Jer@SBS, February 3, 2020. There's no doubt that hooyoosay has found its niche in music: it's downright rare to experience tunes with as much enthusiasm & positivity as you'll find in what this project creates. The new EP "Strange, Elusive You" begins with what's likely to be the most sunshine you hear in a song all year in the ultra-bright vibes of "Happy, Ever So Happy". Being born into the Grunge-era like I was, makes me naturally juxtaposed to a sound as positively-based as this is, but I have to admit, the sheer boldness of how hooyoosay has brought such happiness to the surface in such a clear & unapologetic way is really impressive. For myself personally, the vibes of "All I Do Is Call Your Name" were much more suited to my own taste. Solid rhythm & groove bouncing with the beat, great melody & harmonies in the lead & background vocals, and arguably, a more artistic, progressive, and inventive structure than you'd expect to find in anything Pop-based. That being said, the title-track "Strange, Elusive You" will reveal some of this EP's strongest hooks and overall allure, which is always a great thing when it comes to the centerpiece of a record. Poetic in the spoken word verses, and beautifully sung in the angelic harmonies that float throughout the chorus, "Strange, Elusive You" is another anti-typical tune for sure, but another revealing song that shows that the well of creativity you'll find in hooyoosay isn't likely to ever run dry on ya. Somehow, "When You Get Huguette" seems to bring everything up one more notch in a strong bid for your affection & attention. I felt like this was where the vocals and lyricism managed to steal the show. The way the two main vocalists complement each other's sound & energy on this cut is sheer perfection. "Olla Doo" is a freakin' fantastic ending to the new record, and an unexpected twist in the plot that sends this EP into an instrumental finale that completely satisfies & concludes the experience perfectly. From the brilliant harmonica, to the bounce of the bass & beat alongside the piano at the forefront of the melody, hooyoosay really seems to let loose here and takes a moment to let us appreciate the fact that there's a lot of excellent musicianship that can't be ignored within this project as well. By the end of "Olla Doo", you realize that what's being brought to the music is every bit as powerful and enticing as what's been happening on the mic all along: it makes for a final statement that resonates. Original online publication: https://sleepingbagstudios.ca/hooyoosay-strange-elusive-you/

hooyoosay - No Clashing Egos By Anastim Ducray. This sort of thing is my bag, baby. "No Clashing Egos" is a full length album from a musical project known as hooyoosay (they prefer not to be credited individually.) The music speaks for itself though. The album is quirky, fun, and avant garde. Unlike a lot of experimental music artists, these guys can actually play their instruments, sing and put together some really impressive arrangements. They remind me of a bit of The Aquabats, if you were to replace the SoCal ska element with a roots Americana vibe. These songs are also a little bit more artistic and abstract. It’s like if you combined 1940's-1950's stage musical acts with contemporary synths, beats and a hodgepodge of other instruments. No two songs on this album are the same, which ultimately makes genre classification challenging. There’s an endearing mix of comedy and sincerity in the lyrics, in the same way that dialogue in a play, or a song and dance number in a musical, can present as “goofy” but still convey genuine emotions and explore substantive themes. As the title implies, "No Clashing Egos" disarms and dazzles the listener with its whimsical innocence. My favorite song on this album is "Mountain Air", which is a 60?s style psychedelic, indie pop masterpiece. These guys (and girls) are great. I love this! For more info: https://hooyoosay.com/ Spotify album link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3zxXRumfcdAGsToaScESUd?si=CD7tq_WJTFex-FGSrso10A