Admiring the Evergreen with Yella Stone
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with Nashville folktronica artist Yella Stone who recently released their newest single "After The Door Closed."
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with Nashville folktronica artist Yella Stone who recently released their newest single "After The Door Closed." Additionally we discussed national parks, crying in the mosh pit, and so much more!
1. Mustard is grateful and appreciative to have you join them at On The Shelf. How are you doing today?
I’m doing great! After The Door Closed came out today and release days always make me feel a bit emo (in the best way).
2. There are various types of stones that can be found in nature. Which type of stone do you believe is a yella?
Okay, I have a couple answers. I’ve always been drawn to citrine, which is a yellow stone that’s supposed to bring joy and success, buuut I also think amber is really cool because it has bugs in it. I have a song coming out next month called Amber too, so it’s pretty special to me.
3. Some humans like to skip stones. Do you believe stones are yelling out for humans to stop when they do this? What type of stone do you think doesn't mind the pain?
I think stones like to skip because then they get to play with humans. I remember skipping around the playground in elementary school and having fun, so I like to think stones are having fun too.
4. Mustard has observed that your name is a reference to Yellow Stone National Park. Have you had the pleasure of visiting this park? What is your relationship with this park?
I love Yellowstone! I’ve been multiple times. My real name is Hayden and I was named after Hayden Valley in Yellowstone Park. When I was figuring out a name for this project I wanted to find something meaningful to me, that has ties to nature, but still sounds like a name, so I just kind of made up Yella Stone.
5. How has Climate Change affected national parks? What can humans do to lessen the impact of Climate Change?
Personally, I’ve done a lot of camping on the West Coast. Because wildfire season has gotten so intense and gone further and further north there have been fire bans in the summer meaning you can’t have a campfire because the risk of it starting a wildfire is too high. That means you can’t cook food over a fire or huddle and stay warm around one once it gets dark. Those are some of the best parts about going out and camping in the woods so it’s a huge bummer. I think there are a lot of ways to help lessen our environmental footprint. I choose to be vegan because the meat industry is literally destroying our planet and inhumanely treating and slaughtering animals. I heard that 27% of America is used for beef farming which if that’s still true is horrible. The way cattle is raised creates desolate wastelands of cow shit where there could be beautiful golden plains inhabited by native bison. I’m nowhere near perfect, but for now I eat vegan and when I’m in nature I leave no trace. I think everyone can find a couple ways to help that fit with their lifestyle and leave the world a better place.
6. You get the opportunity to go on a tour at National Parks throughout the country. Which parks do you visit while on tour? What is your set-list?
AHH that’s my dream! Okay this isn’t in order but off the top of my head I’d have to play Yellowstone (obviously), Yosemite, Arches, Grand Canyon, Smoky Mountains, Acadia, Redwoods, and Mt. Rainer. There are also a ton of state parks that are seriously insane. State parks don’t get the hype they deserve. I think my setlist would be the same but I might add in some covers like Take Me Home, Country Roads and Colors of The Wind. Those are my go-to songs to listen to when I’m outside and it’s beautiful.
7. You make music for humans who cry in the mosh pit. How many humans have cried in the mosh pit at your shows? Have you cried in a mosh pit at a show?
Haha I haven’t seen anyone cry in a mosh pit yet– and I haven’t either. I was playing a bunch of house shows with my band in Boston and we’d always be sharing the bill with punk bands. I was an emo kid growing up so I really love heavy music, but I also love sad singer-songwriter folk. I want to make music for people who exist in those two worlds, and to me that’s people who cry in a mosh pit. That’s where the sticker idea came from.
8. Speaking of this you have stickers about crying in the mosh pit where you recommend humans place them in various locations. Where are some of your favorite places these stickers have been placed? Do you have a dream location for your sticker to be found?
My go to place to put stickers is in a women's bathroom stall right in the line of sight when you sit down on the toilet. I do that at bars around town and then my friends send me pictures when they find them. I know someone put a sticker up in Japan which is really cool. I think my dream place to find one would be on Hayley Williams’ mic stand.
9. Mustard wonders if you ended up buying an octave mandolin? Has your toe healed?
These are amazing questions. My guitar player keeps almost buying an octave mandolin so there might be one in our future. And yes, my toe has healed! Watch where you step people. Apparently you can stub your toe so hard that it breaks.
10. While you were at Berklee you began writing music that felt genuine. Could you share more about the origin of Yella Stone?
I guess I’ve always been writing music that felt genuine but over the past few years I started to understand myself more which led to my music feeling more like me both lyrically and sonically. I met my producer Teddy Walsh at Berklee and he’s seriously half of Yella Stone. I don’t think I would’ve started this project if I hadn’t met him. Our first session was for After The Door Closed and I felt like we both understood and amplified each other’s art.
11. Who (or what) influences you?
My role models are Hayley Williams, Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Fisher, and Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana. They’ve all had a huge influence on my life and my music. Lyrically I’m very influenced by what’s going on in my life, relationships, and the nature around me. I’d say musically right now Teddy and I are influenced by Bon Iver, the Indie Twang playlist on Spotify, and the Brooklyn grunge scene. There's also just a massive amount of indie female songwriters right now killing it and inspiring me endlessly.
12. Mustard wonders what is your songwriting process?
My process is different for every song. Right now it’s sing and play guitar at the same time until something sounds cool and then spend 2 months perfecting every little thing about it.
13. One playlist your music can be found on is "floating gently." Would you say this playlist accurately represents your music? Can you be found floating gently?
Awe that’s awesome. I definitely think you can float around gently while listening to And The Sky Blooms and Evergreen, but some of the new stuff– you’re going to need a playlist called ‘falling down the rabbit hole hitting every root and rock on the way’ or something like that. It’s going to get heavy and dark for a bit.
14. Last August you released your debut single "And The Sky Blooms." Did a specific sunrise or sunset help influence this single? Could you share more about what it is like creating your debut single?
Honestly I was just soooo excited to share that song with everyone. To me it has almost every aspect of a Yella Stone song in it, from the acoustic guitar and harmonies to the glitchy vocals and strings/banjos, and don’t forget the sonic booms. I just felt like I could tie it up with a bow and say “This is Yella Stone.”
15. You described your genre of music as "Fairycore." What are some elements of your music that fit this genre?
Haha I love fairies. Fairies are beautiful creatures that live in the woods. They have an attitude while being overly sensitive. I feel like they’re a good representation of me. All the high harmonies and twinkly bits in my songs sound like little fairy sounds.
16. Mustard loves the music video for this song. Could you tell us more about the concept of the music video and the filming process?
All my favorite movies growing up had puppets– but like weird puppets. Maybe all puppets are weird? Star Wars and The Dark Crystal are great examples. I wanted to make a video being fairies in the woods with my friends with some weird looking puppets falling in love. Again, that concept feels very “This is Yella Stone” tied up with a bow.
17. You followed up this single with "Evergreen." What role did nature play in this single? Do you have a favorite type of tree?
Ahhh <3 I’m from Oregon, so evergreens are my favorite trees. I kind of subscribe to the idea that we (humans) are from the earth and of the earth. I’m made up of the same stuff as evergreen trees just rearranged. I love that evergreen also means timeless and forever. I’m not sure what happens to us after we die but I like to think that our consciousness, our art and our relationships are all evergreen.
18. Mustard has observed that some humans like to cut down trees and replace them with shopping centers. Why do they do this? What can humans do to help protect nature?
You can protect nature by visiting your local and state parks. Keeping them busy shows that you want them, and making sure you don’t litter or mess up natural habitat keeps wildlife safe. You can always donate 5 bucks every once and awhile, and make sure you pay to park. You can also help out nature on a larger scale by buying second hand wood furniture and making sure the coffee and chocolate you eat isn’t causing deforestation in other countries. Look for fair trade or rainforest alliance.
19. Mustard would like to wish you congratulations on your newest single "After The Door Closed." Could you share more about your latest single?
After The Door Closed is about a night where I was hanging out with a guy and I thought we were really hitting it off. The air was electric and I could tell we liked each other. I vividly remember when he was saying goodbye and standing at the door. It seemed like he didn’t want to leave. A week or so after that I asked him out and he pretty much said no. I was so confused. It left me wondering what happened after the door closed.
20. How soon after the door closed did you begin working on this song?
About a week later when I got rejected haha.
21. Someone invites their friend to see Yella Stone perform. What four words best describe your live performances?
EMO FAIRY FOLK SONGS
22. Do you recommend humans bring tissues to your show? Are there shoulders for humans to cry on?
Right now I just try to play the fun ones so nobody gets too sad :’)) There are definitely some shoulders to cry on though.
23. What is on the horizon for Yella Stone in 2024?
So much new music! Maybe even an album. I’m seriously so grateful that you reached out to me Mustard because I really don’t have that many people listening yet. I just want to make music for people who want to hear it so hopefully this year I find people who do.
24. Where can readers listen to your music?
Any streaming platform!! But preferably live <3 or follow me on ig @yella_stone_ and dm me! I’ll say hi.
