Yola’s Criticism of Dan Auerbach
Yola referred to her former producer and label head Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys as “a piece of cliche bullshit.”
The Bristol-born singer released her first two albums, 2019’s Walk Through Fire and 2021’s Stand For Myself, under Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound label. In a recent interview, she voiced her discontent with her ex-colleague’s creative methods.
In conversation with Rolling Stone, she stated: “It’s standard nonsense, that’s all. That’s what they did in the old days: people don’t have free will. It was something that was celebrated, so I see people embracing it as a way of working. But it’s also a waste of my skill.”
Yola’s New EP and Diss Track
Yola has recently released her latest EP, “My Way,” on S-Curve Records, referring to the title track as a “diss track.”
“This song is about when you’re trapped and you can’t just disappear because you have to be in that space,” she mentioned, although she did not specify who the track was directed at. “It’s about the levels I had to go through in mind games after someone tried to trick me.”
“This song is really about me trying really hard with someone: ‘I’m interested in you as a person and how you act. Let’s cooperate.’ But you just can’t help but want to use the mommy paradigm, which is the plus-size black woman who serves you by sacrificing herself.”
Yola’s Accomplishments and Collaborations
Beyond her solo records, which have garnered her six Grammy nominations, Yola has toured with Massive Attack and penned songs for Chase & Status and Katy Perry. She also portrayed the legendary singer-guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 play, Elvis.
Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound is headquartered in Nashville, and he has produced albums for various artists, including Dr. John, Lana Del Rey, Cage The Elephant, and CeeLo Green.
Meanwhile, The Black Keys released their 12th studio album, Ohio Players, last April. The band also announced a UK and European tour for this summer, featuring Miles Kane. You can find the complete list of dates and remaining tickets here.
News regarding the 2025 tour follows the release of a new single called “I’m With The Band” shared by the band and Beck in late 2024, which comes on the heels of their recent collaborations “Beautiful People (Stay High)” and “Paper Crown.”
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