Yea-Ming and the Rumours
ABOUT
Yea-Ming, the Oakland-based singer-songwriter is known for her heart-tugging lyrics, catchy melodies and dreamy notions. Her low, dusky tones recall ‘60s German singer Nico, although she was most inspired as a young adult by pop punk and indie bands like Mr. T. Experience, The Queers and Dressy Bessy. “Bands like that,” she says, “made me realize the power of a simple song.”
Solo or backed by a band, Yea-Ming can be heard as Yea-Ming and The Rumours, and now is the front woman for the super group, RYLI. Over her career, she has shared a bill with Shonen Knife, Ty Segall, Osees, Calvin Johnson, Paul Collins, The Dodos, Hunx and His Punx, The Mantles and Bart Davenport.
In 2024, The Rumours frontwoman masterfully curated her self-proclaimed “pop record”, weaving melancholy narratives with catchy hooks in a sound that is more full on indie pop leaning than anything the Rumours have done before. The fuller-sounding production is heavily influenced by 90’s underground college radio favorites. “I Can’t Have It All” marks the band’s continued evolution past their early days as an outlet for Chen’s sparse and intimate songs.
Produced by Chen, the album was mostly recorded and sculpted in her home studio after basic tracks were recorded with Meric Long (The Dodos) at Tiny Telephone Studios and Mike Walti at Wyldwood Studios. As usual, the record is performed by Yea-Ming with the help of long-time Rumours collaborators Eóin Galvin on lead guitar, lap steel and backing vocals and Sonia Hayden on drums and percussion on several of the tracks. New Rumours members Jen Weisberg (Hits) and Luke Robbins (RE Seraphin/Latitude) also make their debut and appear on bass and drums throughout the record.
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