The members of Yip Yops are seasoned valley creatives in the truest sense. They’ve done Coachella and Jam in the Van, and even made a short film late last year called A Night at the Shack. On March 4, the band will release the movie’s soundtrack, adding even more music to the band’s already-impressive resume of eclectic electronic indie pop. Learn more at www.yipyops.com. Ad Van Winkle is the frontman of the group and the latest to take The Lucky 13; here are his answers.
What was the first concert you attended?
Roger Waters’ revival of The Wall at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and my 12-year-old mind imploded.
What was the first album you owned?
My parents had a lot of CDs and vinyl around growing up, but I think the first album I actually asked my mom to drive me to the store for was Vampire Weekend’s Modern Vampires of the City—and I probably listened to it twice.
What bands are you listening to right now?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Nina Simone, but other than that, mainly just playlists that I’ve been making for different times of the day.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
It’s hard to think of something, but if I had to pick, maybe country mixed with other genres, or modern country. I’m not a huge country fan as it is, so maybe it’s my bias.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
Honestly, probably Lil Nas X.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Honestly, probably Lil Nas X.
What’s your favorite music venue?
To play, probably Echoplex. To watch, it’s hard to top Red Rocks in Colorado.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“Tomorrow will be the 22nd century,” “22nd Century,” by Nina Simone.
What band or artist changed your life? How?
Pink Floyd, because they were kind of the start of my interest in music. I’d heard about them growing from my dad and assumed they were just a “dad band,” but at 12, I listened to The Wall front to back. It’s such a whacked-out experience when all you typically listen to is, like, Taio Cruz, and it really made an impact.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
I would probably ask Lil Nas X how he feels about his success.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
If it’s sad, “All Alright” by Sigur Rós; if it’s a celebration, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” by Lil Nas X.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Probably Animals by Pink Floyd.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
“Sheep” by Pink Floyd.
