Dawg Yawp was an American indie folk band based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The group consisted of members Tyler Randall and Rob Keenan. Dawg YawpâÂÂs music is known for melding intricate harmonies and unique instrumentation, including RandallâÂÂs sitar, which is amplified and played while standing, and the use of electronic synthesis, samples and drum beats.
In 2006, Tyler Randall and Rob Keenan became friends while both attending Turpin High School. After graduating, Keenan spent three years at Indiana University while Randall finished high school. During their time apart, Randall and Keenan would collaborate on music over the weekends. After Randall graduated from high school, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Keenan soon joined Randall as a student at Berklee, although both eventually dropped out to focus on their musical careers. While attending Berklee, Randall was the first student to have sitar as their principal instrument.
During his time at Berklee, Randall experimented with the sitar in genres such as free improvisation, Middle Eastern fusion, jazz, and American roots. He began busking in the subways and on the streets. Randall also became active in the electronic underground music scene and hosted events. Randall cofounded an underground electronic music collective known as ElecSonic, for which Keenan helped produce events. Keenan departed ElecSonic to focus on songwriting. Randall eventually departed ElecSonic to focus on his own music, and has collaborated with Phonoride, Sonnymoon, Time Wharp, Teebs, The Gaslamp Killer, Gonjasufi and Kaytranada.
After leaving Berklee, Randall and Keenan relocated to Chicago, Illinois, then Nederland, Colorado, to focus on writing music. The two eventually found their way back to Newport, Kentucky, located directly across the river from their native Cincinnati, Ohio. During this time the members would conceive Dawg Yawp.
In Cincinnati, Randall and Keenan worked together at a local waffle restaurant, Taste of Belgium. While employed, the two played their first show as Dawg Yawp, covering The Beatles and performing acoustically on the floor of the restaurant. After hearing the duo perform, Rob Fetters offered to produce their debut album. Fetters became a mentor to the band during their recording process. The first six of these recordings were released as the Two Hearted EP on May 6, 2015.
After receiving local praise for the Two Hearted EP, described as âÂÂone of the most original and intricately considered bands in CincinnatiâÂÂs musical history,â Dawg Yawp began to tour the Midwest and gain support. The band went back into the studio with Fetters to record new material over the course of several sessions. Two of these tracks were released as standalone singles, including âÂÂEast Virginia Bluesâ on April 12, 2016 via NPRâÂÂs All Songs Considered. A second single, âÂÂCanâÂÂt Thinkâ premiered via Consequence of Sound on April 28, 2016, describing the band as âÂÂcompletely originalâ and dubbing them âÂÂsitar rockâÂÂ.
Both tracks, along with four tracks from the Two Hearted EP (âÂÂI Wanna Be A Dawg,â âÂÂNot So Sure,â âÂÂNeed You to Know,â and âÂÂDawgâÂÂ) were combined with several unreleased tracks for the self-titled LP Dawg Yawp, which was released on October 14, 2016, via Old Flame Records, with a premiere from PopMatters. A music video for âÂÂCanâÂÂt Thinkâ was directed by Dave Morrison and released on Team Coco on February 8, 2017 as a part of their âÂÂFresh Noiseâ series.
NPR featured Dawg YawpâÂÂs track âÂÂIâÂÂll Quit Tomorrowâ on âÂÂThe Austin 100â playlist ahead of SXSW 2017. After catching a set at the festival, Bob Boilen invited Dawg Yawp to record a Tiny Desk Concert. The session was recorded on June 28, 2017, and was released on September 29, 2017.
Dawg Yawp have performed at Midpoint Music Festival (2015), Bunbury Music Festival (2016), Whispering Beard Folk Festival (2016), MoonshinerâÂÂs Ball (2015 & 16), River Roots Festival (2016), South By Southwest (2017) and the Des Moines Arts Festival (2017).
Dawg Yawp recorded a World Cafe Live session in December 2016, which was released on January 9, 2017. NPR has featured the band in their Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio CanâÂÂt Stop Playing.
In September 2018, Dawg Yawp released two singles released together called âÂÂTearinâ Upâ and âÂÂWhy IâÂÂm Hereâ entitled âÂÂDawg Yawp Doubles, Vol. 1âÂÂ.