The group's origins trace back to their history of playing concerts together in Christchurch. However, the band did not begin writing music together until multiple members moved abroad and began collaborating over email following the events of the Christchurch earthquake. This early material gained attention within the musical blogosphere and encouraged American label Cascine to sign the band before they had played live or held a band practice.
Between 2014 and 2015, the group released two EPs (EP I, EP II). The band's debut album Yoncalla was released in 2016, including the singles "Keep It Close To Me" and "Barricade (Matter Of Fact)". In 2017, the band released their second album, Willowbank, and the singles "December", "Depths (Pt. I)", and "Half Hour". EP III was released in 2018, including the singles "In Camera" and "Crush (It's Late Just Stay)". In 2020, the band signed to labels Polyvinyl Record Co. and Inertia Music, and released their third album Truth or Consequences, which featured the singles "Right Track / Wrong Man", "Cool For A Second", "Southwark", "Lonely After", and "Sage".
Founded by Burgess, Ryder, and vocalist Kim Pflaum, the group began writing music using file-sharing services when Burgess left New Zealand to work at New York-based record label Captured Tracks. The band's first release, EP I, debuted in early 2014, after the single A Long Walk Home For Parted Lovers appeared on several blogs before being quickly taken down. The band was positively reviewed by Pitchfork and profiled by The Guardian, leading to the group signing with Brooklyn-based record label Cascine. In mid-2014, the band began playing live, touring with singer Lorde, and collaborating with other acts, such as the Swedish band Air France. Guitarist Sam Perry[ and vocalist Christie Simpson joined the group in 2015, while Pflaum left and started the solo project Madeira (later renamed Laumė). The band released a second EP, EP II, in early 2015, and proceeded to tour extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, with the likes of Jamie xx and Lower Dens.
The band quickly released their first full-length album, Yoncalla, the following year. As opposed to the long-distance writing of the band's earlier releases, Yoncalla consisted of material that had been finished during tours for EP II. The majority of the album's final material was recorded in Paris, France, following an American tour that stopped by the city of Yoncalla, Oregon. The band produced the album at electronic musician Philippe Zdar's Motorbass studio in Paris, enabling them to achieve a sound more akin to classic synth-pop than their previous records.
After a year of heavy touring in support of Yoncalla, the band traveled home to record in New Zealand for the first time. A limited edition cover of the Oasis album (What's The Story) Morning Glory? was distributed on vinyl in early 2017, before the release of the band's second album, Willowbank, in October. The sessions for Willowbank marked the first time that the group had worked together in a professional studio, with the band initially questioning whether they should "all move into separate rooms" to recreate the remote songwriting process from previous records. However, the sessions allowed for stronger collaboration and more organic instrumentation compared to earlier material, leading to jazz musician Olivia Campion joining the band as a live drummer. The lead single "Depths (Pt. I)" became a success on streaming platforms, and was accompanied by a video created by illustrator Frances Haszard. Following the completion of touring for Willowbank, Perry left the band in order to concentrate on his Serbia-based musical project DOG Power.
In wake of the departure of Perry, the remaining four members of the band proceeded to return to the methods of long-distance writing that had inspired their earlier material. This process led to the creation of a third EP, released in October 2018. A video for the lead single "In Camera" was released in early 2019, directed by Pavel Brenner. A video for the second single "Crush (It's Late, Just Stay)" was also released in 2019, directed by Robbie Barnett.
After signing to Polyvinyl and Inertia Records, Yumi Zouma released their third studio album Truth or Consequences on March 13, 2020. The album features the singles "Right Track / Wrong Man", "Cool For A Second", "Southwark", "Lonely After", and "Sage". Along with the album, Yumi Zouma is set to release a unique line of merchandise which includes a candle, bandana, and enamel pin. The band announced a reimagined edition of the album named Truth or Consequences - Alternate Versions, which was released in October 2020.
On March 18, 2022, their fourth full-length release Present Tense was recorded remotely with some in-studio sessions in Los Angeles, London, Florence, New York, and New Zealand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Depths
Yumi Zouma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I was older, then would you still let me win?
Cold, so cold and oh, what'd you say again?
That′s life
Don't go, so cold, you're all the same
Seriously in lust, it bothers me
Never taking, myself that seriously
Don′t think it bothers me
Chasing, the depths of my sins
I heard you′re learning
To savor the consequences
Cold, so cold and oh, what'd you say again?
That′s life
Don't go, so cold, you′re all the same
Seriously in lust, it bothers me
Under the boot of my desire to be
Never taking, myself that seriously
Don't think it bothers me
Seriously in lust, it bothers me
Under the boot of my desire to be
Never taking myself that seriously
Don′t think it bothers me
In Yumi Zouma's song Depths, the lyrics depict the feeling of being trapped or caught in a cycle, with the singer asking if age would still make a difference. The song opens with a sense of being dizzy and caught in a spin, a feeling of uncertainty and confusion. The singer then talks about being serious about their desire, which bothers them as they feel under the control of their own desire and like they are chasing the depths of their own sins. However, the chorus repeats the phrase "Cold, so cold and oh, what'd you say again? That′s life, don't go so cold, you're all the same," which gives the message that life is not always kind, and that we may be caught in a cycle that stays the same over time.
The singer expresses their feelings regarding being "seriously in lust," the phrase that's repeated several times and appears to be an important part of the song's meaning. They imply that their desire bothers them, as they are under this "boot" that makes them chase the depths of their sins. However, they appear to be comfortable with this idea, as they repeat the phrase "Don't think it bothers me" twice in the song. The lyrics are somewhat cryptic in nature, but perhaps they convey the idea that we all have desires that can cause a disruption in our daily lives. Despite this, we keep moving forward, as life goes on.
Line by Line Meaning
Dizzy, we're caught in a spin
Feeling disoriented and lost in life
If I was older, then would you still let me win?
Questioning if age determines the ability to win or succeed
Cold, so cold and oh, what'd you say again?
That's life
Don't go, so cold, you're all the same
Acceptance of life's hardships and disappointment in people's lack of individuality
Seriously in lust, it bothers me
Under the boot of my desire to be
Never taking, myself that seriously
Don't think it bothers me
Feeling conflicted about an intense desire while being self-aware and not taking oneself too seriously
Chasing, the depths of my sins
I heard you're learning
To savor the consequences
Actively pursuing personal growth and reflecting on the consequences of past actions
Seriously in lust, it bothers me
Under the boot of my desire to be
Never taking myself that seriously
Don't think it bothers me
Reiterating the feeling of internal conflict between intense desire and self-awareness
Writer(s): Joshua Burgess, Christie Simpson, Charlie Ryder, Samuel Perry
Contributed by Bailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@OXRRXO
Dizzy, we're caught in a spin
If I was older, then would you still let me win?
Cold, so cold
And oh, what'd you say again?
"That's life? ", but don't go
So cold, you're awful sane
Seriously in lust it bothers me
Under the boots of my desire to be
Never taking myself that seriously
Don't think it bothers me
Chasing, the depths of my senses
I heard you learning
To savour the consequences
Cold, so cold
And oh, what'd you say again?
"That's life? ", but don't go
So cold, you're awful sane
Seriously in lust it bothers me
Under the boots of my desire to be
Never taking myself that seriously
Don't think it bothers me
Seriously in lust it bothers me
Under the boots of my desire to be
Never taking myself that seriously
Don't think it bothers me
@xavierdennis2161
I listen to this song for hours its so beautiful
@BagualVeio
me too
@YumiZouma
dedication! we love to see it!
@liamoriarty
same here
@teeaymusik9811
@@liamoriarty Same
@drissezzinedeblas5667
Agree men. Listen to the one called "Catastrophe" !
@kelinjohnson7421
they make songs for you to drive around the coast maybe its just me.
@YumiZouma
yes. down with us
@wildmercuryfilms
I always felt like it was for driving on dirt roads with cornfields on either side in Nebraska at night, but you may be right.
@Wixom2200
Definitely!