Prepare to be enthralled by the disco-dancing, funky electronic sounds of YOUR MATE'S EX (YMEX). Packed with groovy basslines, vibrant brass, and infectious energy, this musical duo will keep you dancing all night long! Listen to Bunny On The Run - trust me, it's earned a spot on three of my Spotify playlists.

Drawing comparisons to Charli XCX, YMEX blends British vocals with shimmering electronic beats that transport you straight to a 1988 disco dancefloor. ASBO caught up with the duo to talk about their music and what they have planned for the year ahead.

Who are YMEX?

Joshy B and JoJo

For someone who is yet to discover you, how would you describe your music? 

Retro futuristic sludgy Manchester dance-pop.

What inspired you as an artist?

The Manchester rave scene of the 80’s and 90’s and the indie-electronic bloghouse era somewhere in the 00’s - 2010’s

What Is Your Pre-Show Routine?

Beers and gossip.

Where do you feel you fit into the music landscape?

It’s somewhere between pop and club music, so anywhere where people are just ready to dance.

What are your favourite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?

Pretty wide; we send each other music all the time, and it’s just as likely to be a random 70’s country song as it is a house track. Josh is a huge Beatles fan. Joey had a big dubstep phase at 13. Anything that speaks to us, whether it’s a melody, bit of lyrics, or just the feel to a track. We dislike anything inauthentic.

Is there a story behind the band’s name? 

Yes, Joey is Josh’s mate’s ex. We thought it was funny - the idea of people saying ‘I’m going to see your mate’s ex’ and the other person going ‘wait, who?’.

What would you say is your greatest strength?

Banging tunes

What would you say is your greatest weakness?

Too much swag

What advice would you give to aspiring artists?

Be willing to publicly humiliate yourself for at least two years before you start getting any of the good stuff.

Who would you most like to collaborate with artistically?

We’d love to work more with visual artists to start creating that YMEX world. We’d love to see an animated music video one day.

What music artists would you say have influenced your work? 

It’s a tough one because we draw on a lot of sources. Maybe Daft Punk, early Calvin Harris, early Detroit house like Inner City, Peaches, Uffie, Azealia Banks.

What song have you got on repeat right now?

Josh’s vinyl collection, lots of fat 00’s electroclash.

What is your creative process when making music? Do you work with others or is it just you?

It’s just us two, so we get in Josh’s studio and get as far as we can on a track without physically fighting. That’s when the good stuff comes.

This year, what can we expect? 

More music! Lot’s of live. Our fans can see us keep building and growing something really cool for them.