Yaz León reinforces a call for more exposure to femme producers and more emphasis on the female experience. Her new self-produced EP, ‘Bleach,’ navigates León through her self-described ‘sonic mental breakdown.’
In an exclusive chat with Noctis, Spniash-Iraqi singer/songwriter Yaz León discusses the level of sound experimentation that went into the recording process and the priority of not getting too comfortable in one genre.
‘Bleach’ and its artwork depict León’s defeat against herself, unrequited love, paranoia, and ego, also known as societally dominant sensations of the twenties. Themes of nostalgia and impending doom accompany León through her intriguing penship and masterful blend of indie, soul, hip-hop, and more.
What is your opinion on BRAT Summer and are you having one?
I’m quite messy and unstable anyway, so yeah, BRAT summaaaa
What are some of the essentials for your BRAT Summer?
Antidepressants and deodorant. Consider some armpit Botox !
Congratulations on the release of your new EP ‘Bleach.’ Could you tell us more what the title symbolises for you?
Well I’m quite known for changing up my hair every time there’s a minor inconvenience. So- considering the EP is a sonic mental breakdown, it made sense to name it something that pops up each time I need a change.
The cover art is a snapshot of a boxing gym with a body lying on the ground. Could you elaborate what is the backstory?
Well that’s me on the floor and I was knackered. ‘Defeated’ you could say… you could even say my imaginary opponent was unrequited love? Or myself ? Or life? Or my ego? Paranoia? Probably a bit of everything. Combined like the Megazord in Power Rangers.
Could you take us back to when you first played with the concept for ‘Bleach’? How did it evolve?
I was just focused on making a body of work but specifically without predicting the end sound. I had started experimenting with different genres and trying very hard not to get too comfortable in just one. Eventually, I had enough compositions to really put together a little project.
‘Bleach’ is a self-produced genre-blender. What was the recording process like?
Just did whatever I fancied in that moment.
What was your intention before going into the studio? (In terms of sound and themes)
Absolutely no sound in mind honestly, not consciously at least. I knew theme wise I was going to force myself to be uncomfortable, it had to have exactly what I got out of loads of the songs I love, nostalgia and a sense of impending doom and/or success, and definitely have my band involved. That’s it, really, the requirements were pretty small.
What are some pivotal personal discoveries you’re touching upon on ‘Bleach’?
That I need to stop romanticising things that haven’t happened, people aren’t psychic so say what you mean, and nobody is watching what you’re doing as much as you think. We’re all worried about ourselves. Also, kids are great examples and sometimes SSRIs are useful.
Can you recall a moment or a series of moments when you knew you wanted to pursue a career in music?
Nothing made me feel the way music did when I listened.
What are some obstacles of being a rising artist that people don’t usually see or know about
I’m not sure what rising artist means exactly, but I often get labelled as a singer which is meh, but that’s like 5% of what I do. I do think people could use some exposure to more femme producers because it’s a whole other medium for empathising and feeling the female experience. It’s an otherworldly way of seeing the world the way we do.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years? (Personally and professionally)
Slightly more stable (all-around) and well travelled. I’d like to do some big stages too… please…
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Words: Karolina Kramplova