Cayucas has just put out their new record, Bigfoot, with Secretly Canadian. The release comes just before frontman Zach Yudin’s favorite time of year: summer. And with a full-blown US tour ahead, the band will certainly have a jam-packed season. Here, we talk about Zach’s beginnings as a DJ, his favorite Paul Simon record, and the memories of summer months that fill Cayucas’ first full-length with the carefree bliss of the California sun.

When did you start writing music? Where’d you get your start?

Well, technically in high school. I bought turntables and started scratching & rapping. I think I wrote down some raps. I started writing actual songs in college.

Did you make your own beats?

Sort of, yeah, I would play instrumental records & scratch records.

Nice! What were some of your go-to instrumental tracks?

Well, I was buying hip-hop albums like Tribe Called Quest, Heiroglyphics, Schematics. I think I wanted to be a DJ. I watched ‘how to DJ’ videos.

What made you want to start writing more on guitar?

Well, I picked up guitar towards the middle of college, but I still like to make beats. Now I sample vinyl. My mom sold my turntables at a garage sale a few years back.

That’s terrible! Did you replace them yet?

No, I think I’ve given up on the dream of being a DJ.

Well, you’ve definitely got great things going otherwise. Who were the artists you were listening to when you started going more guitar based?

A lot of things from Radiohead to Paul Simon. My guitar playing skills are pretty basic.

Can definitely hear the Paul Simon influence. Which is your favorite record of his?

I like his early stuff, Paul Simon, Rhymin Simon.

“Let Me Live In Your City”—great, great song. So, I understand you lived in Japan for a while. How did that influence your writing?

Yes. Well, during that time I was listening to dance music and writing electronic dance music. I also started learning about sampling when I was there.

How much of that do you think carried over into Cayucas?

Well, the first couple tracks I wrote by sampling 60s vinyl and that gave me a clear direction of what I wanted Cayucas to sound like, but that’s about it.

Right, cool! So, Bigfoot came out a couple weeks ago. How long were you working on that record?

The record was recorded about one year ago, and I started writing songs for it about one year before that. So, it’s been about two years total.

Wow! So, this has been a long time coming. What artists have been your major musical influences along the way?

IDK, lots of stuff. Beatles, Zombies, Animals. Paul Simon, Mamas & Papas, Animal Collective.

You’ve released a couple videos with the record. The one for “High School Lover” features some really sick stop animation! What was the concept behind the video?

Well, the director, Cameron, had this glitch effect idea that he wanted to use. We thought it fit with the song, so the narrative is kind of the girl is the girl I should’ve dated in high school, basically. All the cartoon stuff is like the stuff you’d doodle in high school.

Like on the back of notebooks! Nice. Also, the video for “Cayucos” is set on a beautiful, sunny beach. Where did you guys film it?

That was a combination of Cayucas footage, and the beach in Corona Del Mar.

Makes me want to move to California.

You really should.

It’s raining in NY right now. Pretty grim.

Oh, it’s beautiful here today. Sorry.

It’s okay. I’ll make do. Anyways, so, many songs on the record, specifically “High School Lover,” have heavy overtones of nostalgia. Is that a conscious choice? Is there a specific theme to the album?

Yes, it is based around nostalgic moments in my life, from summer camp to high school, not all songs but it felt like a proper head space for the album. “Bigfoot” is kind of about going to a cabin in Lake Tahoe as a kid, sleeping on the third floor. Pretty scary.

You mention summer camp—are a lot of these moments during the summer? Such a summery record!

Yeah, summer was awesome as a kid.

Totally. Do you have any other favorite summer memories?

Yeah, everything from water balloon fights to rollerblading to summer camp to parties, haha.

Any beach bonfires? Those always seemed really fun.

Yeah, of course.

Jealous! So, what was it like working with Richard Swift as a producer? Where can you see his influence throughout the record?

Richard was an awesome producer! And he’s an amazing drummer as well. He played bass, guitar, he did it all. His influence is all over the record. Yeah, he played drums, bass, shaker. He wasn’t shy.

Righteous. The shaker—most underrated instrument in rock n roll.

True.

And now that Bigfoot is out you’ve embarked on a summer long tour. Where are you most looking forward to playing?

I’m really looking forward to seeing the east coast, I’ve never really been over there. I’ve never been to NYC either.

Really? Well, outside of the rain, it’s pretty amazing. I was giving it a hard time earlier.

OK, good.

How far south are you going?

I’m not sure, I’ll have to check again. I think we’re driving through Maryland.

Nice, get to see Baltimore and such.

Yeah.

You’ll enjoy the Midwest—I’m from Indiana. It’s a pretty good state.

OK cool, I’ve heard mixed reviews of the Midwest.

Just gotta find the cool towns. Chicago is pretty fun.

Chi Town.

Pizza, pizza, pizza…

Yum.

So, what records are your go-to tour records? What will you be bumping on the road?

I think we’ll just play everything via Spotify or something like that. From Timberlake to Sawyer Brown.

Got that Spotify game. What’s your favorite song from 20/20 Experience?

“Mirrors” or “Strawberry Bubblegum.”

I concur. Well, that’s all I got! Anything else we should know about Bigfoot and what Cayucas has coming up?

We’ll be touring June/July through the U.S. so please come and see us. : )

I’ll definitely be catching you in NYC! Thanks so much for chatting, dude! Safe travels on tour.

OK great. I’ll see you then.