Dear readers we are pleased to offer you in this article an interview with a French band with a Stoner Rock sound and a new album coming out in April 2025. We welcome Yojimbo.
Hi, itâs a pleasure to have you among our pages, how are you?
“Thank you, the pleasure is ours! Weâre in full swing with the imminent release of the album, so weâre caught between excitement, logistical stress, and the joy of seeing everything come together. In short, weâre doing great!“
The band was formed recently, how did the project and the choice of the name Yojimbo come about?
“Flo and Stef originally started the project with two former members. We were all involved in different musical projects but connected through the local scene. Yojimbo was born in 2019 from the desire to create a project that truly represented our vision: a metal-rock band with an extended artistic dimension, leaving no doors closed. The band has evolved a lot since then. As for the name, it comes from Kurosawaâs film âYojimbo.â In Japanese, Yojimbo means ‘The Bodyguard.‘”
You propose a Stoner Rock with personal traits, how did you promote these sounds and how would you define your style?
“Our musical identity is constantly evolving: we navigate between progressive, stoner, doom, post-rock, and even add nods to unexpected styles. We decided to define ourselves as âIntergalactic Stoner Rockâ because it represents a multitude of universes. Trying too hard to define yourself can be limiting. What matters most to us is telling a cohesive musical story together.“
Your debut full-length “Cycles” is coming out on April 25, 2025, what will we find in this work?
“Tracks that are way too long for TikTok, clearly. More seriously, “Cycles” is the result of a year and a half of intense work. We spent a lot of time searching, experimenting, and finding sounds that truly represent us. The album features compositions that explore different musical universes, but all uniquely our own. The title track, our only instrumental piece, became the artistic pivot of the album. Above all, we made sure to create something we are proud of and eager to share with the world.“
An intense interweave of instrumental and vocal parts, what themes do the album’s lyrics deal with?
“Sophie is primarily responsible for the lyrics. She draws inspiration from the world around us and major contemporary issues: war, climate change, capitalism, as well as more personal themes like depression and psychological control. These are topics deeply connected to the strange century we live in and the cycles that keep repeating throughout history. The lyrics often have multiple interpretations. For example, Sophieâs lyrics on “Rosebud” were inspired by a personal experience with an authoritarian person obsessed with power and money. Dom, for the music video, linked this to Charles Foster Kane, the central character in “Citizen Kane,” to explore cycles (again!), the dangers of power, and media monopolization by billionaires. This political reading, originally set in WWII, resonates strongly with today’s world. We encourage everyone to interpret our lyrics and music in their own way and find personal meaning in them.“
A solid sound, how is the creative process of your music take place?
“Composing is an endless quest. We took our time finalizing certain tracks, experimenting with different songwriting approaches. We tried countless things⊠and only locked them in once they “vibrated” with all of us. We played, listened back, and reworked tracks multiple times to satisfy our perfectionist and slightly depressive musician neuroses. The album also served as a snapshot of what we wanted to share at that moment in time.“
The sound is enriched with effects and modulations, what equipment did you use to make the album?
“Weâre lucky to have Flo, our guitarist, who is also a professional sound technician. He oversaw all the pre-production and recording and worked wonders with limited resources. The whole process was very DIY, starting with a basic setup: SM57s, a C214, and an X-Air. However, DIY had its limits when it came to mixing and mastering. Thatâs where ClĂ©ment Adolff and ThĂ©o Seemann from La Turbine Studio came in. Their understanding of our style and their techniques exceeded our expectations. They ran our recordings through an analog console, giving our sound a unique warmth and making it feel more alive. To stay as true to our live sound as possible, we made sure to use our own effects while recording and enhanced them subtly in post-production. We place a high priority on authenticity, both for ourselves and our audience. As for guitar effects, Sophie and Flo are big fans of Strymon. They use the Timeline, Cloudburst, BigSky, and BlueSky. For distortion, Flo relies on the Tube Screamer by Mackson, while Sophie swears by the unique tone of her Orange Rockerverb amp â her only distortion â and would never trade her SG for anything.“
You have recently proposed the single “Rosebud,” do you plan to extract more in advance of the albumâs release?
“We released the “Rosebud” music video and single, as well as a live version of “What Comes After” to give people a taste of what Yojimbo is like live. We donât have any other releases planned at the moment since the album is coming very soon!“
Many of our readers and your fans are wondering if there will be a chance to listen to your music live, do you have plans for the near future?
“Yes! We have several confirmed dates across France, with more in the works for Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Notably, weâll be playing with Deville for our release party in Strasbourg on April 24, with Occult Hand Order in Paris on May 1, and with Dirty Sound Magnet in Colmar on May 18. Booking is a colossal and often thankless task, but weâre excited to see the tour taking shape, thanks to Sophie, who spends a lot of time managing spreadsheets and sending emails. Eventually, we hope to work with a booking agent so we can focus more on the artistic side.“
Do you have any particular memories or anecdotes that you would like to tell us about your live experiences?
“A year and a half ago, we were contacted to play at a bachelor party. We ended up in a remote mountain chalet playing for ten drunk guys (who felt more like sixty) and some cows. At first, we werenât sure if they had planned a ritual sacrifice and if weâd ever make it home, but it turned out to be an unforgettable night. The groom was a huge stoner fan and a regular at the Freak Valley Festival.“
The underground scene is full of festivals and concerts, how important is it to keep these events alive?
“Itâs essential, now more than ever. Social and cultural aspects seem to be disappearing from political priorities. We need to rethink how we share our music because venues are changing, and some will disappear. Creativity and solidarity will be key to keeping music alive outside of mainstream circuits.“
Technology is gaining ground in the musicâs creation process, how do you see this new technological contribution in Rock/Metal?
“Itâs a fascinating and complex debate. Like every technological revolution (MIDI in the â90s, digital recording, etc.), there are fears and resistance, sometimes justified. The ethical question is crucial. AI opens up incredible possibilities, but keeping a clear artistic direction is essential: adapting, yes, but without compromising. We donât use AI in our music, but we appreciate the independence that affordable or open-source technology gives us.“
Music is constantly evolving, how do you see the current music scene in your country and more generally in the Stoner scene?
“Thereâs less space for live shows, and the demand is skyrocketing⊠This imbalance creates a competitive and sometimes stressful environment. When we released the “Rosebud” music video, someone commented: âWhere is this band from?â âFrance, surprisingly.â Itâs funny, but in reality, the French scene is incredibly rich yet lacks visibility for various reasons. France isnât a Rock country anymore, unlike our neighboring countries. That said, we have Gojira â our own metal âZidane.â Thankfully, stoner rock, like other niche genres, has a loyal and passionate audience that allows bands like us to grow outside the mainstream industry.“
Do you have other activities or artistic passions outside of music?
Sophie: “Cats, and my Folk/Blues duo Two Magnets.“
Flo: “Iâm an unemployed Swiss Army knife.“
Stef: “Drummer in a punk band (Samedi:Bagarre).“
Dom: “Professional photographer, plain chips, and curling.“
I thank the band for the interview, wishing them the best for the release of their debut album and the continuation of their artistic career.
