Firsties and Faves: YACHT

Photo by Alin Dragulin

Over the past year or so, when Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans of YACHT haven't been working on their own line of sunglasses or building their own apps, they've been in the studio, putting finishing touches on their sixth album. And working on their forthcoming EP, Where Does This Disco?, out November 11—of which band member Claire says, “We argue that sex and technology coexist in our present: we touch, we push buttons, we seek intimacy in screens." Clearly, they've got a well-organized calendar.

They've also been touring tirelessly over the past month, including three sold-out shows in New York. The tour follows up their past ones with artists like LCD Soundsystem, Yeah Yeah Yeahs,and Hot Chip.

We’ve asked Claire and Jona to participate in our “Firsties and Faves” series below. While you’re at it, stream their recent single “Works Like Magic,” which recalls late-90s Le Tigre.

Favorite alien?
There's a really gentle New Age cult outside of San Diego called the Unarius Academy of Science—we're longtime fans of their whole trip—who believe in a race of spiritually and scientifically advanced aliens called "Space Brothers" that communicate telepathically. We should be so lucky.

Favorite pastry?
We're both vegan, and there's a certain category of junk food so cheap that it's vegan by default, not by intention. A Hostess fruit pie fits this category. No gas-station tour stop is completely without one.

Favorite emotion?
Late-night Wikipedia K-hole fugue state.

Favorite Star Wars character?
We’re way more into the original "Star Trek." Get outta here with this Star Wars nonsense. It’s fine, we love it. The Boba Tea guy…he’s great.

Favorite guilty pleasure?
We don’t believe in that concept. Pleasure is pleasure, and there’s no shame in any of it. But to answer your question: "Naked and Afraid" on the Discovery Channel.

Favorite place in New York City?
It’s a tie between The Brooklyn Patch and Lamonte Young’s "Dream House II: Dreamwarriors.”

First live show?
Jona's first live show wins this question every time: The Melvins, The Breeders, and Nirvana. We don't talk about Claire's first live show.

First time you made a PowerPoint presentation?
Possibly in the womb. But fuck PowerPoint, we rep Apple’s “Keynote."

First sci-fi movie you watched?
Jona: The first one I really remember is “Explorers,” starring a young River Phoenix.

First person you truly despised?
Claire: Myself.

First act of deviance?
Claire: Breaking out of my Mom.

First animal you ever loved?
Jona: Her name was Whiskers Bechtolt and she lived to be 21. Google her.