VOX YOMI is a doom metal trio from the happiest place in Northern California. Active in Santa Cruz since late 2024, the three members’ former projects hint at their current sound:
Vocalist Zigzag Robinson has taken time away from Slop Opera (Hiphop Supergroup). Bassist and backing vocalist Kevin Lemon is formerly of The Expendables (Ska Punk). Drummer Hiimwaterdragon is fresh out of Vantana Row (cybergrind project).
Underway, they have an innovative doom metal full length album in progress with features from Onry Ozzborn and Mistah Fab.
Interview – VOX YOMI
Intro
VOX YOMI is a doom metal trio based in Santa Cruz, Northern California, active since late 2024. Despite originating from what they describe as “the happiest place in Northern California,” the band delivers a heavy, introspective sound shaped by the diverse backgrounds of its members. Vocalist Zigzag Robinson is known for his work with the hip hop collective Slop Opera, bassist Kevin Lemon is a former member of ska punk band The Expendables, and drummer Hiimwaterdragon previously played in the cybergrind project Vantana Row. Drawing from these varied influences, VOX YOMI is currently working on a full-length album featuring guest appearances from Onry Ozzborn and Mistah Fab. In March, the band will perform live in Japan.
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1. VOX YOMI comes from Santa Cruz, a place often associated with a relaxed and positive atmosphere. How does that environment contrast with, or influence, the heaviness of your doom metal sound?
Kev- growing up in Santa Cruz, has experienced this hippie utopia from the ininside, the most vulnerable prospective, the one most often protected from the rest of the world. The grime, the crust, the nasty little dark secret hidden from view. Having this twisted perspective on a place that’s viewed as happy, relaxed and positive, we both embody and embrace the darkness within, channeling it into the heavy dark sounds that define us as a band.
Zig-
I would imagine there is dark and light in anyplace you call your home town
There is a long lineage of rock n rollers and chargers that have spawned from the east and west side of our lil oasis..
To be honest I think my personal influence stretch far beyond the surf and turf yet have been honed here for what ever reason
Water-
Santa Cruz is a very happy tourist location but, there are heroin highways and deeply sad stretches of tents on lesser traveled streets. One of which our rehearsal center resides. I am a sc sweety but I look scary I guess. So that’s a Doomy reality too. When/if I get on Progesterone I might fill out and get some decent titties though that will make me happy- it might change my mood and my music genre at that point. I will see.
2. Each member comes from a very different musical background — hip hop, ska punk, and cybergrind. How do these past experiences shape the band’s current sound?
KEV-
For me personally, The Expendables was like four lifetimes away… it was a band that I helped to start when I was a horny little high school kid, My most recent doom/stoner rock project, Teraton, I’ve always felt was a more pure version of my musical self. All these different sounds that we’ve all been playing around with in our past provide a vast pallet of different colors that we can access to forge new sounds… All of our various influences provide us with the ability to leave practically nothing off the table.
ZIGZAG-
I think we’ve all been in numerous different projects and know what we wanna do and what we don’t wanna do. No one‘s trying to Hurd cats to knock out what we’re trying to do.
Bars are bars-meaning for me personally instead of writing a 16 bar verse I’m able to chop up versus and stretch them out. I think all our musical talents show a no holds bar approach.
the concept for how we attack and write our music kind of comes from a spaghetti western storyline.
Water-
All together we make something
3. Doom metal is often rooted in tradition. How do you balance classic doom elements with a more contemporary or experimental approach?
KEV-
Typically with a beam balance scale and a goose… similarly to how they used to find witches. If that doesn’t work, then we crank everything up to 11, throw it at the wall and see what sticks.
ZIGZAG-
Like who doesn’t want to write about Lord of the rings meets Conan the barbarian meets Boba fett meets how to train my Dragon meets Akira meets goonies
Water-
Hell ya
4. Your upcoming full-length album includes guest appearances from Onry Ozzborn and Mistah Fab, artists not usually associated with doom metal. How did these collaborations come together?
Water-
Honestly, I’m still unsure of how any of all of this came to be… Imma let Zig handle this one.
ZIGZAG-
Waterdragon and I have been in many different projects together cross referencing hip-hop/rap with Bay Area bass to hard-core and punk
I reached out to Onry because he’s one of my favorite lyricist in the game. Sent him some songs he recorded em
sent it back. We’re gonna incorporate it into our new releases.
. I think crossing lines is what make music interesting
Kev-
Hell ya
5. As a relatively new band, how would you describe VOX YOMI’s identity at this stage?
KEV
I would say that at this moment, we’re like a Viking that’s brooding a T-Rex egg on a nest made of venison sinew and Ramen noodles
ZIGZAG-
Rip off the heads and shit down the throats-
Water
Jordan, Pippen, Rodman
6. What role do atmosphere and mood play in your songwriting process?
Kev-
I mean, I really would prefer to sit and meditate in a bubble bath with a lot of candles and maybe some lavender essential oil while songwriting, but often times I just don’t have that luxury so I end up humming out tunes on my iPhone and then picking up my Guass later, hunched over next to a pile of dirty laundry while I finger out the core melody.
Zig-
Hell ya!
Water-
Moods and roles are probably Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman
7. How do you translate such a dense and heavy sound into a live performance?
Kev-
Crank it up and rip the fucking knob off… next question.
Zig-
Intermittent Seances , and a lot of casseroles
Water-
Easy translation is probably: Jordan, Pippen, Rodman
8. How do you see the current underground metal scene in the United States?
Water-
Millenial metal is still thriving in hot places around the U.S. and we are excited to get back out and tour these scenes again through the new VOX YOMI project
Kev-
Like a bunch of Uber talented puppies fighting each other to scratch to the front of the pack to find mom‘s teat but only she’s gone to Cabo with her new boyfriend.
Zigzag-
Yay area! The mother land of a lot of sick crews..all the noise all the growls all the tempos
Hella shredders..peep game
9. What does playing in Japan mean to you, both culturally and musically?
Kev-
I probably knew more than I thought I knew, but I feel like I know next to nothing about Japanese culture and have really been enjoying getting to know it better through what I can find online and the people that I know who have been there. I can’t wait to actually be there and experience the real thing and learn the real beauty of Japanese culture. Musically this tour will be the culmination of my life‘s work. Probably one of the raddest things that I’ve done so far.
Zig-
A complete dream come true dazed and confused like huh?! I’m super grateful and blessed to be rolling with MidwestLust and dagger wound. I just wanna keep coming back if you’ll have us.
Water-
I plan to expand my view on many things. I also hope to gain access to better and more affordable fem hormone therapy than what is available in the states right now
10. Are there any Japanese bands or artists that have influenced you?
Water-
I feel like every punk or metal fan loves Maximum The Hormone. But for almost two decades I’ve been inspired by their similar vision in video and inclusive genre maxxing
Kev-
Definitely Boris. Most definitely Boris. Doom comes to mind, Corrupted… I’ve really been enjoying exploring it here and there. Zigzag sent me something newish but like almost 10 years old… Shizumunamari I think. It was pretty rad.
Zig-
Shout out-Church of Misery
And Ningen Isu
And Birushanah
Been bumping thier sludge
11. How does the current social and political climate influence your music, if at all?
Water-
There are current bills that affect access to hormone therapy or limit coverage in order to obtain substantial prescriptions for broke peeps like myself to maintain sexy figure and pursuit of euphoria but – lyric wise you’d have to ask these guys
Kev-
What is politics? Social media sucks…
Zig-
Our World mind set should be,
Rage against the machine..literally
Puppets are puppets
I don’t wear socks..
So
I vote -Jedi
12. What do you hope audiences experience or feel during a VOX YOMI live set?
Water-
I hope they experience a performance similar to Jordan, Pippen, Rodman
Kev-
The vibrations of my Guass putting tremors through their organs…
Zig-
Heat!
13. Following this Japan tour, what are the next steps for the band?
Zig-
We got three EP’s in the works, European tour, comic book, claymation series, enlightenment, ascension… yada, yada, yada.
Finish the next albums
Kev-
Ravage the west coast for the next 8 months
Come back to Japan and tour again in October
Go back to Cali sell every thing
Move to Japan-
Make dope music
Water-
Maybe go on a stronger hormone therapy or maybe my girlfriend will outright get me some surgery idk but she love me for me
14. If you had to describe this tour in a single word, what would it be?
Kev-
Manifestation
Zig –
Pillow talk
Water-
Japan
T.M.A.F. 