Doc Martin in LA Weekly’s Coachella picks
12 years ago
United States Yacht is an American dance-pop band that has consistently explored the intersection of music, technology, and philosophy, delivering innovative projects.
The bulk of YACHT's releases have been for New York City's DFA Records, including albums like 'See Mystery Lights' and 'Shangri-La'.
Yacht signed to Downtown Records in 2014, releasing the EP 'Where Does This Disco?' and the full-length album 'I Thought The Future Would Be Cooler'.
Yacht has released albums, such as 'I Believe in You. Your Magic Is Real.', and other recordings through Marriage Records.
Early Yacht albums, including 'Mike's Crest', 'The Winter Is Coming Jam', and 'Our Friends in Hell', were released on States Rights Records.
In January 2006, Yacht was commissioned for two performances for the New York based art and technology platform Rhizome, as part of its Crap-tops vs Laptops show.
In February 2006, Yacht performed at the Museum of Modern Art's P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center and produced an hour-long Internet radio program with Clear Cut Press.
In April 2006, the Aurora Picture Show commissioned a Yacht performance as part of its Media Archeology Festival in Houston, Texas.
Yacht discussed their limited-edition compact disc project at WIRED's WIREDxDesign conference in October 2014.
In early 2013, the retailer Kohl's used Yacht typeface imagery and lyrics from 'Shangri-La' on a series of T-shirts made available online.
Yacht donated all proceeds from the sales of their song "Party at the NSA" to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, along with proceeds from a related T-shirt.
The video for Yacht's single "Second Summer" was produced by the Fox animation studio, Animation Domination, in 2012.
Yacht, an American dance-pop band, originated in Portland, Oregon, and is currently based in Los Angeles, California. The core members are Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans. Bechtolt initially conceived Yacht as a solo project in 2002, releasing three albums: “Super Warren MMIV,” “Mega,” and “I Believe in You. Your Magic Is Real.” During this early period, Yacht engaged in various cultural projects, including performances for Rhizome’s Crap-tops vs Laptops show in 2006, a performance at the Museum of Modern Art’s P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, and an Internet radio program with Clear Cut Press. The project gained further recognition in 2007 with a concert held on a yacht on the Willamette River and a performance at China’s Yue music festival.
In 2008, Claire L. Evans became a full member, transforming Yacht into a duo. This period saw the release of “See Mystery Lights” in 2009, an album that received critical acclaim and was chosen as a “Critic’s Choice” by The New York Times. The band also began to articulate its philosophical framework, publishing “The Secret Teachings of the Mystery Lights: A Handbook on Overcoming Humanity and Becoming Your Own God.” Yacht collaborated with YouTube personality Mitchell Davis for the “I Walked Alone” music video in 2011 and released “Shangri-La,” their second album on DFA Records, the same year. Their activities also included recording a cover of Brigitte Fontaine’s “Le Goudron” in 2012 and releasing the single “Second Summer” to celebrate their 10th anniversary. In 2013, Yacht addressed political themes with “Party at the NSA,” a song satirizing government surveillance, donating all proceeds to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, with Marc Maron contributing a guitar solo.
From 2014, Yacht continued its experimental trajectory, signing with Downtown Records and releasing the EP “Where Does This Disco?” The band designed a limited-edition compact disc to comment on the medium’s obsolescence, which they discussed at WIREDxDesign in October 2014. Their 2015 album, “I Thought The Future Would Be Cooler,” was accompanied by a technology-focused promotional campaign, including a drone-captured video and a website sending faxes of album art. Following a controversial publicity stunt in 2016, Yacht took a break from music. They co-founded the Triforium Project, an initiative to revitalize a piece of public art in Los Angeles, which included a grant-funded temporary installation and live performances. In 2019, Yacht released “Chain Tripping,” an album created extensively using artificial intelligence, which contributed to song composition, lyrics, artwork, and various visual elements. This project earned them a GRAMMY Award nomination for Best Immersive Audio Album. The band continues to release new music, with projects like “Sub Versions” (2021) and “New Release” (2024), maintaining their focus on artistic innovation.
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