Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with YONNAS
The son of Samiel and Elsa, Eritrean immigrants who fled war, walked across the Sudanese desert for nine days, conceived him in Rome and birthed him in Denver, Yonnas Abraham is a confluence of miracles. Spending twelve of the past twenty years making indie rap in The Pirate Signal and BLKHRTS respectively, and 8 in his bedroom conceiving this: Dream Pop For Black People. Nick Bassett’s (Whirr, Nothing, Deafheaven) guitar and production acumen mix with Yonnas’s skillful sampling, soulful yet spectral singing and hard-ass beats to form a heady stew of Dream Bops. Dreamy Soul For Black Liberation. De-Colonized Rock music. The bright, shiny Black future.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Idk if it’s my first, but I always think of George Michael singing “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me” with Elton John. I remember his royal blue sport coat and thinking “Why don’t British people sing with an English accent?” Which, you know, they actually sometimes do lol.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I think when I was very young, around the time of that core memory from the last question, I used to write little songs and perform them with my toy guitar using a camera tripod as a fake mic stand. In late middle school, I wanted to start an alt-rock band but there was no way I was gonna pick up a guitar. Finally, when I was 16, I was stoned in the back of my best friend’s Jeep Cherokee, listening to “Heaven and Hell” by Raekwon of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, and I thought “This is what I wanna do”. I got an MPC at 18 years old and the rest of my life has been spent figuring out how.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
YONNAS is my first solo project and what will undoubtedly be my home for the rest of my life. I make what I call “Dream Pop For Black People” which is essentially soul music heavily influenced by Dream Pop and Shoegaze. I do all of the vocals and most of the production.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Dreamy Soul.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I would say there are two, how to pitch match samples from disparate sources, and how to sing.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I use the MPC to write my music and Pro Tools as my DAW. My microphone and audio interface are also very vital.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I’ve been really obsessed with this song called (Too Little in Common To Be Lovers)Too Much Going On To Stay, by this group called The Newcomers from Memphis. Classic 70’s Soul that came out on Stax
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I would say my music exclusively deals with my personal experiences juxtaposed against the collective Black Experience.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Art is Power and Beauty Will Save The World
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
You can write your own life. Making music is like spell-casting: Be Careful.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Curiosa. Does The Cure still do that? Or Afropunk.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
George Michael, Sade or Isaac Hayes.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? my website is MYNAMEISYONNAS.COM, and my IG is MYNAMEISYONNAS, so is my twitter and I’m on all the DSP’s as YONNAS
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I’m working on my second album GIORGIO MICHAEL that I hope to release next year. I’m also working on a project with August Fanon that is as of yet unnamed.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That i’m their favorite artist that ever lived lol
