May 6, 2023 |
At just 20 years old, Yunè Pinku is a dazzling, Malaysian-Irish producer and songwriter whose completely unique electro melodies, bewitching harmonies and candid words have catapulted her to the cusp of stardom. Melting 90s acid house into UKG her work flows through club land past and present, exploring its echelons with a voyeuristic lens. Her latest rave-ready EP, Babylon IX, is an eclectic six-track record that imagines a rave in outer space, featuring euphoric singles “Fai Fighter”, “Sports” and “Night Light” – each an introspective, hypnotic soundscape that pays homage to the dancefloor.
Like a faerie, Yunè Pinku is putting a spell on the music world with her signature surgery sounds and banging live performances, with the new wave, rave renaissance wrapped around her little finger. If you’re looking to get your groove on at one of those feral shows, look no further: Pinku has announced a slew of solo shows and festival appearances that she’ll be rolling out until August.
Here, we sit down with the mage to dig deeper into the girl behind the rave glasses, her acidic sounds and casting spells.
1. The “Fai Fighter” music video pays tribute to your Irish heritage, phoenix women, Celtic witches and dark mythology. What about these themes are significant to you and why?
“I think for me they’re all kind of intricate ways that I see femininity, and have always had a fascination with I guess that idea of a scorned woman who becomes somehow powerful, which I think comes across a lot Irish mythology. But general mythology always inspired me, like the banshees or selkies.”
2. If you could cast any spell, what would it be?
“It’s always a tough one because you want one for everyone and one for yourself. Probably a rejuvenation for the planet, to return it to a healthier climate and all.”
3. How did you get into rave culture in the first place?
“Kind of accidentally, I’d always been around raves and had attended a fair few but it was never really for me. But I had appreciation for the passion and ambience of those scenarios, there’s much more of a unity between everyone at raves as opposed to clubs.”
4. Can you tell us a bit about “Night Light”? How you were feeling at the time of writing it and what is it about?
“I think I made the roots of night light at my dining table, and I hadn’t come up with anything in ages, and I wasn’t really sure how to feel about the song for a while but it was very heavily inspired just by the AI research I was trying to do at the time. Just trying to become a bit more aware of the whole oncoming scenario.”
5. If you could pick any designer to create you a full tour wardrobe, who would you choose and why?
“I mean if Alexander McQueen was still alive I’d love him, his 2004/05 designs were so amazing. But I love Iris Van Herpen and Thierry Mugler, I think they’re both doing such creative stuff that caters the female body really nicely.”
6. Can you tell us the story behind your forearm tattoo? Do you have any others?
“I think I have about 6 forearms ones, haha! Two of them are angels, one is for me and one is for someone who passed away. But they’re all quite sentimental, ones the cover of a collection of poems, another is for my sister and I, and another is a phrase my grandad once told me that stuck. But I have a lot of bad little ones from when I was younger!”
7. If the EP came with a flavour of gum, how would it taste?
“Like iron and holy water.”
8. What is the best part of playing for a live audience?
“The actualisation of the music, and seeing a real time interaction with it. It also aids in self-confidence as well.”
9. What’s the worst?
“I really struggled with the crowd, just the fact there’s a room full of people staring at you, would’ve been a nightmare to me a few years ago – I’m getting more used to it now though.”
10. What are some of the most transformative tracks you’ve ever come across, that have then influenced your taste in music and distinctly acid sound?
“Weirdly the music that influenced me sounds nothing like the stuff I make, I think most of it isn’t electronic. But Cocteau Twins “Know Yourself At Every Age” was a great song, the first listen was amazing. Most of Wolf Alice, and Japanese House and quite randomly the first time I listened to the Stooges I was pretty blown. I find indie rock and creative ways of vocals really interesting.”
Photography courtesy of Yunè Pinku.
