YIIGAA: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL - INNER DAWN
Meet Yiigaa the Southeast Songstress, slowly navigating her way through the industry as she establishes her sound. Combining relatable and real emotions with feel good sounds that make you want to party, no matter the mood.
Creative + Words by COREE JAYVON
Photographs by DECLAN KELLY
Trousers, Senja by Maddie, Jacket, Jenn Lee, Shoes, The Vintage Studio
Hey Sis! Since I already know you, I thought we’d start off with a random fire round of questions so readers get a glimpse of what goes on in your head… the last thing you ate?
A party bag of leftover pizza, two for Tuesdays… which is quite out of character
The last show you watched on TV?
24 hours in police custody. I absolutely love crime documentaries when I’m not working and chilling… it’s a relaxing thing
Your latest obsession?
Lip gloss is my constant obsession. However, I did try lashes for the first time recently and that could be a new thing
Firstly, I can’t believe all the years we’ve known each other, this is the first time we have sat down to really talk about your music!
I think there’s something about being quite insecure when doing something creative because you don’t ever want to come across as if you’re being narcissistic and arrogant.. or even talking about your achievements.
It’s interesting because people with jobs not necessarily within the creative industry can talk about their jobs all the time, but there’s a weird inner feeling of showing off when it comes to talking about your own work in the industry.
I definitely get what you mean, I often feel cringed out when I share my work. Sometimes i’ll post once then never again haha.. it’s literally what we do.
I’ve definitely got more comfortable just talking about what’s going on.. and not feeling like people are going to judge
Photos above: Yiigaa wears Cardigan, Senja by Maddie, Top, Weekday, Skirt, Aramide, Shoes, Clarks Originals
When you first started putting music out there, I was definitely proud but also puzzled because I knew your potential but couldn’t help feel like you had more to give. What has changed from the first EP “MIST” to “INNER DAWN”?
When I first started making music, it was definitely from a features perspective… I was mainly singing on Neo-soul, lo-fi, almost study music. I got to a point with it where I was unexcited by what I was making and it became easy. I used to get a lot of love from that music and what worried me about going into more upbeat music was losing the authenticity and rawness. Inner Dawn is an exploration of being able to make something that makes people want to move regardless of how they feel, and going forward I definitely want to bring that with me.
Dress - Duppy Clothing, Hat, Jubel Studio
It’s crazy because the whole EP, I could play it when I felt like shit whilst simultaneously… flicking my batty in the corner. You’ve definitely brought over the emotions and lyricism from earlier EP’s to INNER DAWN.
Exactly. It was a double-edged sword because the people who knew me personally, I don’t think they understood the earlier sound. Whereas now, a track like closer… is literally my mind.
Let’s get into “INNER DAWN'“, What was the first song you worked on from that EP, and how did it come about?
The first song I worked on was Fool, the original Fool was this massive house track that was so generic. It was the first session I have ever done with Jordan. After making Closer and feeling like “yep, this is it” we got to revisit Fool and strip it back and establish the sound we wanted to create.
Have you got an absolute FAVOURITE track?
I think Closer because I remember making it and feeling like I genuinely wanted to cry. For so long I was describing this thing in my head that I couldn’t articulate. I love them all differently but Closer has that special place. I think it took 4 hours to make, whereas Fool took like.. a year and a half.
Jacket, Duppy Clothing
You really experimented with layering on the moonlight edition of “Fool”, name me some of your inspirations or favourite songs that are best known for layering?
Over time we were listening to a lot of different sounds and people that definitely inspire me now. Egypt and the funky house era, drum and bass, garage.. and then Cassie, Nelly Furtado. Also, what’s going on with pop and RnB now. So people like, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Raye, and even Rihanna.
In regards to writing the track “Fool”, What is the story behind it and does it still apply?
Fool is basically all about not losing yourself too much for another person. Feeling yourself drowning from the weight of someone else, your problems anything.. snapping out of it and being like “I won’t be a fool” The original version was more of a cry… whereas this version is more like a fuck you.
I remember the days in school you would sing in class and it would completely annoy the teachers, have you got anything to say to them now?
Remember when I first posted that video of me singing on Facebook and it was so funny because in school people would be like “shut up” then I put the video up and everyone was like “sing at my wedding!” It was definitely in a loving way though and not mean-spirited.
Your next single… It’s a hit! Can you give everyone a little teaser as to what is expected from the track?
I first wrote it on the piano and I just thought, I’m either going to sell this in a few years.. or it’s going to be mine. The only reason why it felt like something I would’ve sold, is because of my own self-doubt.
I feel like, with INNER DAWN, It has much more of an underground but appreciated sound. The single dropping in May has a mainstream element but with a spin of YIIGAA.
I’m just excited because it will empower a lot of people. Everyone goes through that feeling of self-doubt so I know it’ll definitely be relatable.
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TEAM CREDITS
Creative & Words - Coree Jayvon @coreejayvon
Photographer - Declan Kelly @_declankelly
Stylist - Joshua Meredith @joshuameredith
Stylist Assistant - Shanon Reynolds @shanreynolds_
Hairstylist - Nicole Kunaka
Makeup - Eliza Clarke @lizey.j