Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with yunggaf
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Trying to sing Whitney Houstons Greatest Love of All
How did your passion for creating music begin?
When I was in middle school my mom moved us to New York. Just being in New York was inspirational knowing it was the birthplace of hiphop. We lived on the borderline of Roosevelt and Freeport Long Island. I would see Flava Flav of Public Enemy going down Sunrise Hwy in his jeep and im on my bike. I started writing rhymes testing them out with kids in my junior high. They would say I was wack lol. But I was always inspired by music!
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I WISH it was a single story lol. Divorce, drama, sex addiction, the pandemic. The music is really me coming to terms with myself in the most honest way. Im speaking my truth. My desire my hurt my story. It aint always pretty but its mine. And im owning it!
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Its definitely 90’s influenced. It is a bridge in my opinion. I feel like music has lost alot of the warmth and soul and authenticity needed to make hiphop. Trap beats are cool but give me some chords here and there and a baseline and a little harmony. It combines the retro with elements of the new.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
To take risk! That is so important. One day I was going to meet someone for a booty call lol. I had a hot date coming by. And I was sitting in front of the keyboard and I just sang out of nowhere Hoe tonight, ima be a hoe! I chuckled and got up walked into the kitchen to snack on somethin and I said to myself YOU CANT SAY THAT! But then I went back to the studio and something told me to demo the hook and find chords. Then harmonies popped in my head. I made the song sent it to velvet cash my engineer from the Saltmine studio in Phoenix he called me back immediately like BRO! THATS A HIT! THATS GOING ON MY RINGTONE! And that song literally generates the most streams.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I like Ableton Live for my DAW because I love how it handles loops and samples. Keyscape when im making chords antares auto tune Nectar. There’s so many. It just depends on the feel im going for.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Believe it or not Salt from THEE LEGENDARY SaltnPepa who is a hiphop auntie icon lol. She is releasing independent solo music. That is inspirational for me seeing veteran artist come back in and do it for the culture. Alot of rappers these days just wanna say somethin but she’s got every accolade available to a musician and she surely dont need the money so shes definitely got something to say! Thats a real MC.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
As a kid I was bullied and had to fight alot. I was a good quiet kid but I was always in some shit. I lacked confidence and I got called a FAG. I turned all the negatives around into something positive. Im not a FAG, im yung GAY AND FABULOUS or Gifted and favored. FAG turned around backwards is Gaf. People will give you shit. We cant always control what people do to us but we can control how we respond. Its all in my name. Whatever negative spoken on me I will turn it around and make it FABULOUS!
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I hope they understand that it is okay to accept and be yourself. Stop beating yourself up for who you are. Stop comparing yourself to everyone else. Love you get in competition with you to outdo you! It really works.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
I have a potty mouth sometimes. MAKE A CLEAN VERSION TOO!
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I would love to be a name on a gay pride stage showcasing gay hiphop. Somewhere in Italy would be nice especially if I can lose enough weight to get this American bred booty in some sexy Italian clothes on stage lol.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Im going to say Saucy Santana cus I love his boldness and they were comparing my song Facetime to him on TikTok.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Im on all the platforms. https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/yunggaf/2nite
https://www.instagram.com/_iamyunggaf?igsh=cWxhZjNycDZuaTdr
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Definitely getting on stage more. I envision a sexy fun show with some messages of self love and self esteem.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I was the underdog. The shy quiet often overlooked kid. Alot of times the only motivation was me. But I never let anyone dim my vision. I want to inspire people to be relentless in whatever it is you are trying to achieve in life. Sometimes you gotta sit down stand up get on stage perform sit back down and clap for yourself.
