In this interview feature, we get to know the most radicalist up and coming stars on the planet. 

This time we had a chat with Japanese-Canadian auteur Jonah Yano about his new album, souvenir.

We first featured Jonah Yano on TMR with the tender collaboration ‘shoes’ between the young musician and his father, which came about upon their reunion in Japan after a fifteen year separation. As you’ll read, Yano sheds more light on that song and how the album became a way for him to come to terms with that relationship in his life. Following that single, ‘strawberry!’ was next on our radar, which explores the artist’s identity as a Japanese person in Canada. This is something we also ask Yano about, particularly in relation to the lack of asian representation within the music industry. Overall, Jonah Yano is a calm presence with an ultimately humble attitude to his music and all the attention that his new album has received. Clearly, this is an artist determined that his music should speak for itself.

TMR: Congratulations on the release of your album! What was the significance of releasing souvenir on Father’s Day?

 Well for people like me whose father's situation isn't so nuclear, fathers day isn't generally much of a cause for celebration. so it's more or less a reclaiming of that day for me. It's now the day when I put out my first record. That feels good.

TMR: We witnessed through the DIY footage for your single ‘shoes’, the reunion between you and your father after fifteen years. Did you go to Japan with the intention of writing music or did it happen organically?

I should clarify that the song ‘shoes’ with my dad, was originally written by him like 20 years ago. It's a song about a pair of shoes he bought me when I was a kid. I just recorded english verses in the instrumental gaps, but yes, going to japan the plan was to write even more music with my dad and we jammed and stuff but we mostly just spent time catching up.



TMR: The response to the tracks that led up to thee record has been outstanding, with everyone from Highsnobiety to Fader to KCRW singing your praises. How have your received all this acclamation?

You know, all that stuff is cool but the attention isn't something I really consider anymore. I'm grateful for all the good press and the writers that have taken the time to write about my work or ask me questions but I try not to think too much about it. I don't want to get caught up in feeling some pseudo importance or something like that you know.

TMR: The most recent song to hit our radar here at TMR was ‘strawberry!’, a song about your identity as a Japanese person living in Canada. Has music helped you to navigate this?

I think in terms of my music, ‘strawberry!’ is my first attempt at using songwriting to explore that. I think there’s still a lot of ocean to navigate on that topic though.



TMR: There’s evidently a lack of representation for Asian creatives in the music industry, although have you begun to see a change for the better in recent years?

I mean over the last couple years it's been changing in terms of representation for asian people in music, but just representation alone isn't necessarily a change for the better. Representation has to come along with normalization and actual opportunities for it to mean anything. Hopefully, we see more asian artists being taken seriously over the next few years. Actually, hopefully we see more non-white people in the world of music in general.

TMR: ‘Strawberry!’ was also a collaboration with the familiar name Monsune, and so we’re wondering which other Canadian artists and producers you’d love to collaborate with?

I really want to make music with an artist in montreal who goes by Sea Oleena (among other names). We have been friends for a little bit, but I've never had the chance to make tunes with them, so Charlotte if you end up seeing this, text me and let's jam sometime

TMR: Let’s get to a groovy little number by the name of ‘delicate’. It’s a daydramy departure into an imagined future which is reminiscent of BADBADNOTGOOD, who you collaborate with on the Nervous EP. Did that experience leave an impression on you and your music for this album?

Actually, they're on this album a bit too! Leland of BADBADNOTGOOD helped me with a few of the songs on the record and Alex played drums on the song ‘anywhere’. Those guys are huge inspirations to me in music and also in life. Great people all around.

TMR: As well as funk and dream-pop, there’s so many genres woven into souvenir, such as krautrock, singer-songwriter, jazz and soul. Would you say that these are musical souvenirs from your life thus far?

Yeah all these songs, and genres, articulate different memories and stories that I'm trying to tell on this record. No two things are the same ya know?



TMR: For someone who has never heard of Jonah Yano before, which song would you recommend for them to listen to first?

Just to throw them for a loop, I'd ask them to listen to "what i can do to help" first. I think the population of people on earth that might enjoy that song is a small group of people, but I want those people who would like it to find it.

TMR: Looking to the future, what else do this rather strange year have in store for you?

I think it's very much to be determined. However, I've just got an air conditioner, so you can be sure that no matter what happens at least my apartment will be at a comfortable temperature. 

By Hannah Thacker