Yolanda and the Stolen Boys

"yolanda thomas (another post-divinyls cdbaby aussie hard-living gurl) ..."

"lock up your sons" and "going down" are truly rockin' and sexy and really crack me up:

i can easily imagine Faster Pussycat singing "breaking in hollywood." the other one's (Losing you to L.A) more sheryl crow.

EDDYTORS DOZEN
"LOCK UP YOUR SONS" AND "Oh Yes!" made top 12.
CHUCK EDDY - NEW YORK VILLAGE VOICE (5 May 2006)

- Chuck Eddy - Editor of NEW YORK'S VILLAGE VOICE (23 Apr 2006)

North Shore singer scores at LA Music Awards.
Rock chick Yolanda Thomas always knew what she wanted - the knock- backs only made her stronger.
“I released my first demo tape at about five, giving it to my parents,” she said.
“And I did write a really bad song with a friend of mine at seven, called ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Dance’.”
Her co-writer’s mother advised the young Yolanda not to give up future day jobs.
A disastrous attempt at singing “Xanadu” in her primary school’s Gong Show talent competition only fuelled the Neutral Bay resident’s determination to make it big in the music industry
After forgetting the lyrics, she was quickly gonged off the stage to the sound of her classmates’ laugh ter.
“I swore revenge,” she said with a laugh. “I’m going to get famous
and show you all;’ she said. In high school, Ms Thomas told the careers advisor, “I want to be a rock star!” The teacher replied, “Would you consider data entry?” Ms Thomas thought. “I never wanted a back-up plan because I never wanted to plan to fail.”
Yolanda has taken one step closer to achieving her dream after winning numerous awards in the Los Angeles Music Awards, including Hard Rock Singer/Songwriter of the Year.
“The awards are for independent artists,” Ms Thomas said. “It’s open to everyone all over the world, but the winners are normally dominated by Americans:’
It’s a big deal for independent, aspiring singers, as past winners include Black Eyed Peas and No Doubt.
To enter, Ms Thomas submitted a CD of her work and then said she didn’t give it a second thought until she received an email saying she’d won in two categories.
Unfortunately, having only returned from Los Angeles a few months ago, she was unable to return for the ceremony in early November. Instead, the organisers asked her to perform at next year's event.
Ms Thomas said she gets more kudos in LA than Sydney. “Over there everyone’s really encouraging because you could well be the next big thing" she said.
Ms Thomas said it’s common there to find artists out on the street with signs, handing out flyers to cars at traffic lights.
“You have to be okay promoting yourself;’ she said.
Ms Thomas certainly is; she hastens to point out her websites (www. myspace.com/yolandathomas and www.yolandathomas.com) and her new debut EP Lock Up Your Sons.
Ms Thomas still has awhile to go before she reaches the heights of rock stardom she aspired to, but is now content with smaller conquests like the LA Awards.
“A couple of years ago I came to the conclusion that you haveto define success on your own terms,” she said.
“A lot of people still say, when are you going to make it?’ I wouldn’t say I have but I’m making a living out of something I love.”

-SHAUN ELLIS
- NORTHSIDE COURIER/NORTHSHORE TIMES (11 Dec 2006)

I’ve known Yolanda for several years and she has been a notable singer on the Sydney music circuit, either as a capable session singer, or as an outright performer who has shared the stage with many of Australia’s finest. Her ability as a dancer and general stage performer stand her in good stead as she unleashes her powerful voice into this solo recording. Her prowess as a songwriter shows up well on this CD and it gives us a glimpse of the various styles and arrangements in which she can perform. She is very energetic and fiery and she is well backed by local musicians. Yolanda sings with seduction and soul, allowing the various moods to take shape. Australia needs more hard-edged singers to make their mark, and one can well look at Yolanda for some inspiration. I look forward to hearing more material.

- Carmine Pascuzzi
- Media Search- Music , film and fashion in Australia

This is the type of demo has four solid tracks to showcase the artist in different moods, styles and attitude. It is the diamond in the rough when found. Yolanda is an Australian artist versatile in theatre, acting, songwriting, performing music with energy and delivering a truly tempestuous stage show. These four songs give a brief glimpse into the muse that stirs this wild child's soul with lyrics to titilate, tempt, inspire, incite, empower and cause one to desire more from this emerging artist. While track 1, "Oh, Yes", (co-written with Serg Dimitrijevic) is playful, funky and seductive, and track 2 "Lock Up Your Sons", definitely geared for hard edged rock radio or live performance, track 3, "Losing You to L.A.", with it's sensitivity and vulnerability, would be a song to develop further with strings to heighten the emotion. Co-written with John Kattersides (track 2 also their collaboration), "Losing You to L.A." has a depth within it's simple rock ballad tone. Where "Lock Up Your Sons" is total sex-kitten-turn-tigress power in the vein of classic rock from Yolanda's incredible raw vocal backed by a solid full band arrangement, the gentle honesty in her vocal singing "Losing You to L.A." would find it's way to more eclectic playlists as well as film or tv. Also ready for airplay, Track 4, "Perception of Deception" is all Yolanda - "I just spent the night alone, now I'm struggling with some feelings in my mind...." with guitar effects to elicit a dreaminess while the song builds. "What's your perception of deception?...are you making a connection or merely a conversation...." begins the chorus that slides you deeper into the dream zone. Mid-tempo, this song is also radio ready, with a guitar lead that leads into the chorus and hook. "What's your reaction to distraction? are you flattered by attraction?...I need some confirmation..." Lyrically this song expresses a poet's depth beyond the superficial and makes your cd player sad there's no more songs to play from Yolanda. As she sings "wanna know ya...just wanna know ya" as the song ends, you'll agree.
- marc antonio

- Songs Alive (L.A based) website (9 Oct 2006)

for more press (incl. 2 Drum Media reviews) visit:
http://www.yolandathomas.com/press.html - Drum Media (Sydney Street mag)