Written by Zaim
Yukahati brings a different kind of sound to the Bruneian music stratosphere. As a newcomer to the Bruneian music scene, Yukahati has released a four track EP as their debut at the turn of the new year. Bad Bye EP, available on Soundcloud, focuses on toxic relationships, break ups and coping with the fact that the other person had already moved on.
We had the chance to catch up with the mind behind Yukahati, Hafeez Asmuie, and discussed about the EP.
Who is Yukahati?
Yukahati, for now, is just one person. Its a recording project of mine. Initially, it was supposed to be a band, but everyone had commitment issues. And it was on December when I first started Yukahati and simultaneously, no one was around.
Did you record the whole EP yourself?
Most of it are by myself, except for one song where I had help with the bass lines, and that’s pretty much it. Nonetheless, everything is by me.
How did the name Yukahati came to be?
Funny enough, it was supposed to be Sukahati, because we just want to make music however we want. Unfortunately, the username on Instagram was taken, so we came up with a lot of different names but nothing was really good. Everything was so cringy. Eventually, I tried writing down Yukahati, just to replace the ’S’. Or ‘Lukahati’, ‘Dukahati’, but ‘Yukahati’ is stuck with me, and I just went with it.
You mentioned that you and your friends came up with the name, who are these friends of yours?
They were my friends since high school. They were Iqmal Januddin, and Aliff Izzat… that's pretty much it. But they don’t have any involvement in the recording process, it was just an idea I brought up that we should start something, but nothing really came through.
What inspired you to write Bad Bye?
Bad Bye isn’t really me trying to move on or anything, it was more like me trying to cope with it. Where they’re final words before I finally move on? Yeah, that's basically the whole theme of the EP, I guess.
Can you explain your process of writing Bad Bye?
At first, it was supposed to be a surf rock band. That's why State of the Art sounds faster compared to other songs, with all the catchy riffs and stuff. That was the first song I came up with, since I started from early December. But then, after I finished State of the Art, I realize this sounds a bit different from what I initially wanted. So I just kept on writing new songs everyday, and I realize it's not really going the way I intended to be, with the whole surf rock kind of sound. Eventually it went slower, with the synths and everything. Plus, I was listening to a lot of Homeshake, The Marias, Michael Seyer, and a bit of Mac Demarco.
What's the difference between Yukahati and Boi/ Bui Kesian?
Well, Boi Kesian was just something I came up with when I first started recording. Yukahati is more proper compared to Boi Kesian. Boi Kesian was just me messing around and everything was made on my phone. It was my first time recording with drums and everything. Before this, I have never did that. I guess after Boi Kesian, I just kept writing songs.
Can you explain your general songwriting process?
I usually come up with chord progressions first, and a guitar riff. I’ll find a really good one, and I’ll record it on Logic Pro, try to come up with a riff, and if it sounds good, I’ll keep it and if I like the whole sound of it, I’ll work on the lyrics. Most of the time, the lyrics come later, it's always the instrumentals first. Except for To:Far, I came up with the lyrics while before anything else.
What comes to mind when writing Bad Bye?
I was not sad when I was writing it. I was not depressed too. I was just feeling… okay, I guess? I just wanted some closure after going through toxic relationships. It's not very heartfelt for me, everything was just… Basically closure for whatever I was going through. For the most part, it helped.
Would you be interested in performing as Yukahati or Boi/ Bui Kesian?
Boi Kesian is just a name I came up with so that no one can find me on Soundcloud because I didn’t want to use my real name. But eventually, people found it, and listened to it. It's just a one time thing. Even the name Boi Kesian wasn't really that good. But if I were to perform, I would probably go with Yukahati.
Will there be sessionists, or are you planning to get full time members?
I hope to get full time members, because right now I’ve been trying to recruit people. I’ve been asking around. If I get a drummer, I’m hoping to find a guitarist. For now its hard, since everyone has commitment issues and no time. Some are studying abroad too. So right now it's just me until I don’t know? Next release, I think? So I’m just going to focus on the next release.
Have you started on the next release?
I guess. There were a lot of songs that didn’t make it into Bad Bye, which I’m probably gonna put in the next one. I’m not sure if it's gonna be an album, or maybe another EP if there's not a lot. But I’ve been writing a lot lately. I hope it’ll be an album, if the songs are good enough
Is it going to sound like Bad Bye, or are you planning to experiment with different sounds?
They might sound the same, but I think it might be more organized compared to the EP. I think Bad Bye is a mess because there's no proper structure to all the songs.
Is there a plan to play gigs outside of Brunei at the moment?
At the moment, I don’t think so with all the members issue, and other stuff.
Are you interested in playing outside as Yukahati? And where do you hope to play if you get the chance to?
Yeah, if I make some good stuff after this, maybe I would. If I don’t, then maybe not. I think Malaysia would be good enough for me, even Miri would be a good start actually.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll still be making music, but I don’t know what’ll happen to Yukahati. I think I’ll still be making music, and hopefully Yukahati will still be active. If its not, then there might be another project... Or finally start a surf rock band, because that's actually one of my dreams I have yet to achieve.
Listen to Bad Bye:
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