Yeo

Musos really do have it tough, according to Brisbane’s one-man-band Yeo. Often becoming successful is akin to winning the lottery… But it isn’t fame and fortune that Yeo is after – not at all. The man just wants to eat . "It’s almost a cliché for musicians to complain about how tough they have it," he laughs. "Sometimes people just roll their eyes when they hear that. But it really is a game of chance in some ways. Sometimes the odds are like winning the lottery if you want success. It doesn’t even have to refer to millions of dollars or being a celebrity. I just want to be able to afford a meal!

My attitude towards my life right now and my music is that I’d rather be poor and keep doing my music. I’d rather just take it as it comes, become more confident and take my chances. I know that my voice has improved and my skills as a musician have gotten way better and to be honest, I’m just happy with that progression."

The proof lies in Yeo’s brand new album Bag-O-Items – a collection of genre-bending songs that tell tales of everyday life, difficulties of trying to be everything to everyone, and of love lost and won. One minute it’s pop, the next minute it’s folk… Then before you know it, it’s R&B, hip-hop, rock and electronica. Yep, as Yeo confirms, it’s a mixed bag alright.

"Anyone who’s ever listened to my older stuff knows that I’m a bit of a downer," he laughs. "But I think that misses the point, too. Just because a song I write is about something that’s gone wrong, it doesn’t mean there’s no message of hope in the song. With this album, I really wanted to show people that, ‘hey, I’m not all doom and gloom!’ There are awesome things in life, I recognise that, and I try to enjoy them. I think it shows on this record."

Most of all, according to Yeo, Bag-O-Items is about exploring the necessary balance in life. As he’s found in recent times, after the darkness comes the light, after the rain comes the sunshine. "Regardless of what you do in life – whether it’s work or play – you’ve got to strike a balance," explains Yeo. "Maybe you’re living in a share house with other people, well, you’ve got to make compromises, don’t you? Same thing with relationships, you’ve got to balance your own needs with other people’s. Yeah, it doesn’t always line up, but you have to make the effort at least. It’s not always going to be smooth sailing so you can’t really go to the extremes either – you could be a total asshole and get everything your way, or you can be really passive and not have anything your way and stay unhappy. My lyrics are about finding that kind of balance."

For Yeo, it was his debut album Trouble Being Yourself that taught him a valuable lesson, in particular. At a whopping 14 tracks and completely recorded on his own, Yeo realised that sometimes letting others help you out isn’t such a bad thing. DIY is good – isolation isn’t. "That was basically me going, ‘nah, I can do this all by myself, I don’t need anyone, who says I have to follow other peoples rules’," he chuckles. "But at the same time I was struggling with what kind of music I wanted to write. I try to achieve a little too much sometimes. [Record label] Other Tongues have been really good to me, they’ve offered good advice. I’m also getting some interest in the ‘States, Canada and Europe, just people sending me emails asking how to get my album. That’s pretty crazy, to think that people want to hear my music all the way over there."