Finding music that quite literally takes you on a journey through a whole other world can be an absolute treat, allowing you to escape from normal day to day life to explore somewhere completely new. Female bass producer, Yoko, has created just this, opening up a whole new realm under the water with her forthcoming album Beneath the High Sea. This 10 track compilation has been highly anticipated by listeners all over, and today we are here to give you a taste of what is to come with its release. Our premiere “Mista Big” is a wild collaboration between Yoko and fellow bass artist Skinny Limbs, providing the perfect combination of bouncy beats, wubby synths and an all around wavey soundscape. You can practically picture yourself exploring the underwater depths while listening to this track! Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Mista Big (ft. Skinny Limbs)” and the rest of Yoko’s forthcoming album, a certified bop.
“This album represents a sonic journey through the ocean’s greatest depths and the furthest depths of my mind. These 10 tracks take you on an evolution of adventures manifesting from the light, dark, and everything in between. This project was made to embody the hero’s journey and the transformations that arise, without omitting the full array of emotions that coincide.”
Diving Deep w/ Yoko
1. How did you decide to get into music? Was there a certain event in your childhood/life that made you stop and realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?
I fell in love with music at a very young age due to the influence of my grandfather and his love for older music. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been enamored by 40s, 50s, 60s classical, jazz, and big band styles, my brother and I were the weird kids singing John Denver and Bobby Darin in 3rd grade. I think I truly knew I always wanted to pursue something in music, but it was just a matter of learning how to do so. I was always around instruments and collecting vinyl, and nothing could ever bring me the joy that music did, so I started to teach myself how to produce 5 years ago and never looked back.
2. It can be very hard sometimes to separate music from day-to-day life when it’s a huge part of your life. How do you personally separate your artist life from your everyday life, and have you faced any challenges doing so?
I have a plethora of hobbies that I enjoy escaping into that keep me well-balanced outside the music sphere. I think the easiest part is having such a greater group of friends around me that support me in whatever I pursue, and vice-versa. I find my balance within those relationships and most importantly celebrating/supporting my friends endeavors just as they support mine.
3. What has been the biggest difference you’ve noticed when first starting off as an artist vs now after experience playing events, doing releases etc?
The biggest difference for me has been the intention I put into my entire project. As I’ve continued to grow, I’ve tried to be as intentional as I can with my performances, my releases, and most importantly my presence as an artist. The “Yoko” project is meant to present so much more than just a fun night out, and I believe that over time, I’ve gained so much insight into the energy and change that I can truly put out into this world. I feel that I finally know how to translate my personal emotional states into something audible so that I can curate spaces for healing (in many forms) with my music, and I intend to dig into that for this next chapter of my project.
4. What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started making music? Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring producers hoping to follow in your footsteps?
The biggest lesson for me has been patience and transparency. As an aspiring producer, you can get lost in the sea of other voices and following currents of other artists sounds. The most important lesson to learn is to be patient with yourself, to not force yourself into a mold of someone else, and to listen to what your heart and mind truly have to say when it comes to writing music. Just because the specific style of music you want to make isn’t the most popular doesn’t mean you need to force yourself to follow the more crowded path. As an aspiring producer, you should be driven to share YOUR story, your true emotions, and the realities that exist in your mind. Stick to your truth, be patient with yourself throughout the learning process, and carve your own path.
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