In case you missed it: Peking Duk’s Reuben Styles has a country music-focused alter-ego called Y.O.G.A. (You’re Only Great Always).
While he’s locked in some collaborations already, it looks like he’s scored another one, and if you’re from Australia, it doesn’t get any bigger than Jimmy Barnes.
Earlier this year, Styles teamed up with Aussie-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter AViVA on his “balls to the wall country” single, Rodeo. Stating, “If electronic music is my trade, then country music is my cheeky passion,” Styles discussed the “escapism” inherent to country music that he hasn’t found anywhere else.
“It always reminds me of simpler times – some songs are about driving a ute and having beers with your mates. I guess it constantly reminds you that the little things in life are just golden.”
With Styles admitting that he usually stacks “like 30 vocals, so you can’t tell what’s going on, Rodeo provided the opportunity to get vulnerable: an experience he felt both “terrified and empowered” by.
In April, Styles took his country-fusion side-project to Nashville, crashing DJ star Diplo’s set at Stagecoach alongside fellow Aussie Blake O’Connor.
Y.O.G.A. (Peking Duk’s Reuben Styles) Shares Stagecoach Photo Diary
It’s fair to say that Styles has enjoyed a successful year so far but likely never thought he’d receive an email from the one and only Jimmy Barnes asking to collaborate.
Captioning a video on Instagram “NO WAY” yesterday (25 July), Styles shared the following message he received from Jimmy Barnes:
Hi there,
Jimmy here. It would be great to do something together. Let me know when and we can work something out.
It’ll be fun. You dream it and I’ll scream it.
Jimmy
We can’t wait to hear what a Y.O.G.A. and Jimmy Barnes collaboration will sound like.
Last month, Y.O.G.A. was one of the exciting country names added to this year’s BIGSOUND event. Bringing country to the stage, other artists heading to Brisbane this September include Homegrown Trio, this year’s Toyota Star Maker Winner Wade Forster, Matt Joe Gow, Hudson Rose, and more.
BIGSOUND 2024 will run from Tuesday, 3 to Friday, 6 September, in its stomping grounds of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley precinct. The festival will feature more than 120 artists performing across 18 venues.
To find more details about the event, you can go here.
