5 Minutes with… Yeti Love

Yeti Love are an acoustic-Folk act that comprises of Peter Hamilton (Vocals/ Guitar) and Dave Sears (Guitar) and together they have created a unique sound that offers something fresh to the scene.

Peter spent many years drumming for successful Rock bands and touring across Europe, after a while he found himself setting sights on a new project of his own and began writing on the guitar. Being half Spanish and hailing from Galicia Peter drew on his roots for inspiration and developed an affinity for Folk music. In the summer of 2013 guitarist Dave Sears joined the project, as a fellow Folk musician, Peter felt that Dave could bring more dimensionality to the music. They soon found that they had a harmony between them, bouncing ideas off each other, their parts rhythmically interacting in a kind of Celtic fashion with mixed with visceral grooves of Peter’s Latin influence. 

Yeti Love have gone on to successfully support Nick Oliveri (Queens Of The Stone Age) and Boy Hits Car.

Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?

We’re good thanks. Just at the studio doing some writing and general messing around.

To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?

Thats a hard question to answer. I suppose we’d like to think of our selves as “Alt-Rogue Acoustic Rock.” Haha what a dumb description! But Acoustic based stuff I guess.

What are the 5 albums and artists that have influenced you the most?

Again, thats so hard! You’re killing me here!

Tool – Aenema

Faith – No More

Any Led Zeppelin album

Damian Rice – O

Black Sabbath – Paranoid

What other artists do you really like at the moment and why?

At the moment I really like Ben Harper. He’s got such an honest approach to music, just so timeless.

Who or what were your key influences in the writing of your album, Yeti Love? What’s your favourite track off the album and why?

I suppose at the time I was listening to Tom Waits, Ben Harper, Tool, Mark Lanegan, Blind Melon. That sort of stuff, its hard to say. Influences can come from anywhere and some times you don’t even know its an influence until years later. My favourite track I think is Stones, as it’s the first song I ever wrote.

What are some of the key pieces of gear you use to write your tracks?

A kick drum and a guitar.

Peter, what spurred you to move from drums to guitar?

About 3 years ago I started my own cafe at a rehearsal studio in croydon. I was surrounded by loads of really creative people doing loads of cool music, and I didn’t have time or space to set up my drum kit and play. My brother Chris (who is a very talented musician / producer) had an acoustic guitar he was gonna sell. I love that guitar for some reason, don’t know why, but I do. I hated the thought of some random person playing it. So i bought it off him and decided to learn. Its the type of instrument you can take anywhere and play, so in down time at the cafe I used to play it really badly. To me the guitar and the way I play is no different to the drums. My right and and hand still keeps time like a hi-hat and my right foot still plays the beat on the kick. The only difference is my right hand now has to throw some shapes.

How do you go about writing your tracks? How do you guys bounce ideas off each other?

Its the old art of jamming. I think it’s starting to get lost in music today. There’s a lot of chopping and template work with music, and that works for some, but I prefer the old ways.

What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?

I was lucky enough to play the Astoria in London (RIP). It was one of the first venues I ever went to see a band in. At that gig i was in ore the whole time. I made one of those radicalise promises to myself, that one day I’d play there… And it happened. To this day I can’t believe it.

What’s the worst gig you have ever done and why?

I played a gig in Bolton once. I won’t name the venue because that would be mean, but it was horrible. There was a sports shop next door that got broken into and robbed as we sound checked. They used our noise as cover, haha! I also had food poisoning at that show and had to sleep on the floor of the venue that night. I woke up in the morning with fag butts stuck to my face. It was the lowest I’ve ever felt in my musical adventure, haha. Now I look at those moments with fondness though.

You’ve supported Ex- Queens of The Stone Age member Nick Oliveri. How did that come about? Was that a big moment for Yeti Love?

Yeah it was a big moment! It was an amazing experience. I’ve been a fan of Kyuss since I was a kid, more so than Q.O.T.S.A, although it love Queens too. So to be able to go on tour and support him was mind blowing. He’s a lovely guy, very generous and funny. He heard us through a friend of mine, she told him we should support him and he said yeah. Crazy! Haha. I got the email out of the blue, she said “Hey I’m coming to England with Nick Oliveri… And you’re on the tour.” I thought it was a joke at first but no, it was real.

What’s your opinion on the following genres?

Classical

I like a bit. But generally I don’t listen to it, so my thoughts are wasted.

Blues

Love the blues. Its so rich in history and character. Its what started all the music I love.

Soul

Same again. You can’t not like it!!

Hip-Hop

Yeah I like some stuff. Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, RUN DMC, ect. Its also shaped modern couture hugely, whether thats for the good or worse I don’t know.

Folk

I think along with blues, folk has an important roll to play with social commentary and political views. Its the perfect protest medium. There should be more protest songs now days.

Dubstep

I’m from Croydon!

Trap

I don’t know what that is? Am I old now?

Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects, DJ mixes or collaborations in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?

We have an Album called Yeti Love. Its on iTunes and stuff.

Lastly, if you weren’t a musician what would you be?

An artist of some sort. I love to paint and make a lot of mess. So that would do nicely.