About this interview
In a 2009 interview with Ryan Minic of Ryan’s Rock Show, Yohan Hennequin, drummer of My Own Private Alaska, talks about the band’s journey from forming in the south of France to working with legendary producer Ross Robinson in Los Angeles. Yohan recounts how the band initially reached out to Ross via MySpace on a whim—never expecting a reply—and how that simple message turned into a life-changing collaboration. The two-month recording process at Ross’ home studio in Venice, California, became an intense, transformative experience for the band as they crafted their debut album, Amen, under Robinson’s guidance. Yohan shares what it was like living and working at Ross’ house, their daily recording schedule, and how Ross pushed them to deliver their most emotional and honest performances.
The interview also dives into the band’s unique sound—combining piano and drums with hardcore vocal intensity—and how audiences across Europe reacted to their unconventional live setup. Yohan opens up about their live shows, which he describes as raw, dark, and deeply personal, and reflects on how their lack of guitars made their music even more powerful and distinctive. Beyond music, Yohan discusses the surreal moments he and the band experienced during their stay in LA, including riding motocross with Ross, visiting Hollywood, and taking in the sights of Universal Studios.
He explains how rare it is for a French band—let alone one from outside of Paris—to collaborate with such a high-profile American producer. Yohan also talks about balancing his life as a touring musician and tour manager back in France and how the experience with Ross has inspired the band to focus fully on their music as Amen nears release.