Out of all of the diverse music released into the world these days, I’ve yet to come across a band who sound like Santa Monica’s Cayucas. When it comes to Cayucas, it’s easy to fall in love with their breezy vocals, unforgettable melodies, and tropical vibes. Last year, AMBY chose the band’s surf-pop song High School Lover as our “Best Song of 2013”. Now, we’re honoured to have our interview with them live on the site. Before stopping in Toronto for their show at The Garrison on March 2nd, I had the pleasure of speaking with Cayucas’ Zach Yudin. Dig into our conversation as we discussed Jerry Seinfeld, favourite lyrics, his thoughts on Bigfoot, album number two, and more!
AMBY: Hello Cayucas, thanks for speaking with us today! What’s the band been up to lately?
Cayucas: Right now, we are hanging out in LA, drinking good coffee and rehearsing a bit for a tour coming up starting in February.
AMBY: How would you describe each member of Cayucas in one word?
Ben: chill
Casey: positive
Zach: dry
Russell: animated
AMBY: We’re loving your tropical and breezy track East Coast Girl. What’s the story behind the song?
Cayucas: That song was about the idea of a girl on the east coast, mostly. At the point I’d written the song I had never really been to the east coast, and it’s a bit of a fantasy about a girl in her winter jacket, scarf, wool hat.. etc & it’s a reference to the beach boys as well. Though the facts in the song were about a girl I met from Oregon I think that night who talked about her studies
AMBY: Your debut record Bigfoot was released back in April. What are your thoughts on the LP now that there’s been time to reflect on it?
Cayucas: Well, I look back on the album & I realize it was a good album in my opinion for me. I feel very pleased w how it turned out & the recognition it received. I love the beach boys I love smile sessions / surfs up this is my favorite album of theirs .. but I also love Surfing USA. For me Bigfoot was a Surfing USA, an album based around nostalgia, summer, surf pop songs. Those types of songs are not easy to write, it would probably be easier to write a weird abstract album. The goal is to one day get to the point where it feels right to write a surf’s up type album, or a magical mystery tour but I think every artist should build into an album like that
AMBY: What’s next as far as releases go?
Cayucas: Right now, Ben & I are working on new songs for album two as of today there are about 6,7 demos recorded and a blueprint for the rest of the album. I hope to record in the spring .. but no idea when album 2 will be released.
AMBY: Which Cayucas lyric is your favorite?
Cayucas: Idk, I’ve never thought about that… High School Lover I say ‘leaning back in the passenger seat’. This is so funny to me cuz it reminds me of the time I was spying on a girl in high school in an accidental way and I was literally leaning back in the passenger seat of my car. hah
AMBY: If you could choose to have your music featured in any movie or show, which would you choose?
Cayucas: Idk, the only show I’m watching now and loving is ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’ w Jerry Seinfeld. It would be cool if Jerry called and said he’d love to have a Cayucas song for the intro. Also would be cool to have a song in a Wes Anderson or Sofia Coppola movie.
AMBY: We’ve noted High School Lover as our favourite song of last year. What’s your favourite song of 2013?
Cayucas: Wow, thank you I haven’t thought about this either but I will say Kanye’s ‘bound 2’ really blew my mind.
AMBY: Which release are you most looking forward to this year?
Cayucas: I’ve heard Beck has an album out in February that is some sort of a sequel to Sea Change, that’s exciting. Also curious to hear the next Foster the People single..
AMBY: And lastly, what’s something about Cayucas that nobody knows yet?
Cayucas: We love coffee.
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Thank you Cayucas, for giving us your answers!
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Alicia Atout | @AliciaAtout