There’s something undeniably magnetic about a Fox Stevenson track newest track, “YAS!” Whether it’s the wild-eyed optimism, the genre-smashing instrumentals, or the way he effortlessly walks the line between chaos and catharsis, Stevenson always finds a way to surprise. On “YAS!,” a standout cut from his sophomore album Sunk Cost Fallacy, he delivers a sugar-rush of danceable grit.
“YAS!” feels like jumping headfirst into a video game boss battle you didn’t train for, but somehow, you still want to dance while everything explodes around you (picture Mario vs Bowser on Mario’s quest to save Princess Peach). It’s got the polish of alt-pop, the guitar crunch of early-2000s pop-punk and just enough pixelated chaos to earn its inspiration from Gorillaz, Weezer, and Nintendo-era nostalgia.
“Living in a chaotic world and not really having much of a bearing on anything,” the anthem is that of the middle ground between burnout and breakthrough, when you’re melting into life but still finding a reason to shout “YAS!” anyway.
What makes the track pop is Stevenson’s ability to blend hooks with experimental edge. There’s a tangible “live band” energy pulsing through this track, thanks to the chemistry he’s built with Pat Lundy (Modestep) and Bruce Charles (Bustre/Konkai). It’s all big drums, big bass, and even bigger feelings and it works.
As part of his newest album Sunk Cost Fallacy, “YAS!” fits snugly into Stevenson’s evolving universe, a world where you can scream-sing your way through the mess, laugh at your own confusion, and still leave the dancefloor feeling a little lighter. It’s punk for the raver kids, alt-pop for the nerds, and exactly what you’d expect from an artist who’s built a career on defying expectations.
