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.
Sålka Gets Her Hopes Up
Yumi Zouma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it's not a big surprise for all to see.
You know I'd give it all to go out with you,
whatever it takes.
Give it up, or refuse.
If you want me to choose.
You know it feels quite frustrating.
you never wanted to sleep;
it's just not worth contemplating.
I'll always give it to you honest,
I'll always try to solve your every problem.
I'll always give it to you honest,
when it hurts and it's bleak, yeah it's true,
I never want to leave-
You can trust me, you could stay.
You can tell me, I won't let you down.
Let's pretend, we could date.
We could go out, just (the) two of us.
I'll catch you if you're falling,
if nothing ever makes you hit the ground.
I'll be your one and only,
every time you need someone downtown.
I'll catch you if you're falling,
we could hoist a flag to the stars.
I'll be there when you call me,
heart to heart and hopeless without doubt.
So keep me by your side,
you know you always leave me right behind.
I hope that you will always be the same,
whatever it takes.
Give it up, or refuse.
If you want me to choose.
You know it feels quite frustrating.
Live it up for a week,
you never wanted to sleep;
it's just not worth contemplating.
I'll always give it to you honest,
I'll always try to solve your every problem.
I'll always give it to you honest,
when it hurts and it's bleak, yeah it's true,
I never want to leave-
You can trust me, you could stay.
You can tell me, I won't let you down.
Let's pretend, we could date.
We could go out, just (the) two of us.
I'll catch you if you're falling,
if nothing ever makes you hit the ground.
I'll be your one and only,
every time you need someone downtown.
I'll catch you if you're falling,
we could hoist a flag to the stars.
I'll be there when you call me,
heart to heart and hopeless without doubt.
The lyrics to Yumi Zouma's song "Sålka Gets Her Hopes Up" convey a message of unrequited love, frustration, and hope. The singer of the song is expressing their love for someone who hasn't reciprocated their feelings. The singer is hoping that the other person will pay attention to them and give them a chance. The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to be noticed and given a chance to be with the other person.
The lyrics describe the singer's willingness to be there for the other person no matter what. They promise to be honest and help solve any problems the other person may have. The line "I'll catch you if you're falling" is particularly poignant, as it conveys the singer's desire to be there for the other person in times of need.
The lyrics also express frustration with the other person's lack of attention. The line "Give it up, or refuse. If you want me to choose" suggests that the singer is tired of waiting for the other person to make a move and is ready to move on if they do not show any interest. However, the singer still holds out hope that the other person will come around.
Overall, the lyrics express a mixture of hope and frustration as the singer navigates unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
You never had a lot to say to me,
It was apparent that you never had much to say to me.
it's not a big surprise for all to see.
It wasn't shocking for people to notice this about us.
You know I'd give it all to go out with you,
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to be with you.
whatever it takes.
I am ready for any kind of effort necessary to be with you.
Give it up, or refuse.
You have to either accept or reject me.
If you want me to choose.
If you need me to decide between my options.
You know it feels quite frustrating.
It's displeasing and vexing at the same time.
Live it up for a week,
Make the most of the next few days.
you never wanted to sleep;
You don't enjoy spending time resting at all.
it's just not worth contemplating.
It's not worth ruminating on this choice.
I'll always give it to you honest,
I'll always be straightforward with you.
I'll always try to solve your every problem.
I'll make an effort to help with any problems you have.
when it hurts and it's bleak, yeah it's true,
It's true that when everything feels hopeless and sad.
I never want to leave-
I never want to abandon you.
You can trust me, you could stay.
You can confide in me and remain.
You can tell me, I won't let you down.
You can express yourself to me without the fear of disappointment.
Let's pretend, we could date.
Let's imagine a life of a romantic relationship.
We could go out, just (the) two of us.
We could spend some alone time together.
I'll catch you if you're falling,
I'll be there for you in times of distress.
if nothing ever makes you hit the ground.
If there's ever a situation that makes you feel down.
I'll be your one and only,
I'll be your only, and forever remain that way.
every time you need someone downtown.
Whenever you need someone around, I'll be there.
we could hoist a flag to the stars.
We can make our love known to the entire world.
I'll be there when you call me,
I'll always respond when you need me.
heart to heart and hopeless without doubt.
We'll be connected and faithful to each other.
So keep me by your side,
Please don't let me go.
you know you always leave me right behind.
I always feel left behind in everything that you do.
I hope that you will always be the same,
I pray you remain as you are.
whatever it takes.
No matter how hard it may be.
Contributed by Alexandra C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@YumiZouma
yooo who's here in 2021? this song is 7 years old??!!
@brianl3240
Her voice, her melodies, song writing at its finest, music is tight and fluid smooth, catchy,
story telling, WOW!!!! Melodies!!!!
@YumiZouma
thank you!!!!
@brianl3240
@@YumiZouma you just made my day if, if not the rest of my life by responding...LOL if this really is Christie!!! I have to tell you something, in my long journey of music there are only a handful of bands that I can truly say that on certain albums I genuinely like love every single song on the album. For me that’s how I truly know this band touches my soul...The Sundays- “Reading Writing Arithmetic” Hole- “Live Through This” Wolf Alice-“Our Love is Cool” Hippo Campus-“Landmark” America-And you have my honor the honor to be the only band in my 48 years that has 2 albums that every song is a genuine love for me I listen straight through, Willowbank, and Yoncalla!!!! Wow.
The way you use your melodic voice and your delivery, it truly is golden!!! Thanks again!
@chrishunt646
@@brianl3240 hey brian, just FYI - this is actually Yumi Zouma's original singer Kim Pflaum on this track... not Christie. Kim did their first two EPs (she now makes music as MADEIRA / Laumė). Both Christie and Kim are fantastic, but the first two EPs were done by Kim (who had a slightly different sound)!!! Cheers!
@hondakid9170
@@chrishunt646 did Kim sing Second Wave?
@chrishunt646
@@hondakid9170 I believe so
@zabrizzL
this is part of my everyday mix ^-^
@user-ur4sg9eg5h
i really feel myself with her songs ❤ never old
@nathanielgirma8265
This rhythm just melts my insides.