The Melting Pot
“When love was murdered, my art was born” is how Yann defines his creative inspiration. Behind his music and artist persona, there’s a unique melting pot. Not only was he born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but he’s also half African and has a Jewish background. These introductory facts are just the first steps into comprehending the complex multi-cultural creative process behind his extravagant pop music.
“I have been involved with the arts since I was a little boy,” says Yann. “I have always loved to sing, write, act, draw, dance and paint. That has always been my natural way of expression.” That need for expression has now given way to music that is ultra personal and shows Yann’s own interests and inspirations from other artists. “All my material is very personal and that’s why it ends up becoming so relatable because I tell my truth and expose all my flaws. I’m not here to be an unreachable pop star, that doesn’t even seem human,” Yann states.
“I decided not to let myself down and not become another depressed human being who follows what society wants from me,” he claims. “If I get my fans to do the same for themselves, I can truly say that my goal in life has been achieved.” That message is what has led more and more fans to Yann’s music, with a fanbase that grew organically from live shows and word of mouth instead of Internet popularity. So, how did this underground artist end up making such a splash in an online contest?
Entering the Internet Age
“Honestly, I don’t even have a website just yet but its all part of my music strategy,” Yann admits. “I will expose my art online when I have it effectively produced. I have so many songs recorded but they’re still in a raw stage…Right now, my following knows me mostly based on my live shows and word of mouth.”
“I believe a live show is one of the major pillars of a music career,” he continues. “My show represents who I am. It’s an exchange of conscious and subconscious energy between me and my audience.” But with social media ever growing, Yann knew that he needed to make the move to the online sphere to stay relevant.
“The digital sphere is where music is right now…The possibilities are unlimited and it depends on every artist to think of where their genre fits and how they can make the most out of it,” he states.
Being Stupid Never Looked So Smart
With a new plan in mind, Yann set his sights on conquering the social media world through the Diesel:U:Music Stupid For Music World Cup. “The contest offered major prizes that can really take an artist to the next level. It was an opportunity for a break in this tough industry. Honestly, when I joined it I didn't quite expect to win, especially when I saw hundreds of bands, including artists that I was already a fan of,” says Yann. “I really thought I didn’t have a chance of winning, but I would never give up on doing something just because the odds are not very high. Someone had to win the competition, and why couldn’t that person be me?”
After sizing up his competition, Yann got to work on turning his growing fanbase into online advocates for him. “In a competition like this, you have to get involved in every single social network,” he states. “Spread the word. Contact every single person you’ve met in your life plus their friends. If it’s really your dream and it’s worth living it, you have to fight for it.”
Soon, the networking started to pay off. Over the course of the contest, it was easy to see that Yann’s loyal fans were ready to go above and beyond for their beloved singer, with Yann at the helm guiding them along. In the end Yann came out victorious, with the winning title and a slew of prizes to help further his music career.
“The bottom line is: how much do you want it? Think of it that way,” says Yann. “The only tip that I can possibly give to other artists is: work hard. Not only you have to do your very best, but you have to take it to the next level.”
Check out more on Yann here.
