Q+A with Adrian Galvin from Yoke Lore

NYC folk-pop act Yoke Lore is joining FRENSHIP on the road and they have a stop in Seattle on May 6th for a show at The Crocodile. We had the opportunity to talk with multi-instrumentalist, dancer, and visual artist Adrian Galvin of Yoke Lore this week. Tickets are available here. 

Seattleite: Tell me more about Yoke Lore and what instruments you play. 

Adrian: I’ve been writing my own music and playing my own music for some time and so Yoke Lore was formed out of necessity. I’m a drummer and I also play the banjo. The banjo is something really specific that brings up images of wearing plaid, suspenders, and having a long beard in Apalacia. Because it’s such a narrow vision, there’s a lot of places you can put it where it’s never been before. There are so many ways you can dive into that haven’t been explored before.

S: What does Yoke Lore mean?  

A: Yoke comes from oxen yoke and Lore is set of stories, a pantheon of ideas, a body of traditions. So Yoke Lore is telling stories about how things are yoked, connected, and bound together.  I’m pretty sure that’s where you find value in everything and how it’s connected to everything else.

I try to use my lyrics and music to boil esoteric ideas into digestible ones that people can find themselves in.

S: You released your new single, “Fake You” last month. Can you tell us a little bit about your inspiration for the song? 

A: It’s about a pitfall I find myself in a lot. It’s about the idea, it can be expressed as simply as, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. It’s about realizing my ideas of reality aren’t reality. We have assumed perceptions of reality, but it’s important to measure your perceptions of reality with reality. And to know the difference. And know why there is a difference.

S: Your music videos are so visually stunning and soothing. What’s your involvement in the creative direction of the videos? 

A: They usually stem from my ideas. I love being a part of every aspect of the project. I have to temper myself when I realize I’m taking over too much because it’s a collaborative process and I have a great team around me.

I work with my very close friends because I feel anything that’s made reflects the kind of character of the people who made it. I have been blessed with creative and artistic friends. I think success depends on the relationships of the people involved. My involvement as an idea man, as the artistic director, and the personal relationships come through in the videos.

S: What can we expect at the show in Seattle on May 6th? 

A: I try to offer the audience something. I offer the insights I’ve gathered and I also try to move myself so I move the audience. You can expect that I’ll be sincere with my audiences and my fans. I love when an audience participates with me. Not just singing along and clapping their hands, but also being present with me.

S: What are you up to when you’re not writing songs and recording new music? 

A: I used to teach yoga and I still practice a lot. I practice meditation, I read a lot of books, and I rollerblade. I also like to do dangerous activities like skydiving and bungee jumping. I just went paint balling on my day off with my drummer a few days ago.

I’m in a dance company and so I dance. I would describe it as “contemporary choreography”, but it’s definitely a little weirder than that. I try to perform with the group when I can.