Yellow Couch Music ft. JSWISS, John Robinson & Estephanie - Fool Stop (Single) + 10 Questions
Picture Credit: Adrien Chen
Brooklyn's Yellow Couch Music is a collective that is willing to push the boundaries while simultaneously harnessing the soul of music. YCM is led by Layton Weedeman, a drummer/producer who has the utmost experience in multiple facets of the art form. Weedeman is a professional instrumentalist, with a whole tenure in drumming on top of learning the bass and keyboard. With Yellow Couch Music, Layton looks to bring all the elements and sounds of music together to create a full composition of art to fully engage the listener. By infusing sounds from the past and present, from different genres of all types, there’s something for everyone in Yellow Couch Music’s discography. Now in 2024, Yellow Couch Music is getting set to release their debut single spearheaded by Weedeman himself. “Fool Stop” is the new single from the team featuring two legendary greats in John Robinson (Scienz of Life) and JSWISS (Elvis Costello, Nate Smith).
“Fool Stop” is one of the first original compositions written by Layton Weedeman as a solo artist. Prior to this, Weedeman handled the majority of his production through sampled records to create lo-fi instrumentals and study beats. This new release marks a turning point for the collective’s leader as “Fool Stop” serves as the first song in a series of singles planned for release this year.
The single begins with an infectious, heavenly chorus from Brooklyn’s Estephanie who connects the verses and provides a voice of reason throughout. The track sees JSWISS & John Robinson each reflecting and dropping gems of wisdom that we all can relate to and apply to our lives, especially today. This all over the creative and calculated backdrop planned out by Weedeman who brings in an ensemble cast to tackle this with him.
Trumpets by Eric Biondo (Antibalas, Massive Attack, Charlie Hunter), keys & synthesizers by Grady Tesch (Ira Coleman, Jerome Jennings, Huevito Lobaton) flute by Lars Haake (John Benitez, Hiram Bullock, George Burton), and Weedeman’s drumming flesh out this soulful, jazzy hip-hop track that provides a proper introduction to Spring. “Fool Stop” is just the beginning as Yellow Couch Music has plans to put out a full-length album later this year with the same lively & genre bending sounds you’re listening to here. Fans of A Tribe Called Quest, The Soulquarians, and Erykah Badu will agree.
Layton Weedeman sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
I've been into music for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my folks always had classic rock and 60s-70s tunes blasting at home. Plus, my older cousin turned me on to his favourites like Beastie Boys, Run DMC, LL Cool J, Rage Against The Machine, and Tool, which totally shaped my musical taste. And then there was MTV in its prime during the late 80s to mid-90s—I was glued to those music videos.
But the big turning point came when I was 13, I caught Nirvana doing "Drain You" live on MTV, and man, watching Dave Grohl kill it on the drums was like a lightning bolt. That moment was an epiphany for me. Soon after, I got resourceful and put together a drum kit from old shoe boxes, dowels from my mom's sewing kit, and even a metal disc I swiped from a globe stand for a crash cymbal.
After some serious convincing (and probably a bit of sticker shock for my parents), they finally caved and bought me a real drum set. And I've been drumming non-stop ever since. Drumming totally opened up a whole new world of music for me. I jumped into drum lessons right away, and that got me into all kinds of genres beyond just pop, rock, and hip-hop. By the time I hit 15, I was diving deep into world music like Bossa Nova, Samba, Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Afro-Cuban beats, and Jazz. It was eye-opening.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
So many. Too many to name here, but off the top of my head, I’d love to work with Madlib, Charlie Hunter, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Sade, and De La Soul.
3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?
Right now, my main gig is Yellow Couch Music, where I bring together all my favourite music styles. It's basically a crew of like-minded artists and musicians. I started cooking up ideas back in 2023, and here in 2024, I'm gearing up to drop a bunch of singles from an upcoming full-length album. The next track could be some jazzy R&B, maybe a laid-back rock groove, or even a wild avant-garde tribute to Sun Ra. We'll see how it all shakes out in the coming months. Pulling these compositions together involves collaborating with artists from all over the globe, so it's a bit of a slow burn, but it's a blast every step of the way.
4. How would you describe your sound?
Eclectic, jazzy hip-hop with a mix of rock and world music.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
I've had a bunch of proud moments as an artist over the years, but leading Yellow Couch Music has definitely been the highlight. Even though it's a team effort, I handle all the initial composing and arranging. Once I lay down the groundwork, I bring in the right players for each part. I love being the facilitator and watching these songs come alive. It's a real thrill.
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
If you're passionate about it, stick with it. Don't let money or what others say throw you off. For me, it's all about making music that gives me a feeling. If I vibe with it, I know there's gotta be others out there who will too. Stay locked in on your craft and enjoy the ride.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
I’m working with a bunch of artists that are extremely talented and make fun music. If you like hip-hop, r&b, jazz, rock, world music, then check out NuLyra, Eric Biondo, Lars Haake, Roberto Poveda, NYALLAH, Momentum, Keith Rice, Omer Leibovitz, Pat Van Dyke, Bradley Valentin, JSWISS, The Du-Rites, Timothy James, Estephanie, Pedro Aquino, and John Morrison.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
I don’t use Spotify, but if I did it would be De La Soul’s Buhloone Mindstate, The Mars Volta’s De-Loused In The Comatorium, Wayne Shorter’s Speak No Evil, Fela Kuti’s Expensive Shit, BADBADNOTGOOD’s III, Georgia Anne Muldrow’s VWETO II, Tuamie’s Holy Ghost Spirituals, Jackson Conti’s Sujinho, J Dilla’s Donuts, Jose Gonzalez’s Veneer, Knxwledge’s Hud Dreems, Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto’s Quatermass Seven, MF DOOM’s Special Herbs, Sade’s Stronger Than Pride, Miles Davis Sorcerer, Radiohead Kid A, The Roots Come Alive, Scientist’s Scientific Dub, Pete Rock’s Petestrumentals, The 45 King Grooves For A Quiet Storm.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
Outside of making music, I love hanging out with loved ones, going on hikes or discovering new spots in the city, and boxing. By day, I handle the office at an architecture firm in New York City. My schedule's jam-packed with music stuff—I keep things lively and never have a dull moment.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
A piano or keyboard, a bass guitar, and drums.