We recently chatted with Yee Loi and grilled them about their melodic punk band, their goals, history, and their sound. Keep reading to learn more about the Liverpool trio made up of siblings Rose, Matilda, and Donnie.
Check out our full interview with Yee Loi:
For guitarist Rose, it all started with a summer trip to California at just 9-years old. Hearing The Ramones for the first time changed everything.
“I decided, you know what? This is what I want to do.”
That spark quickly spread through the household. Matilda, already passionate about singing, joined in, and they began recording Ramones covers before eventually writing original music. When the band needed a bassist for live shows, their younger bro Donnie stepped in. He went from just helping to now loving it.
Loud as Hell… With Melody
We asked Yee Loi to describe their sound. They said, it’s “melodic and loud as hell.”
While the band is loud, they make sure their songs have memorable hooks.
“We don’t want people to forget about the melody.”
Their influences reflect that philosophy. Johnny Ramone remains Rose’s biggest guitar hero, but her playing also draws inspo from Wayne Kramer, Brian Setzer, Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, and rockabilly. Matilda’s drumming combines Tommy Ramone with Keith Moon, John Bonham, Travis Barker, and Phil Rudd.
Punk Isn’t the Flavor of the Month
Being a young punk band in Liverpool hasn’t always been easy.
“Punk rock is not the flavor of the month.”
Instead of changing to fit trends, they’ve doubled down on being themselves.
“It just makes us want to do it better.”
Stay True to Yourself
If there’s one message Yee Loi wants new musicians to hear, it’s simple:
“Don’t change because something else is popular.”
They encourage bands to stop worrying about expectations and focus on making music they genuinely enjoy.
“If you’re not in it to have fun, you’re pretty stupid,” Rose said.
A New Album Is Coming
One of the band’s biggest goals this year was finishing their debut full-length album, and they’ve officially crossed it off the list.
According to the band, it’s the strongest music they’ve created so far.
“It kicks out, and it’s the best sound I think we’ve ever done.”
The album is expected to arrive next year, while a major UK tour is already booked for October.
Long term, their goals are just as ambitious: more albums, sold-out headline tours, Japan, Australia, and finally making it to the United States.
The Ramones Started It All
Rose credits one person above everyone else for helping turn childhood dreams into reality: CJ Ramone.
After connecting with him on IG over their shared love of chickens, CJ invited her to soundcheck and her parents tempered any expectations.
“He couldn’t have been nicer.”
That encouragement convinced her she really could pursue music.
What People Don’t Realize About Being in a Band
One of the interview’s most honest moments came when the band talked about life behind the scenes.
Normally, people think musicians simply write songs and play shows.
There’s honestly more to it than that. Rose dropped some fire quotes on us all. If you watched the interview, we were all shaking our heads, impressed.
“You’ve got to own the company and be the truck driver simultaneously,” she said.
From writing songs and rehearsing to creating content and promoting themselves online, being in a modern band requires wearing nearly every hat imaginable.
What’s Next?
With a new album finished, another national tour on the horizon, and hopes of finally bringing their high-energy punk rock to American audiences, Yee Loi is barely getting started.
If you didn’t know about Yee Loi before, you’re welcome. Check them out and follow them below:
If you enjoyed this article, check out our CJ Ramone spotlight:
About C² (Christy + Chris)
Concert lovers turned creators. Highlighting creators, bands, stories, sounds, and places you need to know.
Disarray Magazine is an independent media platform established in 2009, spotlighting rap, R&B, punk, hardcore, alternative culture, live music, food, nightlife, and the chaos in between. Created by journalist Christy Buena, C² exists to document the bands, people, and moments shaping the scene.
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