History

* April 1994 - June 1998

Sixteen grueling months past filled with failed and often comical auditions. The lack of creative vision among so called original musicians became painfully obvious. In the middle of the process, Greg Farah left to pursue a career in broadcasting.

Stephen and Eric were able to release one single early in 1995 called Deceitful Lullaby. It featured former Fin drummer Doug Hammond and Drag Triplets bassist Gail Buchanan. Doug, who was also working with the Drag Triplets at the time, was eager to work with Eric again. Gail however planned to stay where she was.

Then, finally in the summer of 1995, the lineup was complete after one fateful summer day. Craig Meyer of Lost, Lonely and Vicious walked into Eric and Doug's house in Bloomfield NJ. He set up his bass and Stephen said OK, let's play. No set songs, no jamming on rock standards ... just play. And the quartet wrote 2 complete songs within the hour. Sweet After and Organs R Us.

The talent and vision of both Craig and Doug fit in perfectly with the concept of open minded creativity which was at the core of Ya-Ne-Zniyoo from the beginning. This new lineup (Eric Schmitz  - Vocals, Stephen Bailey  - Guitar, Craig Meyer - Bass, Doug Hammond - Drums) would prove to be the most creatively inspired, though typically troubled, of the band's career.

Organs R Us, would enjoy success as part of an EP released in 1997 called Audi Amin & The Mitsubishi Christ Orchestra, as well as a live recording of a rehearsal that would be traded on Napster. That EP was recorded at Just in Dreams in NJ and two other tracks would ultimately set the harmonic and rhythmic standards for the band.

The Dog Said showcased the new Ya-Ne-Zniyoo's ability to trick and confuse the listener. Much of the parts were written with only the rhythm in mind. The guitar, filled with noise and distorion, is at times in an intirely different key than the bass. Topped with hauntingly enigmatic lyrics and a bone crunching backbeat, The Dog Said quickly became their most requested live tune.

The appropriately named Time Nightmare saw the band's first venture into the world of layering contrary time signatures over one another. By not letting them all resolve before moving on, they created a tension that again set a standard in the band.

This EP also saw the introduction of Stephen's unique soundscapes. A track called The Audi Chicken Cha-Cha was created from manipulated sound effects, out takes and the use of computer assisted sound editing.

Unfortunately, as fate would have it, in June of 1998, Ya-Ne-Zniyoo fell victim once again to the breakup syndrome. Stephen was suffering through a very difficult time in his personal life which caused him to loose his desire to create. Doug was transferred to a job in Corpus Christi, TX. And finally, after the group made several attempts at reforming, Craig began working with NY based band Miss Crabtree. Even though Stephen and Eric attempted to continue writing and performing acoustically for the next year or so, it would be a while before they would consider Ya-Ne-Zniyoo to be "working" again.