Yi
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Yi

Band Rock Singer/Songwriter

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"Showcase review: Submarine Man-Yi"

Recently, a young local musician dropped a CD in my letterbox entitled: Submarine Man. The music CD was produced almost entirely by Yi who is the musician and author of all of the songs. Recording the music at home with guitars, keyboards, drums and computers he has expressed his own vision and developed quite a few technical skills on the way.

Although this is a debut album produced from home - and why not - the level of competency is quite high. The song writing is strong and the mixing and experimentation with sounds shows a lot of promise. Yi's voice though still developing harks back to the sixties with echoes of The Beatles, Ray Davies and to me a bit of the early Lou Reed. These influences including a touch of Bowie can be found strongly in the music and also possibly in some of the song titles: Submarine Man - Yellow Submarine, Ruby Skies - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Whether these are direct references or not doesn't matter the imbued feeling is strong.

The lyrics, like all good lyrics are framed by the artists experiences and influences. Yi fortunately does not write trite copies of other artists lyrics but allows his own personal voice to be expressed without reverting to cliché and formula - which is good.

While recently watching a documentary on Ray Davies of the Kinks I was reminded of Yi's album - of the songs I remember, Rays 'A Well Respected Man' particularly jumped out. Also Yi's, 'Pretty Little Hands' has some interesting experimentation that reminds me of The Who. 'Schools of Fish' has a vocal like some of Bowie's work and a harmony like the Beatles.

All in all Yi has done a fine job at producing, arranging, composing and performing his own album. And especially a great job for a guy who is barely 20 years old. His album of songs can be heard in entirety by going to the failed painter blog - enjoy - I have been and have listened to the album quite a few times while busy painting at night.
- Art Smelter


Discography

'go to bed' single 2007
'submarine man' debut album 2008

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Bio

My name is Nicholas Hew; I perform under the stage name Yi.
I’m a solo musician singer/song writer influenced by The Beatles, David Bowie, The Kinks and Hawksley Workman. My sound can be described as a mixture of all of the above, alternative rock accompanied by descriptive lyrics which help tell the stories of my everyday life and experiences.
My stage performances are generally solo (guitar and vocals), in my recordings you will hear an array of different instrumentation and experimental sounds throughout the tracks all composed and performed myself.
In 2007 I released my single ‘Go to Bed’ which I chose to distribute via sales as well as through an innovative ‘droplift’ program. This program involved secretly dropping the CD (bearing the 100% free stamp) into popular music stores for listeners to find and keep.
In 2008 I released my debut album ‘Submarine Man’. I recorded and produced this album in my own home which allowed me the freedom to experiment and create a sound that is individual to me.
I hope you enjoy my music; people describe my sound as ‘fresh’.

Please check me out at http://lifeofyi.blogspot.com/
and http://www.myspace.com/lifeofyi
and http://lifeofyi.bandcamp.com/album/submarine-man