YACHT

In reference to an alternative school in Portland, Oregon, U.S. lead member Jona Bechtolt derived the name Y.A.C.H.T as meaning “Young Americans Challenging High Technology”. The band also features core member Claire L. Evans and touring members Rob Kieswetter and Jeffrey Brodsky.

Around the same time as forming YACHT Bechtolt formed the group the Blow with vocalist and performance artist Khaela Maricich through which they perform upbeat, complex and off-kilter songs that have won them a devoted following. When neither with YACHT nor the Blow Bechtolt has collaborated with the likes of Devendra Banhart, the Dirty Projectors and Little Wings.

Originally a Bechtolt side-project, YACHT released the album “Super Warren MMIV” in 2004, “Mega” in 2005, and “I Believe in You. Your Magic is Real” in 2007, the latter two on Marriage Records. Following the release of “I Believe You. Your Magic Is Real” Bechtolt played a live set on a physical yacht on the Willamette River in Portland. Also noted for her performance and visual art, YACHT’s sets became known for their periods of dancing along to music and elaborate powerpoint presentations.

With the addition of longtime collaborator Claire Evans to the group in 2008, YACHT released their follow-up album “See Mystery Lights” in 2009 on DFA Records. The album catapulted YACHT to an highly-esteemed club of musicians, with Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and the New York Times giving the album glowing reviews with drawing comparisons to Talking Heads. Shortly after the band published a book titled “The Secret Teachings of the Mystery Lights: A Handbook on Overcoming Humanity and Becoming Your Own God” which explained the group’s personal philosophies.

In 2010 the live band, The Straight Gaze joined YACHT for live shows with the resulting incarnation referred to as Yacht and the Straight Gaze. The band’s second release on DFA Records was entitled “Shangri-La” (2011) featuring the singles “Utopia” and “Dystopia (The Earth Is on Fire)” which were made into a double video directed by Rene Daalder.

In 2012 YACHT celebrated its 10 year anniversary with the release of the single “Second Summer” and features a music video produced by Animation Domination. In 2013 the band released the song “Party at the NSA” a tongue-in-cheek song satirising the National Security Agency’s surveillance of private citizens and where comedian Marc Maron plays a guitar solo.