YAHYAH: Interview + New Single 'Little Joy'

MusicInterviews

6 Oct

KATIE BROWN - 6 OCT 2021

Ahhh, summer nostalgia - there’s nothing quite like it. New single “Little Joy” by rising electronic pop artist YAHYAH, aka Holly Cameron, deploys this to a fault in its upbeat positivity wrapped in the warmth of sunset memories. Having spent the past four years working as a songwriter for Genuine Music Group in Los Angeles alongside the likes of Pam Shenye (Christina Aguilera), Anita McCloud (Usher) and producer Josh Valle (Drake, Snoh Aalegra), “Little Joy” is YAHYAH’s first release after a substantial hiatus from her own projects.

Feeling it was time to turn her attention back to her own work as a growing artist (previously, her debut EP Unleash the Panda quickly accelerated to the top 50 iTunes charts), YAHYAH’s return to Aotearoa sparked the beginning of a new musical chapter for the songstress, whose sound fans equate to “a lush mix of AlunaGeorge and Charli XCX”. Since her return, alongside focusing on her own music she has been working alongside Aotearoa favourites such as Niko Walters, FOLEY, Janine and VIKAE.

Co-written with established producer Will Henderson (CHAII, Niko Walters) and accompanied by an appropriately blissed-out and friend-filled music video directed by Annabel Kean, “Little Joy” is a sleek yet blazing combination of smooth beats and pulsing synths topped by YAHYAH’s silky vocals, and it’ll take you back to those idyllic summer nights of your own past - hanging with your besties, dancing to that epic DJ for hours, knowing that there was no moment that mattered apart from that one just then. Woven through both the single and video is the compelling warmth and vitality that envelops the artist herself, and like summer’s reverb, this is exactly the feeling that lingers after those last chords and beats die out.

Speaking of the track, YAHYAH states – “Little Joy is a bar in Echo Park, Los Angeles that my best friends and I used to frequently go to unwind, dance, drink, and just be ourselves. We would walk back to our apartment at the top of the hill like the city was our own living room. This song captures my fondest memories of such a beautiful season of my life.”

In its catchy hooks, driving rhythms and memorable nostalgia “Little Joy” places YAHYAH front and centre as the key character in the evolving and exciting story of her own life, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of this new chapter brings as her own star deservedly begins to rise.

Watch the video for “Little Joy” and read our interview with YAHYAH below.

Find YAHYAH on Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube

KATIE: HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO MUSIC? DID YOU LEARN INSTRUMENTS WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER?

YAHYAH: I’ve been singing since I was 5, I used to sing in church and I loved being the centre of attention. My parents saw that I was quite creative so they put me into piano lessons and even though I hated going I loved being there and learning the theory side of things. I actually ended up entering piano competitions and my competitive side definitely came out! I then learnt the flute when i was at intermediate. Then onto guitar and little bit of bass guitar. Anything I could get my hands on really!

YOU SPENT YOUR CHILDHOOD IN NEW ZEALAND AND MOVED TO LONDON AT THE TENDER AGE OF 16 – WHAT WAS THAT MOVE LIKE?

Oh my goodness! It was crazy! I wouldn’t change it for the world. London is so full of rich history and culture, people coming from all over the world to pursue their dreams. I loved it! I loved the hustle and bustle of such a diverse city. Los Angeles was a dream. Completely different to London, stunning weather all day every day.

I mean I think it rains twice a year there, it’s the desert! Los Angeles is a melting pot for a lot of people as well and I loved the confidence of Americans. They say what’s on their mind and I honestly respect that. I felt very at home there and could see myself living in Los Angeles in the future

HOW HAS LIVING ALL OVER THE WORLD IMPACTED YOUR SONGWRITING?

I’ve been influenced by so many places! I see it is such a positive thing because it’s allowed me to experience different people, different walks of life and different ways of doing things. It’s impacted my songwriting in an amazing way because of that life experience I gained. It’s also allowed me to meet so many different people and collaborate with Americans, British people, Swedish people … you name it. I feel really lucky.

“LITTLE JOY” MARKS A RETURN TO YOUR OWN ARTISTRY AND WORK AS YAHYAH – WHAT MADE YOU FEEL LIKE IT WAS TIME TO TURN TO THIS AGAIN? DOES IT FEEL DIFFERENT COMING BACK TO IT NOW?

I was in Los Angeles for all of 2020 and Covid hit really hard. I stopped being creative as the music industry shut down. I released a song in May 2020 and it just didn’t have the reach I thought it. I definitely lost my confidence a bit.

Coming home back to New Zealand was like this beautiful rebirth. A fresh start! It sparked my creativity back again and it brought so much joy back into my life. It was the perfect timing for YAHYAH to start cranking again!!!

It does feel different this time round, only because I am surrounded by cheerleaders of artists, producers and friends. Kiwis just get each other!! Similar upbringings and inside kiwi jokes. I haven’t lived in New Zealand for 15 years so that home country feeling when collaborating has been good for the soul.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PART OF CO-WRITING AND COLLABORATING WITH THE LIKES OF BAILEY BAUM AND FOLEY?

Bailey Baum is an artist I’ve worked with for quite a few years, I think since 2016. The best part about writing with Bailey is seeing her grow as an artist and a songwriter. We are very much collaborators when we work together and we are really good at reading each other’s minds. She’s such a great friend of mine so going on writing trips together and just kicking it in the studio is so always much fun.

FOLEY is so dreamy to work with! I was a fan of their work before jumping in the studio so it’s just a party when we’re together. I love those two to pieces!! Fan girl for sure.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING PART OF THE LOS ANGELES MUSIC SCENE?

Where do I start? I think it’s how quickly you become a part of a family. You’ll work with someone and then two days later they’ll text you and say come to my show, I’m playing drums for this person then through that one connection you can meet a whole family of friends. It’s infectious like that.

TALK US THROUGH THE BACKGROUND TO “LITTLE JOY” – IT’S A WARM, UPLIFTING AND NOSTALGIC TRACK THAT IS A REAL SUMMER BANGER. WHERE DID THE INSPIRATION COME FROM?

I have a solid group of girlfriends that I have in Los Angeles. We lived in a house in Silverlake together for over a year and it was the best time of my life. I know I have some amazing years ahead but we all say that this time together was very very special. Little Joy is about friendship. It’s about knowing who your ride or dies are no matter what. Little Joy is actually the name of a bar we used to go to in Echo Park. We have this ongoing joke that one of our friends Janna at one point used to ‘live there’ because she just loved it so much. The best music, the best vibe, the best cheap drinks and the best spot to be on the weekend.

HOW DID MOVING BACK TO NEW ZEALAND FACTOR INTO YOUR RELEASE PLANS? ARE YOU EXCITED TO BE BACK?

I originally planned to come back in January of this year for three months, hilarious .. it’s now September. I came back to feel refreshed and spend time with friends and family. I didn’t have music on the agenda at all. So the fact that it’s happened so naturally and I’ve been able to tap into writing and releasing Little Joy as well as a music video has been unreal! Heck yes I’m excited to be back! Seeing my family is the best ever, because for the last few years I haven’t lived close to them as they’ve all been in London. Being creative again with the most amazing crew of people was just meant to be

IN THE MIDST OF ALL THAT’S BEING GOING ON LATELY, WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO FIND PEACE, AND ‘LITTLE MOMENTS OF JOY’?

Oh! I love this question! I love to go on walks. It sounds basic I know I need those walks where I can get fresh air, breathe deep breaths, listen to my favourite music and just allow my mind to wander. It’s so crucial to me. My nephews are my everything to me and their laughter when we play together and we’re being silly brings me the biggest joy and not a little joy that’s for sure! The beach as well, oh my gosh I am such a beach baby I always have been. The sound of the ocean sends me into a trance. Just the perks of being home and living in the most beautiful country in the world.

WHAT ARTISTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY LISTENING TO, AND WHO ARE YOUR LONG-STANDING FAVOURITES?

This is such a tricky one! I love Charli XCX, Drake, Tame Impala, Remi Wolf, 070 Shake, LANY, Blood Orange, Justin Bieber, Doja Cat… too many to name!

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU ON THE MUSIC FRONT?

I’m sitting on my next single which I am itching to release but I have to tell myself that Little Joy has to have her moment in the limelight! I want to start performing! I wanna book gigs! I would love to get booked to play festivals next year. I’m just building my career and continuing to be proud of the music I am making and being true to myself. Having fun too. What’s life without fun?!! I can’t wait to see what’s next!

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