Black Yaya is the eclectic pop project of David Ivar, formerly leader of the folky French act Herman Düne. Late in 2012, Ivar realized that Herman Düne had run its course and that he needed to make music in a different, more independent way. The project made its unofficial recorded debut with the tour-only release Gimme a Gun/September Songs. Black Yaya's official debut arrived in September 2013 with the Paint a Smile on Me EP. Ivar decamped to Los Angeles to record Black Yaya's self-titled first album, playing and recording all the parts on his own. The first taste of the album arrived in January 2015 with the Flying a Rocket single, and Black Yaya was released that March. ~ Heather Phares