Yellow Ostrich

An experimental indie rock endeavor known as Yellow Ostrich revolves primarily around the creative output of singer and songwriter Alex Schaaf. Beginning in 2009 with Schaaf's lo-fi and bedroom pop recordings produced in intimate settings, the project later incorporated contributions from several collaborators, leading to the release of five albums and multiple EPs prior to a period of inactivity following the 2014 album Cosmos. In 2021, Yellow Ostrich reconvened as a quintet to put out the richly textured and introspective album Soft.

Initially, Yellow Ostrich functioned solely as Schaaf's solo endeavor, involving the creation of lo-fi indie pop utilizing a four-track recorder. Schaaf moved from Wisconsin to New York and independently put out the album Wild Comfort in January 2010. This was succeeded promptly by three EPs available as free downloads: Fade Cave EP, The Morgan Freeman EP, and The Serious Kids EP. The project's second album, The Mistress, which included the track "Mary," appeared in 2011. Schaaf, along with Yellow Ostrich members Michael Tapper and Jon Natchez, delivered the more energetic and celebratory Strange Land in 2012. That year also saw the issuance of the EP Ghost containing six tracks. Following Ghost, Jon Natchez departed the group, with Jared Van Fleet and Zach Rose, who had toured extensively with the band, stepping in as replacements. The third studio album, Cosmos—inspired by Carl Sagan—came out in 2014 under the Yellow Ostrich name. Shortly thereafter the ensemble ceased operations, allowing Schaaf to focus on solo releases over the ensuing years; selections from this period were gathered into the 2021 compilation Like a Bird: An Alex Schaaf Anthology 2010-2021. Yellow Ostrich resurfaced during the same year with the release of the introspective Soft.