Youth Lagoon

Following the lead of so-called "bedroom artists" like Neon Indian and Diamond Rings, Youth Lagoon's Trevor Powers has emerged as the one of the hottest acts of early 2011 off the release of his single "July".

A mere twenty-two years old, Powers was in the middle of his post-secondary degree in early 2010 when he found an outlet for his chronic anxiety in the form of creating lovely, middle-of-the-night electronica. A Year of Hibernation, his first album, was released last fall to glowing reviews. Pitchfork commented that the lead single, "July", was "massive, confident and sure-footed in its build from organ-hum to shouting-down-mountains chorus… It does not sound like the work of a single, unseasoned young man."

I would have to agree. I was more than pleasantly surprised with the record - it's a little less shoegaze than Neon Indian, which some, including myself, may find harder to 'get into' - but no less intricate. Melancholy yet playful, it sounds like it should have been a sophomore album, at least, not a debut. But I suppose this is what happens when talent meets honesty, as Powers explains the album was made partly to help him get things off his chest that he had trouble talking about.

"For my whole life I've dealt with extreme anxiety." said Powers on his website. "Not anxiety about passing a test or somewhat normal things, but weird..bizarre things. Things that only I know. I sometimes feel like I'm literally being eaten up inside. So I started writing these songs. Not just songs about my anxiety, but about my past and my present. Songs about memories, and all those feelings that those bring. I know that if I can be honest about what is inside my mind, there will be others that will be able to relate to it."

When I brought up comparisons to other "bedroom artists" during our interview, Powers was quick to distance himself from the so-called 'genre'.

"I think it's so bizarre. I don't understand the whole 'bedroom artist' thing," Powers said.

"I'm sure Bob Dylan wrote songs in his bedroom," he added. "People want to define things. I don't see why people can't just listen to music for what it is."

However, Powers didn't take any offense to comparison to another big act of 2011, Anthony Gonzalez and M83. He admitted he's a "big fan" and had been for a long time.

"I never set to craft something like him, but it's cool to be more around that," he said.

For now, Powers is finished school and has a three month world tour coming up, including a show at The Biltmore in Vancouver tonight. While he has toured extensively in the last year, this will be the first time touring overseas.

When asked how he felt about becoming this overnight sensation when he was still a "normal kid at school", Powers had to laugh.

"I was hanging out with one of my friends the other day and we were talking about it," Powers said. "It was really funny for some reason."

Tonight's Vancouver show is sold out, but check out the rest of the tour dates below.

Youth Lagoon Tour Dates:

01-21 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
02-18 Tokyo, Japan - Hostess Club Weekender
02-23 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
02-25 Paris, France - Point Ephemere
02-27 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
03-02 Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser
03-03 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
03-06 London, England - Electrowerkz
03-10 Salt Lake City - Urban Lounge
03-11 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
03-12 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Music Hall
03-18 Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's
03-19 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
03-20 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder
03-21 Orlando, FL - The Social
03-22 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
03-23 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
03-24 Washington, DC - Rock N Roll Hotel
03-26 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
03-27 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
03-28 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
03-29 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
03-30 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
03-31 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
04-02 Indianapolis, IN - Radio Radio
04-03 St. Louis, MO - Firebird
04-04 Chicago, IL - Metro
04-05 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
04-08 Mexico City, Mexico - Indie O Fest
04-11 San Diego, CA - Porter's Pub
04-12 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
04-13 San Francisco, CA - The Independent