Yonny Reflects on Recent Success & Putting on For His City

Photo credit: Emery Lemos

Not too long ago, we introduced you to Yonny, a Seattle-based rapper/songwriter making major waves in music and culture. Aside from remaining humble and devoted to his craft, Yonny stands out in his deeply rooted storytelling and desire to represent, plus build Seattle’s music scene. Since he’s fresh off the deluxe release of his sophomore album, Everywhere, But Always, it made perfect sense to connect with Yonny for a new Hype Off Life interview.

During our chat, Yonny touched on his decision to sign with Warner's subsidiary label Free Lunch, his creative motivations and his team’s contributions to his recent success, plus how the new tracks on Everywhere, But Always conclude the project’s story. Tap in with the full interview below.

You've had an amazing year, most notably releasing the deluxe version of Everywhere, But Always. How are you feeling about the release?

Oh man, it's honestly been so good coming back with music after so long. I didn't realize how long it's been, but we basically put out that deluxe around the same time I put out the original project. So, it's been a cool year since then. Coming back with something new for everybody and also having something that new people can find me with has just been great. It's just really a lot of gratification in that.

That's dope. So, the project had a whole year to breathe. What did the bonus tracks add to the project story?

I think we really were really trying to figure out how to tell this story from when it first came out to now. Basically, all that's happened and a lot of those songs on there, the new songs, a lot of 'em really do tell that middle part of this story. It's almost like when you finish a book and it's got that little bit at the end. That's what these songs honestly did, show that ending piece to really wrap everything up. It was feelings that I had immediately after we put out the project that had thoughts about coming down to LA and having these talks with these labels. And then it was a lot of stuff like that that was spoken about within those new songs that I think were really necessary.

You did a good job on those. Speaking of talking with the labels, what made you decide to go with Warner?

Man, it was a long process of just having calls with Free Lunch. That's the subsidiary label that I'm with under Warner. And at that point in time we were having, it is weird. When one label reaches out all of a sudden a bunch do, and at that time that was kind of what was going on. For some reason, every other conversation felt very similar, but when they came around, they had a story behind their name and what that represented and the fact that they're new for the most part meant that they were hungry. It was something that I was like, dang, I feel like that's a refreshing thing to hear. It also makes you feel like they're going to care a lot too. And that's exactly what it's been like this whole time. So, it just felt like the right move. We didn't rush it either. It took a while before we came to that conclusion. But, it always just felt like a good gut move to do.

Yeah, you always have to go with your gut on everything, and it is never wrong. What's your favorite song from the deluxe project, and why?

Man, I think it really does change a lot, but I think at least right now my favorite song is probably I Am. That is probably my favorite just because it really comes from such a raw place and whenever I hear it, I can instantly picture all the images in it because it's just life's out here from where I'm from. That song has a lot of meaning to me, so it's probably my favorite.

If you could describe who you are in three words, what would they be?

That's a great question. One for sure is curious, in a non-corny way. Creative is one. And appreciative or maybe something that could resemble that. I really am thankful for what I'm able to do every day and that goes just beyond music and everything. I don't take none of it for granted. So, that's kind of just how I live my life every day.

Yeah, that'll take you far in practicing gratitude because if you don't appreciate anything, you're not going to get more of it.

Right, exactly. I feel like that's a good way to be.

What's the overall message you wanted listeners to take away from the project when you were creating it? Did you have something in mind that you wanted people to feel or to think?

Man, I think what's really beautiful about that project is that when I was making it, it was really just me and all my closest friends coming together and being like, let's try to tell our story and do it how we want to do it. And just whoever messes with it, messes with it.

But at the end of the day, we just want to do this for us. And it's the fact that that resonated with so many people so far has been incredible to see and to get the messages that I'll get from people every now and then, just being like, man, this did a lot for me.

That's the stuff that I originally started this for. It was because I was that dude that was listening to music when I needed that kind of comfort or something that I could relate to for what I'm going through. So, to be able to do that is insane. And that's really what is the best part about all of it for me.

That's very true. Do you read books a lot?

Man, when I was younger I did. I don't read as much as I should nowadays, but I was always the one that was reading fiction books and everything, I love the stuff that's just out the box and it makes your brain wander off. I like doing that with the music too. It's got that realism in there, but also you can drift off and picture some other world. You know what I mean?

Yeah. I believe good music tells a story and it is so vivid in your mind you can see it like you're reading a book.

Absolutely. Music is alive. It does that.

Your core mission is to elevate Seattle's music scene and tell Seattle's resident stories. You're doing a really good job at doing it. Why is it important for you to stay true to your roots while expanding worldwide?

Worldwide? I think that's really the best way to, for one, put your city on that map or that global view for people to see, okay, there is stuff going on over there. But also it's like, for me growing up I didn't really know too much other than the legends that we got. We got Nirvana, we got Macklemore, and all that. But for me, really in a Hip Hop space, there ain't too many people you can really use out here versus in LA Hip Hop culture that is so grand and so rich in history.

There's definitely been a shift currently out here where there's been a lot of new upcoming talent and it feels like we're a part of something historical, this could be the beginning of this new generation of Hip Hop music over here. And with that being known, it makes it even more important to be like, we really got to do this because we want that next person that sees that over here to be like, oh, I could do that too, and really be able to chase that. So yeah, super important.

Speaking of worldwide domination, you've been doing some big things like performing at Capitol Hill Party and being a guest on the Ebro Show. What do you attribute to your success so far?

Man, I think it's all over the place, to be honest. I know for a fact, in the most general sense, it's just the people I got around me that I work with. I'm really blessed to have a team of people that I can call friends, and it's always been that way from the jump, which is, I know not the usual case. So that's for sure one.

Two, definitely utilizing social media was a big thing. I remember I really wanted to be on my mysterious artist tip for a minute on Instagram and TikTok, and then I finally realized that that's not really the move and being open on there and everything and really marketing yourself, that's super important. If you're not doing it, who else is going to do that? So, that was another big thing that I got a lot of my recognition from. Just having videos and whatnot, just going crazy on IG and all that.

2026 is around the corner. Do you have anything coming fans should be excited about?

Yeah, we've been working really hard on what this next thing is going to be and doing this deluxe was nice. It was given some buffer in between that, but we've been working on gathering this next project, and what it's going to sound like, and how it's going to look. It's stuff that I've for sure have never really thought about before until getting to this point.

But it's just having all these pieces intricately thought about and it'll all make the overall project just so much better. So, that's been that, just working on figuring out every part of this next thing. Then when it's ready to go, it's like a full package.

What gets you Hype Off Life?

Honestly, just getting up and getting to enjoy another day. This is what does that for me. I'm going to be honest at this point, with everything that's been going on, I find the little things as enough for me to be happy about. I used to pray for being able to have this be my life. And I still remember those days because they weren't that long ago. So, the fact that it is reality now is enough for me to get Hype Off Life.