Big thanks to the New Revolutions show on Radio KCM; Knoxville’s Community Radio station for not only interviewing Matt Pelham of Matt & The Watt Gives but putting that full interview online for all to enjoy!
Many great insights about how the songwriting and recording process, the release show and what to look forward to in the next phase of the band!
The latest Talking With Hands EP, The Coin, was inspired by the despair of the political landscape in 2025. Specifically, the re-election of Donald Trump sparked a fire of inspiration for songwriter Matthew Smith.
“The urgency in these songs comes from America’s decision to re-elect a profoundly unqualified person as president. I see a lot of comedy and satire in the creative space addressing this, but I don’t see enough anger, especially in music. Everyone is understandably exhausted, but I’m personally not finding laughter to be a satisfying response right now. ” – Matthew Smith
One particularly scathing track on the new EP is “Die, Die, Die” – a tense and scathing track filled with heavier guitar tones. Lyrically, it navigates the thin line between protest and personal anguish. “I’m not calling for violence, but I do find myself praying that certain profoundly unqualified persons would die. That’s the emotional truth this record wrestles with.”
The video, directed by Asher Rogers, is a combination of tension, discomfort and a strange beauty – a perfect pairing for the song itself.
Smith’s takes note that this song is dedicated to his grandmother, who had her own thoughts on the DJT matter:
“I’m dedicating this song to my Grandmother, who passed away during Trump’s first term. I’m embarrassed that one of the last things she experienced on this Earth was Trump’s 2016 inauguration, but her measured response to it sticks with me. She simply said gravely and with anticipation “maybe he’ll drop dead.” RIP Granny.” -Matthew Smith
Watch the video in fullscreen glory over on Youtube and listen to The Coin everywhere – Bandcamp, Ampwall, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, et al.
Talking with Hands has continously explored new genres and styles throughout the entirety of their body of work. The World and Ourselves is different from Pastiche, is different from Organic Machine, etc. etc. There’s always a sonic throughline but the explorations are distinct.
Today, The Coin begins yet another new era of sonic exploration. This one inspired by a rising tide of political despair. The songs are tightly wound, sharp and scathing.
“Had the 2024 election gone a different way, I might not have felt the same urgency, but I couldn’t ignore it. I needed to say something now.” -Matthew Smith, aka Talking with Hands.
Where the previous album, Organic Machine, was a lush and layered ponderance on the future of creativity and how humanity and technology intersect, The Coin leans into heavier guitar tones, despondent reflections of the tense landscape and a more aggressive performance style. Lyrically, it navigates the thin line between protest and personal anguish. “I’m not calling for violence, but I do find myself praying that certain profoundly unqualified persons would die. That’s the emotional truth this record wrestles with.”
The Coin stands as Talking With Hands’ most direct and politically engaged work to date. Hopefully it serves as a companion in your own frustrations and an inspiration to take action.
Listen everywhere – Bandcamp, Ampwall, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, et al.
Along with The Coin EP, Talking with Hands has teamed up with long time collaborator Asher Rogers to create a fast paced, tense and -yet- beautiful video for “Die, Die, Die.” Read more on that here.
Very happy to announce the arrival of two very special albums from the YK Catalog that never made their way on to vinyl.. until now!
First up, Dave Paulson‘s 2018 concept album inspired by the movie Tommy Boy – Sandusky, Ohio. It just so happens that 2025 is the 30-year anniversary of that Chris Farley / David Spade road comedy and it would be remiss of us not to celebrate it properly!
So, we pressed 100 copies of the record to Blue Jay vinyl. These are available for preorder starting today over in the YK Shop.
That’s not the only good news for Sandusky, Ohio today! We’re also happy to share that Dave Paulson will be playing the songs of the record LIVE at the first ever Tommy Boy Fest in… Sandusky, Ohio! It’s taking place August 7th – 9th and there’s plenty of great activities happening all weekend that you can read about at TommyBoyFest.com.
Time for a road trip up to Sandusky, Ohio while listening exclusively to Sandusky, Ohio? I think so!
Next up, The Prudish Few’s 2020 album The Eagle Has Left the Building. If you’ve never heard this record, you’re doing yourself a keen disservice. Correct that ASAP. As you listen, it may occur to you that this is the kind of record that would sound great on vinyl.
We agree. So we’re doing an ultra short run of records starting today! You can order your very own copy right now. We only made 20 of these! This bumps the cost up a little bit but they are ultra rare and sound fantastic.
As good fortune would have it, Todd Kemp he’s been working on some new music. Let’s hope this means he’ll share sometime in the future!
While I have you here, here’s two more physical manifestations of YK releases that you should probably consider bringing into your life.
Matt & The Watt Gives Compact Disc
Yes, the album is available on vinyl but maybe you prefer to hear it via laser? Here’s your chance.
Talking with Hands, Organic Machine Vinyl
Much like the Prudish Few LP, we pressed a very limited run of Organic Machine records. There’s a handful left!
Some days are filled with a lot of news and this just so happens to be one of those days.
First, there’s a new single from Chris Crofton available today! “Side Effects” is now streaming everywhere and is accompanied by this video directed by Michael Carter.
Of the track, Crofton says:
“I wrote this song very soon after enduring a difficult withdrawal from an anti-seizure drug I’d been on for 20 years. I realized that dealing with side effects has become a normal part of most people’s lives. Not to mention the side effects of late-capitalism. Who are we, really? Have we lost track of ourselves? That’s what this song is asking. “
Ideally, you’ll partake in the song on YouTube. Michael Carter created a gorgeous piece of work with this one and it deserves to be watched in the largest size possible.
The song is also available on Bandcamp, Ampwall, Apple Music, Spotify and all your other streaming services.
Along with that great news is the announcement that Crofton will release a brand new full-length album entitled I’m Your Man on August 15th. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Kevin Ratterman and features a myriad of talent on the album – Dave Dawson, Jim James, Jenny O, Leslie Stevens and more.
Take a moment to read about the album and then consider pre-ordering the vinyl, which we’ll start shipping imminently!
🔵❤️🟡 Very happy to announce a brand new MATT & THE WATT GIVES video for “‘Til You” is available today! Directed and animated by Cody Newman, this delightful ditty is one of our favorites from the new full-length LP.
In a future episode of YK WORLD, I hope to have Newman on to explain the creation process behind the animation. If you’re curious about the story behind the song, check out this WNXP interview excerpt right here with Matt Pelham himself- it’s as sweet of an origin story as you’d hope it to be.
Watch the video on YouTube and tell a friend about it.
Around the time that Bandcamp was sold to Epic (but before it was sold to SongTradr), musician and developer Chris Grigg decided it was time to build another place for artists and creatives to go. Over the ensuing years, Ampwall emerged.
Much like Bandcamp, Ampwall is a platform for artists to post their music and sell it to fans. Unlike Bandcamp, it’s a platform that strives to foster real community. That may sound esoteric but it’s a task that is accomplished by designing a system where making a sale isn’t the ultimate goal.
In this episode of YK WORLD, I talk with founder Chris Grigg about the history of Ampwall, the principles that guide it and the path ahead. It is, to say the least, a fascinating and insightful conversation.
It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, RSS, Overcast, you name it.
Bandcamp is a powerful platform that I have a lot of love for. It’s one of the few places where an artist can still build a career. Ampwall is becoming another place with the goal of being a better place. It’s admirable all around. Find YK Records on Ampwall here and be sure to follow all the links to each individual artist page – loads of music available there.
For fun, the new Talking with Hands EP – The Coin – is available exclusively on Ampwall for the next week. Great incentive to dive in to the platform and some solid new music.
I, Michael Eades, had the distinct pleasure of being invited to co-host an episode of WXNA’s radio show Whistle In. The show is always hosted by Cody Newman, aka New Man aka Codaphonic himself. We always have a nice Venn diagram of taste – just enough overlap to keep it cohesive but plenty of diversity in the selections as well. Naturally, I picked plenty of YK Records artists to play alongside many other enjoyable treats.
The broadcast is archived here, enjoy at your leisure!
Tracks:
The Beach Boys “Heroes And Villains”
phiz “i lost my fkn mind (feat. Tristen & Cortney Tidwell)”
Robby Grant & Jonathan Kirkscey “Naked as a Jaybird”
BC Camplight “The Last Rotation of Earth”
Matt & The Watt Gives “For Every Dream”
The Robe “I Could Stay”
The Privates “Don’t Take It Out On Me”
Vulfmon “Valk”
The Morning Letters “Mr Green”
Fetching Pails “Ruiner”
Daughter of Swords “Talk To You”
Fullbloods “Fish in a Bowl”
The Bloodthirsty Lovers “Turning the World Upside Down”
Chris Crofton “Vitamin D”
Vangoffey “Trials of a Modern Man”
Supergrass “Lose It”
The Beach Boys – ‘Til I Die
At the beginning of June, Chris Crofton released the first single from his forthcoming album on Arrowhawk Records and yk Records. Today, we collectively unveil the official video for “Vitamin D” – directed by the illustrious Joshua Shoemaker.
Set at a contemplative pace, Shoemaker and Crofton have crafted a video that nods to the slow burning of time and the mire that can come with depression – simply marking off the days.
Highly recommended to watch full screen with full attention. Soak it in.
“Vitamin D” is available on Bandcamp, Ampwall, Apple Music, Spotify and everywhere else you like to stream.
👼 It is with an abundance of joy that yk Records announces the arrival of Matt & The Watt Gives debut, self-titled, full-length, album. Without any context, you should tap play on the nearest embed, click purchase on your favorite download platform or start streaming on your favorite streamer. All three are acceptable actions.
The project is the undertaking of Matt Pelham, frontman for one of Nashville’s favorite rock bands (and fellow yk Records roster bandmates) – The Features. When that band went on hiatus in 2016, there wasn’t an announcement or a farewell show – they simply paused the band.
Fans wondered if there would be another album or if new music could be expected from any of the members. Drummer Rollum Haas releases music as The Robe – answering the question of new music (yes!) and bringing much delight.
As for Matt Pelham, his daughter Edith provided this short biography to explain his time between The Features and today:
Matt and the Watt Gives is the new solo project of long time Features front-dude, Matt Pelham. Since the disbanding of the Features in 2016, Matt has found himself very busy with a large variety of grown-up junk… Now, after eight years, for his sanity and the sanity of the people around him, Matt has decided to write, record, and play music again.
Not only did Pelham experience his fair share of “grown-up junk” (an unfortunate experience for us all!) but he also taught himself to home record and mix on his own. This gave him the freedom to create at his own pace and experiment with a new landscape of sound.
His voice is distinctive. If you’re a fan of The Features, you can’t help but literally hear overlap between the two. But The Features style changed over time and Matt & The Watt Gives is a unique offering as well. It’s personally introspective, it’s vulnerable and sometimes its an outright barn burner.
Words can only do so much justice to it. We’re glad to have Pelham’s voice and songwriting back in our ears. Find the record on limited edition vinyl, download it from Bandcamp or Ampwall, stream it on Apple Music, YouTube Music, Spotify and everywhere else.
Matt & The Watt Gives will celebrate the release of this album on June 28th in Nashville, TN at Olive & Sinclair. The Robe and The Arcade Aquarium open. It will be a fantastic night for a fantastic album.
Believe it or not, the mailing list persists as the most effective means of communication for me and for you.
