YamaLlama Records is an independent label founded by Erich RussekRobbins, a producer known for his quirky, genre-blending sound and a taste for the unconventional. With an ear for the offbeat and a love of sonic experimentation, RussekRobbins has built a roster that celebrates music that doesn’t quite fit in—and doesn’t want to.
One of the label’s flagship acts is Poets in Heat, an indie rock group that’s been pushing boundaries since the early 1990s. Fronted by RussekRobbins, the band is known for its distinctive fusion of rock, pop, and more eclectic influences, all delivered with a talk-sing vocal style reminiscent of Lou Reed or Tom Waits.
Their upcoming EP, set to release in May 2025, features six tracks that reinterpret children’s stories through an adult lens—a strange, whimsical, and sometimes haunting collection that blurs the line between fairy tale and fever dream.
Also on the label is UK punk singer Michael Parris, whose raw energy and poetic bite bring a different kind of electricity to the YamaLlama family.
Last year, Poets in Heat released the single “Fire at Louie’s,” a Cajun-murder-ballad. Film Noir. The chorus is in French, “Laissez les bon temps rouler,” which means, “Let the good times roll.” Check out the video on YouTube.
Michael Parris is a punk artist from the UK. His new album is coming out this fall, and he released a single, “I Don’t Need You,” last year
If you are looking for music that is outside the box, YamaLlama Records is a label worth checking out. You can learn more about Erich Russek and Poets in Heat at https://yamallama.com/home/poets-in-heat/ and Michale Parris at https://yamallama.com/michael-parris/.
