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.
Ostra
Yumi Zouma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw you in a prayed up mind
Those times when you felt blameless
I could never break it, I could never make friends blind
You fake the change of facing
No time to be complaisant all around me and you
If you lose the way you play me
I'm losing over to someone
Who thinks that life is stolen
And locked in a loop
We could never be that waitless
But now you see me
And I don't have faith
Fighting off the reasons
That you tried to claim
Closer, pulling over
Call me when you know
I can feel the turning
Back to indigo
Those headlights off and bended
You said that you had gone before
Those moments when we mended
Every single vision, every single rift you wore
I make of dedication to break the expectation
And all we could do, to avoid you lately
Three weeks, I hardly believe you
Two months that you deceive aren't enough to be cruel
Couldn't you avoid this feeling?
But now you see me
And I don't have faith
Fighting off the reasons
That you tried to claim
Closer, pulling over
Call me when you know
I can feel the turning
Back to indigo
By the time at night
When you think again of sleep
Tell me what you're really meaning
And I try somehow but I can't [?] my time
And something could leave us wordless
But now you see me
And I don't have faith
Fighting off the reasons
That you tried to claim
Closer, pulling over
Call me when you know
I can feel the turning
Back to indigo
But now you see me
And I don't have faith
Fighting off the reasons
That you tried to claim
Closer, pulling over
Call me when you know
I can feel the turning
Back to indigo
The lyrics of Yumi Zouma's song "Ostra" speak to a complex, emotionally charged relationship where one person feels a sense of betrayal and confusion. The first verse describes a moment when the singer shouted out their emotions while the other person waited, suggesting a disconnect in their communication. The singer acknowledges that the other person appeared blameless in certain moments, making it difficult for them to break through and connect on a deeper level.
The chorus reveals a sense of resignation and disappointment. The singer feels as though they are losing themselves to someone who believes that life has been stolen from them and is trapped in a cycle. The phrase "we could never be that waitless" implies a longing for a relationship where they can simply be present without the weight of emotional baggage.
In the second verse, the singer recalls a specific incident when the other person said they had gone before, possibly indicating a history of emotional distance or abandonment. Despite moments of healing and reconciliation ("moments when we mended"), the other person continues to wear the scars of past rifts. The singer is dedicated to breaking the cycle of expectation, suggesting a desire for a healthier, more fulfilling relationship.
The bridge of the song further explores the complexities of the relationship. The singer questions the other person's intentions and wishes they could understand the meaning behind their actions. There's a struggle to grasp the passage of time and a feeling of being unable to fully move forward.
Overall, "Ostra" delves into the complexities of a relationship marked by miscommunication, betrayal, and the desire for understanding and healing. The lyrics paint a picture of a bittersweet connection where one person longs for emotional resonance while grappling with the pain caused by the other's actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I shouted when you waited
I expressed my frustration when you chose to remain patient
I saw you in a prayed up mind
I observed that you were in a state of calmness and spiritual preparedness
Those times when you felt blameless
During those moments, you believed you were free from any guilt or fault
I could never break it, I could never make friends blind
I was unable to disrupt your state of mind or mend relationships that were strained
You fake the change of facing
You pretend to undergo a transformation
No time to be complaisant all around me and you
There is no opportunity to be content while we are together
If you lose the way you play me
If you lose sight of your intentions, you manipulate me
I'm losing over to someone
I am surrendering to someone else's influence
Who thinks that life is stolen
This person believes that life is taken unjustly
And locked in a loop
Trapped in a repetitive cycle
We could never be that waitless
We could never be free from the burden of waiting
But now you see me
However, now you notice my presence
And I don't have faith
And I no longer have trust or belief
Fighting off the reasons
Attempting to resist the justifications
That you tried to claim
That you attempted to assert as truth
Closer, pulling over
Approaching, shifting to the side
Call me when you know
Contact me when you are certain
I can feel the turning
I can sense the change or shift
Back to indigo
Returning to a state of deep blue
Those headlights off and bended
The headlights are turned off and slightly bent
You said that you had gone before
You claimed to have experienced a similar situation in the past
Those moments when we mended
The times when we repaired the damage in our relationship
Every single vision, every single rift you wore
Every perspective and disagreement you carried
I make of dedication to break the expectation
I commit myself wholeheartedly to shatter the anticipated outcome
And all we could do, to avoid you lately
And everything we have done recently to avoid encountering you
Three weeks, I hardly believe you
Three weeks have passed, and it is difficult for me to trust you
Two months that you deceive aren't enough to be cruel
Even though you have deceived me for two months, it is not sufficient to be considered cruel
Couldn't you avoid this feeling?
Were you unable to prevent this emotion from arising?
By the time at night
During the late hours of the night
When you think again of sleep
When you contemplate whether or not to go to sleep
Tell me what you're really meaning
Share with me your true intentions or thoughts
And I try somehow but I can't [?] my time
And I attempt in some way, but I cannot save my time
And something could leave us wordless
And something could render us speechless
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Charlie Everley Ryder, Joshua Paul Burgess, Sam Perry, Christie Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind