From "Yellow Submarine" to "YellowStones"

YellowStones Members:

Levon Sargsyan - Lead Vocal, Rhythm Guitar
William Halajyan - Lead Guitar & Vocal
Sergey Karapetyan - Keyboard
Vahagn Stepanyan - Bass
Hovsep Yeganyan – Drums

ML&L - How did you get started? How your band were formed?

Levon - As a musician I’m engaged in musical activities from fifteen years old and once coming back from the military forces I suddenly decided to form a music band, as I like to perform live music and feel that powerful energy standing on the stage. The start seemed to be impossible as we came across many difficulties. When we were suggested to give a concert I understood that I don’t have a full group. The first step of my band forming was the following: I met a guitar player from our garden and together started working on the other concerning issues meeting the other members of the group. It was 2013 we formed our group, in which 4 members were included.


ML&L - How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

Levon - Actually William (guitar player) and I have known each other since childhood, all the other members I found out while forming my band. I met them in different music clubs.


ML&L - What inspired you to make music together?

Levon - Band members all of us are musicians, but mainly I write the songs. And during our rehearsals we combine all our interpretations and the songs are ready. Our inspiration is worldwide achievement.


ML&L - Which famous musicians have you learned from?

Levon - I learned from the pronoun musicians like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, “The Queen”, “The Beatles” and so on.


ML&L - Why did you pick your band name?

Levon - For the first concert we were introduced like “Beyond the Space”, but as it was too long we decided to change it. One of my friends suggested me to rename our group after “Yellowstone” National Park, as we had yellow elements for our images. So we mixed these two words using both the park name and “Yellow Stones” and now we are “YellowStones”.


“YellowStones” band has been engaged in musical activity since 2013. At the beginning the boys choose the image of “yellow stones” for them and since now the yellow elements have become distinctive and unique feature for the band. The band of 5 boys has started their career with their own interpretation of world’s best hits. The band performs in many diverse genres: mainly Rock 'n' Roll, funk, soul, blues-rock. Each member of the band has its own approaches and preferences in music and they manage to combine that all with pleasure and share it with the audience.

ML&L - Why did you decide to play the genre or genres you do?

Levon - The genres are so various we are playing, but the main two are rock and Rock 'n' Roll. As we are fans of Old School and being inspired from The Beatles, the Queen and others that’s why we choose this genre. It’s our favorite and we succeed with it.


ML&L - Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?

Levon - Majority of our songs are written by me both the music and the lyrics. The main themes are love, freedom, philosophy of life.


ML&L - How and where did you write the songs? What were your inspirations?

Levon - I wrote songs always when I’m alone at home or while driving a car. Songs come involuntarily. Many things could be inspiration for creating songs either good or bad life, love, injustice, my inner perceptions or thoughts.


ML&L - Do you start with the beat or with the lyrics? 

Levon - I always start with the beat and music.


ML&L - How does your process work?

Levon - Imagine like this: me sitting in my room playing musical instrument like piano or guitar and recording it not to be forgotten. Then when the music is ready I start writing the lyrics.


ML&L - What do you remember about playing your first concert?

Levon - Oh my God, that’s the theme I like to talk about the most. Though it was in one of the ordinary club and the music was not perfect, but it was my first concert. To tell the truth I was not frightened or excited, standing on the stage I was singing to enjoy the attendees. I remember lots of dancing guys and their shining eyes, and their applauses and it was fantastic. All the emotions I had that day I’ll keep in my soul forever.

ML&L - Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues?

Levon - Unfortunately since 2013 I had a chance to perform in Armenia only, here we have concerts in the music clubs also sometimes we have open air festivals. The venues are not important for us, if the audience is lovely and active we enjoy performing.


ML&L - Which songs do you perform most frequently?

Levon - Frequently we perform Rock 'n' Roll songs or active songs for dancing mood etc.


ML&L - Do you have your own songs in your favorite playlist?

Levon - On 31.03.2017 we released an album named “Wonderful and Whimsical”. In the album we have 12 songs from which 3 are cover versions of Armenian national songs and all the others are author songs. For sure I play them in each concert. “Wonderful and Whimsical”, “With the Traces of Happiness” and “In Abby” are included in my favorite playlist.


ML&L - What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?

Levon - Rehearsals- oh something which is very important and very hard to organize because of time management. But for sure as we try to have rehearsals twice a week for preparing something new or before concerts.


ML&L - What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

Levon - As a band we would like to create song for the whole humanity and to produce high quality music becoming world know artists. The challenge we set for us is not so easy to overcome yet, but we are planning to grow slowly but consistently.


ML&L - What are your biggest dreams for your career?

Levon - To attend one of the birthday concerts of Paul McCartney, to jam with prominent best musicians to read my name among their names one day.

ML&L - Does YellowStones have a record deal at this time?

Levon - Many times we had some deals from different producers during our career. But we are open to it.


ML&L - What genre of music can't you stand to listen to?

Levon - As a musician I listen to all types of music. But I hate bad quality music in any genres.


ML&L - Who of your contemporaries do you listen to the most?

Levon - Kaleo, Radiohead, Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, John Mayer, Maroon 5, Bruno Mars.


ML&L - What is most compelling about your music?

Levon - Energy, sound.


ML&L - Did you get good feedback?

Levon - Almost always. That’s the main point for continuing our music.


ML&L - What’s your motto or the advice you live by?

Levon - "If you don't move forward-you begin to move backwards."

ML&L - What advice would you give to fellow bands?

Levon - Try to create something new, their music whatever and however they will manage.


ML&L - What can fans expect from your upcoming show?

Levon - New songs, new approaches, new drive, new energy and old us.


ML&L - Any last words?

Levon - Move forward, do not give up whoever and whatever makes you. Remember that you are strong and you are the winner.


The YellowStones band works with various genres, mostly with rock-and-roll, funk, soul, blues-rock. From the beginning the band has sung their own interpretation of the world's best hits. Few month ago the group released an album named “Wonderful and Whimsical”. In Armenia they are best known for their hit "Funny Toy", which is in 2015 VAN Music Awards were recognized as a winner. Yerevan's clubs also regularly booking the Band for evening events.

May.Life & Live - Thank you, Levon, for nice and interesting interview. You did an outstanding job, May.Life & Live wishes you and your band the very best of luck with “YellowStones”. Keep up new great songs!