Put two acoustic guitars, one African Djembe drum and three multi talented lead vocalists together and you will find a harmony that matches no other.
Members of The Yes Team put their extensive talents to full use in their Southern Californian musical trio. The fusion of Indie-country-pop that they exhibit seems extremely jumbled on paper, but when the three perform, it sounds as smooth and well crafted as anything on the Billboard Hot 100.
Put two acoustic guitars, one African Djembe drum and three multi talented lead vocalists together and you will find a harmony that matches no other.
Members of The Yes Team put their extensive talents to full use in their Southern Californian musical trio. The fusion of Indie-country-pop that they exhibit seems extremely jumbled on paper, but when the three perform, it sounds as smooth and well crafted as anything on the Billboard Hot 100.
Composed of Jonathan Walsh, Kinnie Dye and TJ Moss, The Yes Team creates beautiful music based on their lives and the events around them. Each is experienced singer/song writer in their own right. They spoke about their history and experiences in depth between songs, while retuning or switching instruments. Some of their inspiration comes from the mystical “California energy” they found here after relocating from New York City, and the way they spoke and sang about it, the soil of California is soaked in positive thinking.
Nearly all of their tracks, from upbeat to ballads, come out with a glass-half-full tone. Listening to them entices deep thoughts of peace and reconciliation. The vast majority of their music was written by one of the three, with improvisation in the choruses and the instrumental forming the bulk of the group contribution.
The first song, “Road To Follow,” carefully gave a glimpse of the groups talent. Dye, with a hauntingly beautiful voice, took the lead vocals in the first song, allowing her to be the first of the three to show off her exquisite talent and range. Music started quietly, with precise, soft fretting by Moss while Dye’s voice shined in the lead vocals with a confidence and passion gained through a true enjoyment of her art. The chorus allowed Walsh and Moss to show us their beautifully symbiotic vocal skills. The music escalated softly and gently, easing the audience into the musical chemistry between the three.
They wasted no time in exposing themselves emotionally to the audience, the lyrics of each song giving vivid windows into emotional tidbits from their lives. As musical students, they practiced songwriting games meant to continuously keep their talents fresh and growing. One of these games was to compose a song in one week based on a word given.
For the 10-year anniversary of this game, Walsh was tasked with creating a song based on the words “Ten years.” He used a decade in his life, his 20s, to create a personal, passionate musical piece. The resulting song was as emotional as it was insightful about Walsh’s experience as a young, unknown musician in New York. Moss and Walsh’s in-unison chords exhibited impressive timing, especially to a song Moss admitted he had never played before. A clear and amazing ability to improvise while maintaining an air of professionalism was just one more reason their performance never ceased to captivate the audience. Dye and Moss’ back up vocals weaved flawlessly with Walsh’s lead.
Walsh admitted a time when he went through a three-month dry spell, where words would not come. A songwriter’s worst nightmare. But when he began to write, “Find Me” found him. A love song about “the one that just might be the one,” the deliverance was nothing short of breathtaking. Lyrics spoke with truths of love, and with Walsh’s powerful lead and the perfection of harmonies this song soared with emotion.
And speaking of harmonies, this trio of musicians has mastered the art. From the quiet interludes of perpetual notes to the up soaring sound that blends into one, The Yes Team does more than complement each other, they become one in song.
The short hour of music flew by, winding to an end with their “We all belong.” This song employed more of a modern country twang than many of the others. Ending passionately and strong, they turned their heads upwards and closed their eyes while their voices danced across the crescendos. By far the worse part was having to conclude the exquisite spectacle. The Yes Team promotes peace and love through alluring music, emotions that their songs never fail to inspire.
To hear more from The Yes Team visit www.yesteamgo.com, follow them on Facebook and www.ReverbNation.com/yesteamgo.
