AYOBAND

“Fantastic rock band with a mix of unique styles mixed into a pile of awesomeness, These guys are very unique indeed but very enjoyable to listen to. Vocally superb, Lyrically fantastic and the music is pure genius.”
Scotty Salter of Rockbandom - Rockbandom

1. Give me a little history behind AYO. Where are you from? How did you meet? How long have you been together?
Scott and Buddy have known each other for years and have played in various bands. I met up with Scott and Buddy for our cover band, OverTime, around 2008. Troy joined OverTime around 2010. After OverTime, we started AYO, and Troy got his good friend Warren as the drummer.

2. What is the meaning behind the name AYO?
We wanted a name that didn't have any connotations associated with it (something neutral). When you hear "Ayo", you don't know what kind of music you're about to hear. This works out great for us because of the eclectic sound we have. Also, it's the last name of the founding member and mostly main song writer, Scott Ayo.

3. How would you classify your style?
Like stated before, it's very eclectic. We have some largely synth-driven, very 80s rock-centric vibe to some of our songs, and we also have some modern, alternative rock songs, and some in between the two, such as a great Genesis/U2 sounding "Apocalypse of Love". We don't like to exist in one box, because it allows for more exploration in the song-writing process.

4. Who are your musical inspirations?
We all come from different musical backgrounds, and I gather inspiration from anyone between Dave Matthews Band, 311, and The Cure.

5. Have you released any albums or EP's?
We have released one EP so far, called The Vision. We will be releasing the second EP this fall.

6. What is your favorite song to perform and why?
Me personally, I love playing "Shades of Gray". The lyrics are great, it's a rocking song with syncopation, and has a great half-time breakdown. I love to end sets with this high-energy song.

7. What do you want people to get from your music?
The same thing we get from the music: a form of release. Just something to bring you out of whatever kind of funk you're going through at the moment and just have fun.

8. What are your goals in the Music Industry?
I'm fully aware of how difficult it is to get noticed in the music industry in 2014, so whatever will be will be. We'll keep reaching for the stars though.

9. What bands do you hope to tour with in the future?
We recently have played with some local bands including Shattered Display, Hookmouth, and Dulac Smack. These are all great bands/guys, and we'd be happy to tour with any of them.

10. What is coming up in the near future for AYO?
Second EP, new songs in the works as we speak, and more touring. - Musicians Discussion Group

We are excited! Ayo showcase at Siberia 11:45P.m. Friday, August 22. Looking forward to a great show in New Orleans. ‪#‎playcutedge‬ - Cutting Edge Music Conference