Meredith Anne Yayanos (born abt 1976) is a California-based violinist, vocalist, theremin player, and photographer. She was previously a member of the band Faun Fables and, since 2021, she has been a member of the band Feminazgûl. Her music has featured on the tracks of numerous other artists. Yayanos is also a founding member of the alternative magazine Coilhouse.
Early life and education Yayanos grew up in Solana Beach, California. When she was 7, one of her illustrations was printed in the paper. Two years later, she scored one of two late-game goals to help the Solana Beach Panthers win the U10 Country Cup Championships.
Career In 1991, she played at the Torrey Pines Music Festival near Solana Beach.
In 2001, Yayanos was a contributing artist to the comic book project 9-11: Emergency Relief, created to benefit the American Red Cross in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
In 2010, Yayanos was playing violin in the band Faun Fables, including on the EP "Light of the Vaster Dark". Since 2021, Yayanos has been a member of the feminist black metal band Feminazgûl.
Her work has been featured on tracks with artists including The Dresden Dolls, The Vanity Set, Revue Noir, David Garland and The Walkmen. In 2021, she collaborated with Beverly Johnson and Wren Polansky to tell the stories of pioneer San Diego women using three media: dance, music, and art.
Yayanos was also the inspiration for a comic book character named Melanctha, appearing in the 21st issue of Planetary by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday.
Critical reception Of the Faun Fables, including Yayanos, the Staten Island Advance said "The quartet has a wealth of musical talent, quite capable of spinning out inventive arrangements played with panache..
Of the Yayanos playing on the band's fifth album "A Table Forgotten", the paper continued: "With its eerie theramin [sic]... and jittery, gypsy-tinged violin, the wistful title track bemoans the lost ritual of gathering around the kitchen table."
Of the song on the album "Hear the Grinder Creak" Pitchfork said: "a tune that turns the humdrum toil of flour-milling into a sort of survivalist mantra. Listen closely, though, and note the countering undercurrents: Heavily syncopated with handclaps and big drums, the song feels sexually suggestive. But ghastly harmonies and the moaning violin of Meredith Yayanos add a surfeit of foreboding, as though the labor wears on the singer with each cycle of the song."
Discography The following is a partial list of albums featuring Yayanos: 2001 – Raz Mesinai: Before the Law 2002 – Kings County Queens: Big Ideas 2002 – Love Life: Here Is Night, Brothers, Here the Birds Burn 2002 – The Vanity Set: Little Stabs at Happiness 2002 – The Walkmen: Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone 2002 – Thomas Truax: Full Moon Over Wowtown 2003 – Piñataland: Songs From the Forgotten Future 2003 – David Garland: On the Other Side of the Window 2003 – Mike "Sport" Murphy: Uncle 2004 – Aaron English Band: All the Waters of This World 2004 – Barbez: Barbez 2004 – The Dresden Dolls: A Is for Accident 2004 – White Hassle: The Death of Song 2005 – Dame Darcy: Dame Darcy's Greatest Hits 2005 – Amiel: Accidents By Design 2005 – Botanica: Botanica vs. the Truth Fish 2005 – Parker and Lily: The Low Lows 2005 – Thomas Traux: Audio Addiction 2005 – Revue Noir: Projekt Presents: A Dark Cabaret 2006 – Various Artists: Brainwaves (song: "The Lovers" with Amanda Palmer 2008 – Faun Fables : A Table Forgotten 2009 – Elegi: Varde 2009 – Beats Antique: Contraption (EP Vol. 1) 2012 – Stolen Babies : "Naught" (song "Behind the Days") 2020 – Feminazgûl: No Dawn For Men 2021 – Feminazgûl: A Mallacht
References
External links
The Vanity Set Coilhouse Magazine & Blog