Getting to Know... Yael Meyer

Yael Meyer is the result of a lifetime of musical enrichment. She composes a completely unique form of music that bleeds childhood nostalgia and the romantic innocence that make life complete. Through an endless library of musical instruments, Yael creates fun, enjoyable, and easily accessible music for the world to enjoy.

Yael Meyer comes from a musical background of incredible depth. She was born in Santiago, Chile, a country well known for it’s cultural folkloric music, as well as it’s underground jazz. After graduating from the Berklee College of Music, she came to the United States, where she later composed songs for multiple North and South American films “El Brindis”, “Al Final del Tunel, and “Holocaust: 3rd Generation and Ondinas”. In addition, she holds a wide variety of musical influences including Cat Stevens, The Beatles, and folk legends Simon and Garfunkel. Yael’s music is as close to perfect harmony as humanly possible. She plays a balanced, new age of folk, independent pop, and electronic. Her creative use of guitar, bass, percussion, accordion, glockenspiel, keyboard, piano, ukulele and ocarina allow for the most instrumentally diverse rhythm known to mankind. This multitude of musical sound creates several layers of music playing one on top of the other, comparable to Mozart’s multi-structured “Requiem”.

Yael is about to release a new EP entitled “Heartbeat” on November 10^th. The album is a faithful reflection of Yael’s talent and creativity put into some beautifully crafted tracks. The EP was produced in Los Angeles by Bill Lefler with guest musicians Danny Levine, Fil Krohnengold, and Joseph Karnes.

Take a listen for yourself. Yeil’s EP will be available for download starting November 10^th on iTunes and Amazon. A free download is also available online by subscribing to her website’s mailing list.

The Exclusive Yael Meyer Interview

MCMB: How long have you been playing music?

Wow...I don't know how to respond that one, because I feel like I have been playing music ever since I have memory. There's this video of me when I was little and my mom was in the hospital giving birth to my sister and I am about 2 years old rolling around the floor humming made up songs. It was just always a part of my life. My family is very musical so I grew up with it and I think of music as a language like any other...if you are around it, you learn it!

MCMB: If you could describe your music in any way, how would you?

Whenever I meet with producers I tell them that I want to make music that is listenable and accessible, without compromising the artistic integrity of the songs. I try to strive for a balance between making music that is really artsy by enjoying the production/music playing process and using lots of different sounds and unique instruments to create layers and layers that paint a texture and atmosphere while at the same time, trying to craft songs that are universal in their message and melodies that everyone can relate to and just feel good to hear and to sing.

MCMB: Which earlier musicians have influenced you the most?

I grew up listening to a lot of American folk from the 60's and 70's so that has been a very big influence either consciously or subconsciously. But also I grew up with a lot of Disney songs (Sound of Music/Mary Poppins/Cinderella), Michael Jackson, top 40 radio and a LOT of Diane Warren. Later in life I was exposed to a lot of more experimental music and I ventured off the beaten path to make really crazy music out of noises, analog keyboards etc. I feel that all of the above has all influenced me vastly not necessarily one more than the other...but to name a few of my late 60's early 70's influences there's Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, The Beatles, Peter Paul and Mary, Jim Croce and James Taylor. Later Air, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Bob Marley, Mum, Kaki King, Saint Germain, Cinematic Orchestra, Kruder and Dorfmeister, Morcheeba and most recently a lot of female singer-songwriters some of which are also producers such as Joan as Police Woman, Cat Power, Feist, Keren Ann.

MCMB: You have a new album this year, "Heartbeat". Describe the music making process you used in the production of Heartbeat.

The songs evolved very naturally over the course of a few years where I wrote a lot. Then I met with Bill Lefler who produced the album and played him my 8-10 favorite ones and he picked the 4 he liked the best and left an open spot for the 5th one. I wrote "Heartbeat" while we were making the record. I came to the studio one day and said "Bill, I wrote a new song" he said "Let's hear it!" I played it for him and he said..."that's it. We are recording that one for sure". As far as the musicality of it all it was really Bill and I fooling around in the studio and having fun. We both played most of the instruments. There were a few songs where we felt that we needed some extra stuff such as horns, accordion or upright bass and we called in Danny Levine, Fil Krohnengold and Joe Karnes to join. They added so much and really brought the songs to life. But all in all Bill gave me the room I needed to feel comfortable to speak my mind and be open and real and try all of my crazy ideas, and I also tried my best to give him all the room that he needed to feel comfortable, free, involved and creative. So I think it was a very collaborative process and I am very happy with it. Craig Frank who engineered the sessions has a great ear and he is very meticulous, which means Bill and I got to play cardboard boxes and use Bloom (the iphone app) on "Shed Their Fear" and every other crazy idea we wanted and he made sure that it could get done and that it sounded the best possible. Besides he is a very sweet guy, so between the 3 of us there was just good chemistry and we had a great time making the album which I feel makes all the difference.

MCMB: How has your music evolved since you began playing?

Oh wow...well the first real songs that I actually played for people, I wrote when I was 13 and they were really folky, sort of anthemy, stuff that my friends would sing around bon fires. Then I started writing things that were a bit more poppy but still very young/adolescent subject wise, melody wise, and also musically speaking. I didn't have a vast knowledge of harmony and so my progressions were a bit obvious at times. I think it all changed a lot when I went to music school, because my mind just really opened up and I learned so much. My choices expanded considerably. After school I think I tried to use too much of what I had learned so my music became a bit too complex in the sense that it was not for everyone. Now I feel that I am slowly finding myself much more in the music that I am making and compromising a lot less. For the first time I feel that I wrote these songs for myself, not for others so I was very honest in the process and did not succumb to any pressure. All in all these songs just feel very real, less pretentious than what I did before, more simple but with the right amount of spice.

MCMB: What's your ultimate direction for you and your music.

I just want to be happy. Part of it is about leading a life that makes me feel good about myself and that gives me a sense of purpose. When I make music I feel like I am doing what I am supposed to do. Everything else that I have done work-wise has always felt temporary. I've enjoyed it, but just for a little bit. Music is the one thing that no matter what I do, or where I go it stays with me. I just feel it is part of who I am, deeply connected to my soul, and I pray that I will be able to have a long lasting and profitable career doing this because it is what I love to do and what makes me the happiest. But music is not all of me. There's a lot more to life :) or at least my life. I have a beautiful husband and daughter who I love with all of my heart and they are my number 1. So I think that for me it is about finding a balance between being successful in doing what I love to do and dedicating time to causes that I feel must be argued for such as environmental advocacy, human rights, charity work etc as well as dedicating quality time to develop and nurture my relationships with family, friends and colleges.

MCMB: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge who's helped you get to where you are today?

My mom, dad, husband, daughter, my siblings, grandparents, all of my friends and family. Every teacher I have had. The people who have inspired me, and the ones who have challenged me as well. Bill, Craig and everyone who played on the album. Laura Jansen for introducing me to Bill and the "Great Hand" that guides it all for loving me always and carrying me on a cloud.

MCMB: Any last words?

Thank you Matthew and My Crazy Music Blog so much for giving me the chance to reach out to people who have never heard of me before! And to whoever is reading this article... Indie musicians such as myself owe every little ounce of success to you our fans and there is nothing more powerful than word of mouth. So if you like the EP and think that others should hear it too, please please help spread the word. Share the music with your friends, colleges, families, etc. I and everyone else involved in the making of this record will thank you with puppy eyes! :)