Ahren Stringer and Yung Yogi open up about addiction, friendship and rebuilding from the ground up with their new band Self Checkout.
In a studio in Mexico City, two titans of the heavy music world are forging something deeply personal, and brutally honest. Enter Self Checkout, the new collaborative band from former The Amity Affliction clean vocalist and bassist Ahren Stringer and ex-Volumes frontman Yung Yogi (Gus Farias).
Chatting with Blunt’s Ned Tepper from the studio in Mexico, Stringer and Yung Yogi tell all about what fans can expect from Self Checkout, and how mental health is at the center of it all.
From Rehab To Riffs
The chemistry between Stringer and Farias goes back a decade. They first crossed paths during Warped Tour in 2013, later sharing a tour bus across Europe in 2014. Since then, they’ve been tight. But it wasn’t until both artists hit serious life turbulence – leaving their respective bands and confronting addiction – that the idea of starting something new together felt like more than just a reunion, but a necessary next step.
“Yeah, we both needed rehab,” says Stringer. “We have both lived such similar lifestyles… and we just ended up just joining forces and just being like, let’s start a new band.”
The band name Self Checkout is a double entendre: it’s about confronting yourself and navigating recovery and loss. But this new band isn’t about shock value, it’s about exposing the stigma and turning their experiences with addiction, mental health, and losing loved ones to suicide into a positive by creating something in the studio.
“[Suicide has] profoundly impacted my life, and I want to share that,” Farias says. “I’m kind of healing expressing that with the world.”
A New Sound For A New Project
So, what does Self Checkout sound like? In short: “Whatever the hell we want.”
Expect groove-heavy tracks, screaming, and rapping. Expect melodic passages layered with emotional chord progressions. There’s two songs that are already nearly finished. “One [track] is heavy, the other one is…a love song,” Stringer teases. “It’s gonna be an eclectic mix…some would say a cosmic gumbo.”
Farias explains the ethos: “We don’t go into the studio and be like, ‘this is what we’re gonna do today, guys.’” The pair have been heading into the studio and seeing what happens, and what sounds good in the moment.
Why record in Mexico City? Turns out, that’s where the magic – and the healing -is happening. After stepping back from Volumes, Farias cites both family ties and access to the therapist who helped him turn things around. “I’m really just trying to be on my mental health shit and and make new music,” he says.
The duo are tracking vocals with Yogi’s younger brother, Andres Farias. Production help also comes from KJ Strock (who’s worked with Veil Of Maya, Crown The Empire, Machine Gun Kelly) and mixer Robby Joyner (Fire From The Gods), giving the project a pro-level polish without compromising its underground spirit.
“When you make good art, it feels really satisfying,” Stringer says. “And I can very confidently say that’s exactly what’s happening while having a best friend right next to you.”
The duo have two tracks nearly finished, and more are on the way. “This first song we’re gonna drop is the heaviest thing I’ve ever been a part of,” Stringer promises.
He’s also sitting on 13 solo tracks from a previous project – but that’s been shelved, for now. “For right now, we’re just focusing on the band,” he says.
Mental Health Over Everything
Self Checkout is more than a band for the duo, it’s a reclamation of sorts. The project is a way to use music as a vessel for healing – for both the artists and their fans.
“We’re just trying to, you know, raise awareness,” Stringer says. “It just makes sense, because we’ve lost some of our friends to suicide.”
And this time around, touring won’t come at the cost of their wellbeing. “As a band, if we need time off…we’re taking that time off,” Farias says firmly. “We’re prioritising that over everything from past experiences…we’re prioritising mental health over everything.”
“We both just got so burnt out from touring constantly,” Stringer adds.
A Message To The Fans
After weathering public scrutiny and personal battles, both Stringer and Farias know that not everyone has stayed in their corner. Amidst departing from The Amity Affliction earlier this year in what TAA described a complete breakdown in the relationship with the band, there’s been plenty of controversy.
But to the fans who did stick around through it all?
“Thank you for sticking by me,” says Stringer. “I can’t wait to show you…because you’re gonna love it.”
“I know we both have a very bad reputation…because we’re like, admitted addicts, everyone thinks we’re just like POS, but you’re gonna see that we’re not,” he adds. “We’re gonna prove the world wrong. And we want to thank you guys for sticking with us and we hope you love what we’ve produced. It’s gonna be fire.”
One thing’s for sure – Self Checkout isn’t here to play it safe. They’re here to tear the walls down, start over, and scream (or rap) about the things that matter.
If you need mental health support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online.
If you’re under 25, you can contact Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
You can also contact the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or chat online.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
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