound is as vast as Pamela Anderson's vagina. I have used SYFFAL mathematics to break down the genres: 1/8 psychedelic, 1/16th retro, 2/5ths 60's folk, 7/8ths modern folk, and 9/10ths Tommy Lee's penis. Is this accurate? What bands from your listening past have assisted you in shaping this sound?

Sam: Incredibly accurate. Did you use a graphing calculator to figure that out? I was really inspired while making the record by Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, and Buddy Holly, Neil Young's self-titled album, and Broadcast's Noises Made By People. Other stuff as well, like The Tornadoes, Les Paul and Mary Ford, and weird synthy psych stuff like Tyndall and Terry Riley... those were the staples.

SYFFAL: I did use a graphing calculator. I still have my TI-85 from high school trigonometry.

Speaking of my review, you never acknowledged it's existence. You hurt my feelings because I received no re-tweets or Facebook likes from Yellowbirds. To you social-media sharing may just be the click of a button, but to me it is a determinant of my self-worth. Why do you have to be a dick like that? Do you promise to re-tweet this interview on the day it goes live?

Sam: I do. Sorry man. I'm terrible with that shit.

SYFFAL: You better be. So, you have another band called Apollo Sunshine and their album is pretty dope. You are such a swinger! What are your plans for the future? Are you solely married to Yellowbirds now?

Sam: I've written a bunch of new songs for Yellowbirds and will be getting started recording within the next month or so. No future plans for Apollo Sunshine.

SYFFAL: Okay, enough with the serious questions. I want to play a little word association. Please tell me the first thing that comes to mind.

Traveling Wilburys

Sam: Roy Orbison

SYFFAL: The Byrds

Sam: Pedal steel

SYFFAL: Favorite Beer

Sam: Guinness

SYFFAL: Kim Kardashain

Sam: Nothing comes to mind.

SYFFAL: Avian Porn

Sam: SYFFAL

SYFFAL: Pamela Anderson's Vagina

Sam: SYFFAL

SYFFAL: SYFFAL

Sam: Remember to tweet interview...

SYFFAL: Smart man.

Last question: What is your favorite sitcom or movie growing up?

Sam: Back to the Future

SYFFAL: You should cover this theme song for my favorite SYFFAL feature: Pop Cultures Collide. What do you say?

Sam: Alan Silvestri or Huey Lewis?

SYFFAL: Back to the Future?! I think we are soul mates Paul; density brought us together. SYFFAL already has a dope ass cover of Huey's Power of Love by the bonerific Well Hung Heart, but if you think that you can top it... go for it. Back in Time is not spoken for and you can never have too many Huey covers. Am I right or am I right?

... .and, wow, the Silvestri score would be ambitious. I'd love to hear that too. Then there is Earth Angel and Johnny B. Goode. I think you should just cover the entire soundtrack.

You have earned 3 plugs for being my soul mate. Go for it:

Sam:
Yellowbirds Feb 15 at Great Scott Boston, MA w/ Quilt
Yellowbirds Feb 16 at Monkey Bar Burlington, VT w/ Paper Castles
Yellowbirds Feb 17 at Mercury Lounge NY, NY w/ Woodsmen
Yellowbirds Feb 18 at Moviate Harrisburg, PA w/ Banners and Floats
Yellowbirds (The Color)

SYFFAL: Uhhhhh, that is 5 plugs. You owe me two more tweets.