Arthur Yoria

About

Nomadic Americana musician Arthur Yoria has made a name for himself across the United States and internationally as a one-man band troubadour. Although a Chicago native, Yoria has lived in Austin, Dallas, Brooklyn, California, Colorado, has toured extensively in Colombia, England and Italy, and has been based in Houston for the past 2 years. After stints in the Houston based bands, The Jeepneys and Lavendula, Yoria released a solo 4-song, self-titled EP in 2001, followed by a 5-song EP, Can You Still Look Adorable in 2002. He has since released other EPs in English and in Spanish as well as 3 LPs. His most recent releases include his 2015 single Ruff Life and his 2016 single Safe. Yoria’s sound is best described as New Wave Indie-Americana enhanced by his combination guitar, vocals, harmonica, beats and keys which gives him the unforgettable sound of a one-man band. “Arthur Yoria quickly established himself as one of the Houston area's most interesting musicians”, says David A. Cobb of the Houston Press. “His tales of lovelorn angst set against melodic pop made for an infectious combination that drew fans worldwide, and his live shows whether full-band powerhouses, stripped-down, electronic-backed performances or simple acoustic-guitar sets, practically made him a household name among local music fans.” Now in 2017, Yoria is unveiling a new single Wishlist from his upcoming record, ALBUM NAME TBA set to be released in February 2018. Having drawn inspiration from the likes of Cornelius, The Beach Boys and Hank Williams, the record touches on topics such as dealing with depression, making music for a living and then not making music for a living. Although some of the topics may be heavy, Yoria has put a positive spin on his new project as a whole and hopes it will inspire his fans. Wishlist delves into the process of an experienced artist getting “out of his own head” and coming to terms with the mental and emotional hardships of being an artist. “Wishlist is a song about taking a break from the business and becoming a bartender”, says Yoria. “Making a living from music has always felt like a coup of some kind to me. Lack of stability aside, it’s a wonderful and adventurous way to make a living. Two years into my three-year hiatus, I really started to miss the lifestyle and this song is my attempt to describe the predicament in a humorous way. The song came very quickly and with no second guessing; it just spilled out really.” The record will be released on Splice Records and was recorded at Sugar Hill Studios in Houston and produced by Kelly Doyle (of Robert Ellis’ band) and engineered by the legendary Steve Christensen. The project features Tank Lisenbe on drums, Geoffrey Muller on bass and Will Van Horn on pedal steel. Most of the collaborators on the record are from Robert Ellis’ band and Yoria proclaims that with the pure chemistry between this group of talented musicians, they could easily become a “Wrecking Crew” in the Houston music scene. “Arthur was the musician that first planted the seed of what would later become Splice Records,” says Splice Records CEO Shaun Brennan. “When I moved back to Houston he was the first local musician that I saw and I obsessively followed his music and his career, even after he left the city to roam the country-side. To later come full circle and have the opportunity to work with him, have him on the label and be involved in creating another album with him, is truly a testament to the strengths of his talents. The music touched me and it turned me from music fan to investor. That story has made me put my whole heart into this project. The new album will display the collaborated effort that Splice created in hopes of delivering a new and more refined Arthur Yoria.” “I've never met a musician, from Houston or anywhere else, who can reinvent themselves as effortlessly from album to album as Arthur Yoria seems to,” says Jeremy Hart of Space City Rock. “Just when I think I've got him pegged, he slips out the side and does something totally off the map from what he's done in the past, whether it's shifting from a smooth seducer to a freaked-out, amps-on-eleven rocker or from a rocker to a playful Spanish-speaking troubadour.” Yoria is also known for his philanthropic efforts with the Animal Rights cause, a partnership that began in 2015 and later became a viral success. “Two years ago, I was shooting a song [Ruff Life] that I wrote for a World Animal Awareness Society film and I ended up adopting a stray dog on set,” says Yoria. The video later went viral with over one million views. Yoria was nominated for several prizes in the Houston Press Music Awards. He founded 12 Records, Inc. together with his good friend and former Houston Rocket, Matt Maloney, and recorded I'll Be Here Awake which reached #8 on the specialty radio charts. One of Yoria's songs from that album, Call Me, was used in the Fox Television show The O.C. and another, Here To Stay was used in the final credits of the 2004 psychological thriller film Breaking Dawn. Now, with the anticipation surrounding his upcoming release, Arthur Yoria is sure to delight his already established fan base and garner more listeners and accolades, only adding to his legend.

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