Yellow Couch Music

For drummer, composer, and producer Layton Weedeman, rhythm is more than a foundation, it’s a language of connection. Across two decades, the New York–based artist has explored jazz, hip-hop, soul, and global styles, always rooted in one idea: collaboration as creation. His latest project, Yellow Couch Music, is both a recording venture and a communal platform built on improvisation and deep groove. “I’ve always been drawn to collaboration,” he says. “This gives me a way to invite voices in and build something rooted, but open.” Weedeman’s early inspirations came from family, alt-rock, and hip-hop TV. A Sonic Youth concert and his first drum kit at 13 set him on a path through samba, reggae, and swing, honed by jazz-based instruction. In high school, he was already a trusted sideman. At Berklee, he deepened his skills in jazz, groove, and production, absorbing everything from Afro-Cuban rhythms to harmony. He co-founded Courtesy Tier, a blues-psych trio that toured DIY circuits, landed syncs, and built from the ground up. That ethos now fuels Yellow Couch Music, launched in 2024. Its debut single, “Fool Stop,” featured Estephanie, JSWISS, and John Robinson over Weedeman’s buoyant drums. The upcoming debut album “Tidings In The Rough” reflects his belief in groove, process, and human connection. “I’m not chasing metrics,” he says. “I just want to make music that moves you.”