Yonaka unveil debut EP ‘Heavy’

Brighton firestarters, YONAKA, have today unveiled their debut, five-track EP “Heavy”, available now through all streaming partners

“Heavy” is yet another sterling effort from one of the UK’s most exciting and dynamic up-and-coming guitar acts. Having worked closely with Rodaidh Mcdonald (The xx, Sampha) on production, sonically, the new EP brims with life and chaos, showcasing the Brighton-based band’s limitless musical vocabulary, something for which they have already received acclaim for after being hailed as ‘Ones to Watch’ by the likes of Clash, NME, Kerrang!, DIY + many more over recent months. Lead EP track ‘Bubblegum’ – a riff-led juggernaut about desire and determination – was showcased for the first time on Huw Stephens’ Radio 1 show last month with a pristine live session from Maida Vale’s Abbey Road Studios and has already become a firm favourite amongst fans.

Quickly making a name for themselves on the live scene with their frenzied, adrenaline-charged performances and having been shortlisted for ‘Live Act of the Year’ at the Independent Festival Awards, which take place on 30 October (previous winners include Catfish and the Bottlemen and Slaves), YONAKA became a staple billing on this summer’s UK festival circuit with appearances at Reading & Leeds, Download, Bestival, Dot to Dot, The Great Escape + many more. Selling-out London’s Borderline last month and having played their biggest home show to date this week supporting The Libertines at the 4,000 capacity Brighton Centre, YONAKA have tripled their live capacity since March! This autumn/winter, the band will be heading out on the road for a nationwide UK tour including a show at The Camden Assembly on 31 October – extra dates have been added due to overwhelming demand (full dates below).

Formed after meeting at university, YONAKA have released just a handful of tracks thus far – most recently “Wouldn’t Wanna Be Ya”. Produced by Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys) and their first output since signing with Asylum/Atlantic [the band released a couple of tracks prior on Phil Taggart’s label, Hometown Records], the track was unveiled in May and received specialist support from the likes of Huw Stephens, Daniel P Carter, Annie Mac and MistaJam, in turn, accumulating over 60 plays on Radio 1 alongside a plethora of editorial support.

Currently working towards their debut album, watch YONAKA cement their name as frontrunners in the burgeoning UK guitar scene.

19 Jan                                           Brighton                                         The Green Door Store