YOYO

Hi Yoyo, thanks so much for sitting down with us today! For readers who may not have heard your music before, how would you describe your sound?

I think my music tiptoes the line between making you want to dance and getting you in your feelings. It has a really upbeat sound with big chorus swells that will make you want to move, but if you’re listening to the lyrics you’ll uncover more of the story behind the songs–love, heartbreak, confusion, and joy. Think mid 2000s Pop–I grew up loving that music so the sound definitely comes through in my songs.

Can you tell us more about your songwriting process? Do you usually start with a melody and let the lyrics come to you? 

That’s a tough one because it varies for each song. For example, “rocket ship” started out as a rough melodic idea that I built a lyrical story around. But the words and melody for “sunrise” (the next song I have coming out) actually came to me at the same time. It’s funny because usually I start with a chord progression, then write the melody, and then go from there. Probably the most important part of my writing process is that I like to write outdoors–by the water, on a rooftop, or really anywhere that helps me reflect on my feelings.

Who or what are some of your greatest influences and how have they inspired the music you create?  

Like I said earlier, I was raised on mid 2000s Pop. Jay Sean, Jason Derulo, and Ne-Yo are probably my big three. Just from a musical standpoint, I love how they layer their vocals to create a nuanced sound that is packed with emotion. I remember when I was in middle school and “Watcha Say” was on the radio, it always had us singing and dancing, but you could also feel the raw emotion in it. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do with my songs.

What would you ideally like listeners to take away from your music? 

The whole album is about different ways of looking at love. So I’d be really happy if someone listens to my music and comes away feeling like they have someone they can relate to. A lot of things I touch upon in my songs–fear, conflicting feelings, falling in and out of love–can be really confusing emotions. So if people listen to my music and feel a little less alone in navigating all of that, then I’ve succeeded.

Tell us a little more about your recent single Rocketship, what can our readers expect when they listen to this song? 

This past year, I had been in a long distance relationship and whenever I would try to write songs, it was the only thing I could think about. I would flip flop between feeling happy, confused, in love, and insecure. The song captures all of that in the lyrics, but the sound is also light and hopeful with a catchy beat.

What else can we look forward to seeing from you coming up this summer? 

I am releasing “sunrise” late August/early September! I can’t wait for it to come out. I have been working on the song for a long time and am excited for people to hear it.

Can’t wait to see where you go with your music, where can our readers find you online?

Readers can find me on Instagram @yoyonagase, on Tiktok @yoyonagasemusic, and at my website yoyonagase.com. See you all there!

End of Interview