Two Strangers meet on a train. No fixed musical abode. Nothing and everything in common. East meets West.
YOVA choose never to rest in one musical place but constantly explore and stretch the shape-shifting sonic and emotionally charged landscape of The Songform.
From the soul struts to the drones, from the pastoral to the jagged, from the plaintive to the outspoken. Always different. Always the same: Nothing stands still. For long.
YOVA have released their Debut Single ‘Moondog’ as well as a three-track digital bundle featuring extra tracks in the form of a remix and an instrumental version. ‘Moondog’ was co – produced with Martin McDougall and Grumbling Furs’ Daniel O’ Sullivan and then mixed by Grammy nominated Cameron Craig (Bjork, UNKLE, Annie Lennox and Joe Strummer) will be available digitally at all the usual major outlets.
Recorded by the YOVA line up of Jova Radevska (vocal & lyrics) and Mark Vernon (music) together with Alex Thomas (drums), Daniel O’Sullivan (bass, mellotron, programming), Martin McDougall (kalimba) and Rob Ellis (ondes martenot), the song will be accompanied by a stunning video created by Cristian Barnett from film-makers Fabulous Frank.
The first hint of what to expect from their forthcoming debut album, the magical, haunting and liminal whispers of ‘Moondog’ capture perfectly YOVA’s mysterious and distinctive cinematic sound. The emotionally charged lyrics stir the imagination and soul while quietly illuminating a unique and brave narrative.Jova and Mark began recording the initial sonic structures of YOVA in a variety of locations with a number of like – minded collaborators. Mark via his past work with PJ Harvey, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci and John Cale contacts his friend the producer, drummer and multi instrumentalist Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey, Anna Calvi, Marianne Faithfull, Scott Walker) to arrange, manipulate and shapeshift the emerging sound.
The music ignites and work quickly gets underway in Jova’s native Macedonia, a cellar in Seven Sisters and a coastal bedroom in West Bay. Mark re-unites bassist Ian Olliver with Rob Ellis on drums and the rhythmic spine of the original PJ Harvey group are recording together again for the first time since the release of Polly’s emblematic first single ‘Dress’ in 1991. The results of these recordings will surface on the forthcoming album in 2020.
With a strong body of songs now in place and an album ready to go, YOVA are set to take to the stage for the first time and plan to announce a number of very special live dates to coincide with the album release next year.
