MWN: Hi how are you, can you introduce yourselves for me and tell me about yourself ?
Yoshi Flower: Spendid! Yoshi Flower, Aka lil yoyo, aka flower child.
MWN: Tell me about your latest single “Dirty Water” and what inspired it?
Yoshi Flower: Dirty water is a really good example of my approach to writing and producing, it’s not too rigid thematically, the production is pretty eclectic, there’s 808’s, slide bass, program drums, live drums, live guitar, sample guitar. Topically it’s about relationships and love but I wrote it in the midst of retouching upon the flint water crisis back in michigan where i’m from, i’m from detroit. It was really natural, my music is an extension of myself really. I can only really speak on what i’m observing, what i see my friends and myself going through. It’s nothing to grandiose, it’s not really trying to pinpoint some demon that exploded, it’s just me as a vessel while i’m here.
MWN: Is this your first time performing at SXSW? How do you feel?
Yoshi Flower: Yeah, first time in Austin and for SXSW, I’m a virgin haha. People are really nice, there are parts of it that remind me of Detroit alot and that’s comforting. I’m grateful that people love music so much. You can cook to it, make love to it, break up to it, it’s the wallpaper of our society usually. But here it’s the focus of it and it’s cool to be in a space where that’s the vibe.
MWN: Who are some of your influences, anyone that inspires you or musical artists?
Yoshi Flower: My mom, MLK Jr, Bruce Lee, more like thinkers. I love artists but i’m not the type of musician that hears something and tries to replicate it. One of my favorite bands is the Arctic Monkeys i’m sure they listen to The Strokes, and i’m sure the strokes listen to Iggy Pop and i’m sure Travis listens to Kanye and all these new homies listen to Mac Demarco. You can’t listen to my music and be like he must’ve listened to this person. Sometimes it sucks from like a commercial standpoint because i don’t have anybody to just attach myself to but at the same time i really don’t give a f*ck because that’s not why i make music.
MWN: If there was anyone who wanted to follow your footsteps what would you tell them?
Yoshi Flower: I would listen, I want to make people feel like they’re safer to be themselves when they’re with me. Today in the art world there’s so many different ways that you can feel fullfilled or help other people consume your art in a positive way. I don’t have much advice just keep making music and people will keep hearing it.
MWN: Thanks for your time!
By: Michael Perea | Exclusively for @Music, Why Not!