A Quick Chat With Yawn Vibes

Congrats on your debut album! How does it feel to finally be sharing Never End with the world after five years in the making?

Thank you! It’s a really special moment, and we’re all feeling so excited for the album to be out in the world. We all feel like it’s time for the songs to take on a life of their own - we really hope they make people smile!


The record was born out of so many personal and global changes. Looking back, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken from making this album?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is how to make music sustainably for my health and wellbeing. Juggling jobs, study, and multiple projects during the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis left me burnt out, so we sat on the album while I focused on recovery. In an industry that prizes productivity, I’ve realised it’s okay to rest - your community will support you. Taking that pause made me more present, and ultimately a better artist and collaborator.

You’ve described the album as “a testament to making things with the people you love.” How has friendship shaped the sound and spirit of Yawn Vibes?

Our friendship is the heart of every song on this album. We met Ryan while gigging in Perth - he was running sound, helped us haul gear in the rain, and soon became a close collaborator. Jess and I bonded over chats about music and life at the cafe we worked at together, while Rleanne became a dear friend after we met at a DIY show and danced together. Chris - my husband, best mate, and biggest supporter - has been by my side through bands and songwriting from the start. Together, we naturally gelled as a band and as friends, and I feel endlessly grateful for the kindness, creativity, and joy each of them brought to this record.

The album balances tenderness and grit, sardonic yet hopeful. Was that contrast intentional, or just a natural reflection of your lives during this time?

I think it was more a reflection of our lives, our various influences and experiences. Each song was shaped by a gut feeling when we jammed out the songs or played live - and we built on that in the recording process. 


You recorded at Golding Sounds and worked with Ryan K Brennan as producer, mixer, and masterer. What was the energy like in the studio?

The sessions were fun, gentle, and collaborative - fueled by plenty of peppermint tea. Despite our busy lives, the studio became a warm space where everyone’s ideas were supported. Ryan, a master of recording and songwriting, balanced instinct with expertise, creating an environment where we felt free to explore the sonic, structural, and emotional layers of each song.

You’ve drawn comparisons to Mazzy Star and Beach House, but who were you listening to most while making Never End?

Chris and I were listening to a lot of Japanese Breakfast, Big Thief, Dolly Parton and Dick Diver
. Widowspeak, Jay Som, and Waxahatchee were on heavy rotation in our house too! The whole band were listening to a lot of Katy J Pearson as well, we are huge fans!

There are some special guests on the album (David West, Blake Robertson-Hall). How did those collaborations come about?

Our first show as Yawn Vibes was with David West, who became a close friend and collaborator, shaping the album art and lending his voice to Smoke & Mirrors. We’d admired his music for years, so working with him was a joy. I also met Blake through work, and his brass playing on Home Town and Fast Lane added so much warmth and energy to the record. I’m deeply grateful to both for their creativity and generosity.

For someone pressing play on Never End for the very first time, which track do you hope they listen to with their full attention, and why?

That’s a great question! I’m really fond of “Footy” at the moment. “Footy” is at its core a song about belonging - searching for your people, wondering if they’ll accept you as you are. As a queer person, it’s taken on new meaning for me in light of Mitch Brown’s historic coming out as the first openly bisexual AFL player in 129 years. I wrote it as a reflection on my own longing for connection, using footy as the canvas. Growing up, I was obsessed with the West Coast Eagles and spent some weekends at local games with my grandparents. But moving interstate, away from family and footy culture, and realising I didn’t fit into its hyper-masculine spaces as a queer woman, I felt that connection fade. Ultimately, “Footy” isn’t about the AFL - it’s about longing for safe spaces, finding your people, and learning to belong within yourself.

Yawn Vibes’ album Never End is out now (26 September) via Blue Grey Pink