Photo by: Luis Gonzalez
Ysa is a Nashville based alternative Rock/R&B artist/songwriter/producer. Although super versatile, Ysa’s focus leans in on R&B/pop. She has had placements on The Kardashians on Hulu, MTV’s Jersey Shore, Love Island,Netflix’s Selling Sunset, andSelling the OC. You can catch her as the guitarist in the newTV show "Monarch" on FOX, set to premiere in September 2022. Ysa is steady producing and releasing tracks throughout this year in preparation for her full length project in the Fall. Her next single comes out May 19th, called "Sorry For Ya".
Thank you for taking this interview! How has the New Year been for you so far as an artist?
Hey! Excited to be doing this. 2022 started off crazy, and it's just been going going going. I started off the year in Poland and then went to Prague. I was doing a fellowship, and it was so inspiring and eye opening. Those experiences really influenced the music I'm making now.
Can you tell us how you've transformed from the beginning to now as an artist?
It's been such a journey. Not only finding what I have to say, but also my sound. As a producer, starting out, say 4 years ago, I was only as good as the music I was producing for myself. Now I work with a lot of collaborators, but especially starting out I was stubborn as hell, and wanted to make all my music myself. in hindsight it made me fucking good, but lets just say there a vault of trash soundcloud songs i'm never showing anyone.
How did you come up with your latest project?
My new single "Sorry For Ya" that comes out May 19th is one I wrote with the homies Tony Esterly and Case Arnold. Both are local Nashville cats. Case is an amazing rapper, songwriter, and Tony is an insane producer. I write with Case a lot and we really connect on flows and melodies. I was kind of feeling cynical about how my last relationship ended and basically pitched this idea to the boys and we ran with it. It's a fun track because I basically just talk my shit on it.
Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in a little beach town under Daytona Beach, Florida.
Where do you live now?
Now I live in Nashville, TN. But I split my time between here, Atlanta, and New York between my modeling gigs, writing, and playing shows.
Do you think where you live impacts how your music is made?
Hmmm, I'm not sure. I think where I grew up influences my music and sound a lot. I'm not sure if Nashville influences my music though.
What was the inspiration to make music your career?
I went to school for Audio Engineering in Florida and knew that I wanted to be making music for a living. My goal was that, if I got to produce, or write, or play music everyday, my life would be fulfilled, so however I could make money doing that, I would. I wanted to move to Orlando and just start working at a friend's studio, but my mom really wanted me to get a degree. My school in Daytona had a connection to Belmont in Nashville, so I moved up here and finished my degree. That was in 2018, and moving here was when I first realized that I could possibly make money being an artist and just writing songs. That thought hadn't occurred to me before. After finding out that that was an option, I've been hustling on both fronts since, the artist side and production side of music.
How do you want to shape your career?
Damn. That's a hard question. I'm letting the Universe and God shape it for me. I just know that I can play a few instruments, rhyme some words, and work on a computer in the studio. Singing on stage to an audience is also, like, the most fulfilling I've ever felt, so playing shows and touring is something I'm looking to expand and shape.
Do you work on a tight timeline always or do you go with the flow when it comes to your music?
Hmmm, not gonna lie, I've been in hustle mode for a while now. It's exciting that the world is opening back up, and I feel like I have so much to say. So I write a lot. But I don't think I'm putting pressure on myself to do so. like if I was homeless and had no money, I would probably be doing the same shit, just with less instruments around me. haha, but I don't have a super strict release schedule. I'm just trying to be consistent with my content and music, and make sure that it's at a pace I can keep up with and not feel burnt out.
How did your latest title of your music come to be?
So the title for "Sorry For Ya" came about because I was talking to Case (writer) about a relationship that didn't work out and basically said, "I'm not even mad, or sad anymore, like I just feel bad for the dude. Like I feel sorry for him that he missed his chance" .... and the title wrote itself from here.
Is it hard to let go of the music when it is done?
Haha. Honestly it's the opposite. It's hard for me to sit on music. I couldn't imagine huge artists like Lizzo or. Doja Cat who have really long album cycles and have to wait a year to put out music they are stoked on. Thats the beautiful thing about being an independent artist, I can just release whenever.
Do you feel an emotional attachment to your music?
Absolutely. That's why it feels so incredible to release music into the world. It's like an emotional rush everytime.
How would you describe your music in one word to someone who hasn't listened to it yet?
I'm gonna get so much shit for this answer, but probably "Vibey"
Where do they go to listen NOW?
Boom.
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ysa/knew-youd-never-change
What has been the best fan reaction to your music?
One time a girl told me after a show that my music felt like walking down the street in high heels after getting out of a toxic relationship, and I was like 1) "Yooo that's fire, but also 2) Girl, are you ok?!"
Is there anything exciting coming up for you?
So many things! I'm dropping "Sorry For Ya" May 19th and playing a release show here in Nashville that night at Bento rooftop. You can get tickets here. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/neon-sky-series-tickets-322414098247. Then I'm heading to Israel in June for a month and I'll be writing over there, and playing a show in Tel Aviv. It'll be my first international show!!
Are you performing the song anywhere LIVE?
Yes! May 19th is the release show put on by Neon Leaf Media, you can get tickets at the link above.
Give us all your socials and links so fans can link up with you!