Based in Berlin, Germany Hartmut Kreckel (Guitar), Toralf Kaiser (Bass), Alexa Weber (Vocals) and Mike Koch (Drums). Have been writing songs and performing together since late '95. Keeping in mind that English is their second language we left Full Moon Fever's David Left to his own devices with this interview. Here is what he found out about this emerging band from across the sea.

FMF: Why do you sing in English and not your native German? Y: Well, English lyrics to me belong to rock music, I really don?t like German bands to be honest. Being Germany this may sound a bit strange, but I never tried German lyrics, and never had the intention to do so.

FMF: Describe your trademark sound? Also tell us a bit about what's behind your songs? Y: The band plays original material only, guitar-oriented melodic rock with lyrics in English, spiced up with good hooks. Sort of a seventies roots and a nineties approach. Yellowhouse's set consists of old and new original songs: "Silver Shadow" is a song about teenage fan-mania, while "Red Light Diamond" is about those women, who only have an interest in men's cash, a rock song about how to snare a millionaire. "Mrs. Gentle" is dedicated to the guitarist's late great-aunt; "Burn, Learn & Turn" is about keeping time in any learning process, "Evolution" describes the process of getting established and the tendency to petty bourgeoisie. "Fair Share Of Nothing" is dedicated to all the unscrupulous managers, agents and record companies in the music biz, who try to give the artist that kind of share, while "Damnation" also addresses the dangers in the music biz. "What's Shining Through" is about the veil between the artist and his audience. "Ain't No Cure (for a messed up youth)" speaks about the problems of youth, caused by institutional red tape, that keep holding you back. Institutional danger is also the topic of "Between The Wheels," while "For Ever" is generally a song of hope, a song for everybody, which might remain a vision to some people. "Diana" is fictional, it certainly has nothing to do with the princess, the same goes for "Return To The Sky", a science-fiction type song about an angel, who, while visiting Earth, gets to see both sides of the social dichotomy: the one of the rich folks and the one of the poor; after experiencing both sides, he decides to say, "Good-bye, Planet Earth." "Ahead Of Our Time" is about the dangers of being one step ahead. "Now You're Gone" and "Sweet Empty Life" really don't need explanations.

FMF: Playing rock music at this time doesn't seem to be in fashion, how do you view this? Y: Surely it's not a fashion, there's no doubt about it! Once somebody told me to do whatever you'd like to do whatever comes straight from the heart... and do it good! To a certain extent it's easy to go with the flow, but we don't care really. Luckily we don't have to make a living from this, it's our freedom to do what we do, and people like it, so ... next!

FMF: What has been your fondest memory in regard to the band? Y: Probably when things become full circle in one way or another. When someone from the audience comes to me after the show, who liked it and is interested in details about the band. And to me it becomes full circle, because these are just like I was 15 years ago. That has happened a few times only and really makes it all worthwhile.

FMF: What bands do you listen to and what bands are you most influenced by? Y: Every band member has different ones at different times... Toralf likes David Bowie and Skunk Anasie, Alexa likes Guano Apes, Mike likes No Doubt and I like guitarists mainly (Tommy Bolin, Frank Marino, Bernie Torme and others)

FMF: What plans do you have for the future of the group? Is everyone committed to making it in music? Y: Release the CD and play more outside of our hometown (Berlin). Everyone wants this to work and the attitude is really good, it became better with each change in our lineup.

To keep updated on YELLOWHOUSE visit their website at http://www.yellowhouse.de