The Twin Brothers That Make Up The Indie-Pop Band CAYUCAS Discuss New Music, Biggest Inspirations and More!

Photo Credit – Cara Robbins

Cayucas, the indie-pop creation of twin brothers Zach and Ben Yudin, have announced a spring tour in support of their forthcoming full-length album Real Life, set for release on April 19th.

Real Life includes previously released songs “Jessica WJ” and “Winter of ’98”. Nostalgia is a concept that will always be a huge part of Cayucas’s music, and the songs on Real Life are no different.

Lead singer Ben Yudin states, “Looking back is on one of our favorite things to talk about. We’re just fascinated by the constant evolution of people, friends from high school and college. It makes for great lyrics and subject matter.” As for the album’s title song, “Real Life” is a nod to both the nostalgia the brothers obsess over as well as the positive thinking they embraced during the album’s beginnings.

Learn more about Cayucas in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! What is on tap for the rest of your day for you both?

Announcing the album release, gonna go eat at Monte 52 for lunch, and maybe pinball later tonight.

With the new year started, what is one musical goal that you have for your music? How would you say that 2019 treated you overall?

We get to release our 3rd album and get it out there. Fantastic! 🙂

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be in this band together? Has anything surprised you about this musical journey so far?

We always knew we would be in bands together. Everything has been surprising, but in a good way. And throughout the learning process, evolution.

How did you come up with you band name? Was it a difficult decision to make?

It’s a town in like Central California, I used to surf a bit there but its more the vibes.

How do you think your hometown has influenced the sound and how you both carry yourselves in this band?

The suburbs will affect you in good ways and bad. The things that inspire me are very suburban culturally and aesthetically.

Let’s talk about your upcoming full-length album, “Real Life.” What was it like making this collection? Did anything surprise you about the overall process? How will you celebrate the release of it?

It took a long time, but so glad we waited. It was a cathartic process, and our producer Dennis herring made everything better. We will celebrate probably with a nice bottle of wine or dinner in LA, maybe Dantanas.

How would you say that your already released tracks “Jessica WJ” and “Winter of ‘98” prepare listeners for the rest of your album?

These are great intro into the rest of the album with some familiar sounds and some new sounds in production, synths, keys, guitar etc.

While it’s difficult, can you pick out a few other favorite songs on this album and talk about their inspiration and how they came to be on this collection?

Mine is “Naked Shower Scene,” I like the lyrics and the simple guitar line is kinda red hot chili peppery. Also “Tears,” we haven’t done a song quite like this but has great lindrum drum machine added, and janky guitar riff, with more emotional lyrics. Glad it came together!

Where do you think you are both happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere?

Hawaii, Kona island, by a pool moonlight hour with a beverage.

How excited are you to be heading out on the road in April? What are some venues that you are particularly excited to play at? What do you think makes for an ideal show for this band?

Very excited! We will be performing more intimate venues and it will feel good to have a relationship again with the fans and new music.

How do you think being musicians and in this band gives you all the most joy in life today?

Being able to wake up and do what you want to do is the joyful part and enjoying the process for the good and bad. Also remembering why we started doing music in the first place.

We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious to know how your own music is reflecting this time period? If you don’t think it is, why is that? Would you say that other musicians are making music that has been influenced by this climate?

We hope our music is an escapism or gives any relief for people at least for a little while, in any way possible politically or otherwise.

Who would you love to work with in the future? Who are some of your favorite artists right now? What do you think would be a dream collaboration for this duo?

I don’t know. A dream collab, maybe Pharrell, Dangermouse, Beck. Listening to Diplo at the moment.

If you guys were all going to be stranded on a deserted island, what musical item would you want to take with you and why?

Nylon string guitar, shaker. Get really good at shaker.

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

The message is in the story telling, colors, visuals, lyrics and hopefully people can identify with it and it can inspire them in some way.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about your music?

We’d love to see you at a show!