FEATURE:
Spotlight
Yasmin Hass
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THIS is a truly wonderful artist….
that everyone needs to hear! Yasmin Hass is someone I only recently discovered, though she is somebody I am now very much invested in. Born in Melbourne, Yasmin Hass-Sinclair was raised in London by her German mother and Jamaican father. The stunning Yasmin Hass is influenced by powerful, beautiful and eclectic sounds she was experiencing growing up. From Luther Vandross and Angie Stone to Eva Cassidy and Leonard Cohen, you can feel shades and elements of them in her musical blood and DNA. With a unique sound, Hass also has real affection in the important artists that she was exposed to when she was younger. With her debut E.P., Worst of Me, recently out, there are a lot of new eyes and ears on this phenomenal artist. I am going to get to some interviews with this very special artist. I want to head back to August. That is when oyuna interviewed an artist that, once heard, can never be forgotten:
“You have a rich cultural background. Do you draw upon this in your songwriting, and, if so, how?
It‘s definitely influenced my music taste and songwriting. For me it’s important I draw on the eclectic genres I listened to growing up, weaving them into one another, to hopefully create my own sound. As culturally, the music from both sides of my background are quite different, but I think they compliment each other in the best ways.
What are your "desert island discs" (pick 3, and tell us how they've influenced your life / music / style and why!)
Resolution - by Matt Corby: I listened to it with two of my best friends pretty much on repeat for 2 hours, when we were on holiday. After that, anytime I needed to escape on my own and not be able to physically, I’d play that song on repeat for a while.
Something’s Coming - West Side Story: Stephen Sondheim is my favourite lyricist. This song represents that thrilling feeling, when you know something is about to change in your life for the better, or you’re on the brink of something creatively/personally that you know has exciting potential.
Tonight - West Side Story: It has to be from West Side Story twice for me. This is one of my favourite love songs of all time!
What inspired your hit song, “Goodbye”, which has over 1MM streams?
I wrote Goodbye at a time when I knew I needed to end a relationship, as it was no longer serving either of us in the way that it should’ve been, or had been in the beginning. So eventually I had to face the confrontation I’d been avoiding and set a boundary, by putting myself first, whilst knowing I was nervous of the change it would bring.
We know you take a hand in your own creative direction, eg. your album covers and photoshoots. As a model, you've been on many, and as a singer you can now have more of a voice in your own direction. Tell us about what inspires you visually, during this process?
It can be anything from overhearing a conversation on the tube one morning, from a painting in a gallery, a character in a book, or a lightbulb moment as I’m drifting off to sleep. Film and theatre I also find helpful to spark something visually inspiring. And then of course, Pinterest. Slightly addicted to pinning things I find!
How is your "on stage" style different from your everyday style? Or is it not?
To be honest I haven’t quite figured out my style on stage yet. I go with how I’m feeling on the day, but so far it’s been very relaxed and similar to my day to day wear. But I definitely want to experiment some more, as I love fashion.
What artists have personally influenced you recently? List some of your favourites, and why?
Paolo Nutini’s a big inspiration of mine. I absolutely love everything about his music. And Leif Vollebekk’s another one. His melody’s and piano playing I could listen to for hours.
Yasmin wrapped in a SEREN Throw in pumpkin.
When do you feel most authentically yourself?
Definitely when I’m making music. It forces me to think about my truths and what I have/want to say”.
I am going to get to a couple of recent feature/interviews around Yasmin Hass. DIY spoke with Yasmin Hass back in November. Speaking with an artist who recently signed to the Cool Online label, they were intrigued by as-yet-unreleased E.P., Worst of Me. It was fascinating discovering more about Hass’ early music memories and some of her influences:
“Yasmin Hass isn’t a complete newbie to the industry, having put out a run of singles between 2021 and 2022. Feeling frustrated by her then-management’s push to pigeonhole her into a stereotypical R&B box, she took some time off releasing before returning in stunning fashion with instant earworm ‘Cleo’. Drawing on childhood influences as diverse as Nina Simone, Nick Cave, and musical theatre (not to mention her family connections to gospel and Bob Marley), she’s primed to enter a new era with the arrival of her forthcoming debut EP ‘Worst Of Me’ - a project which encompasses indie pop, soulful lyricism and electronic flourishes to examine the insecurities and uncertainties of your early twenties. We caught up with Yasmin ahead of its release to find out more…
What's your earliest musical memory?
Listening to my Mum practicing singing at the piano, then my sister and I always joining in. We’d request a Disney song every time, without fail.
What's the first song you developed an obsession for, and why?
‘Colours of the Wind’ from Pocahontas. I loved everything about the lyrics and melody. When I was younger I wouldn’t have thought about the message it portrays, but it is such an important one.
You'll be putting out your debut EP 'Worst Of Me' via the soon-to-be-announced label Cool Online. Can you tell us a bit more about the recording process?
Ah, I’ve had such a fun time recording this EP! I wrote both ‘Cleo’ and ‘Alexander’ with Ed Thomas (Jorja Smith, Stormzy), Ross MacDonald (The 1975) and Ed Allen. ‘Cleo’ was our first session together and it’s inspired by one of my best friends, who I grew up with. I debriefed them on what was going on in my life, which involved me feeling quite stuck in London at the time and Cleo’s decision to move to Lisbon after a break up. Then we got down to writing it! Oh, and a pizza break was crucial before I started recording the vocals.
Alexander’ was a similar process and I remember thinking about early on in a relationship, when you start to trust one another enough to begin unveiling parts of yourself you’re scared of showing. Then I actually wrote ‘Maybe’ with Jonah Summerfield (Dylan Fraser, Holly Humberstone) before lockdown. I’d come out of a relationship and was so unsure on what I wanted, as my ex had come crawling back a few months later (a classic), so I decided to write the second half of the song from his perspective. And when Ross produced it, it took on this new energy that I just loved.
You've got familial connections to Australia, London, Jamaica, and Germany. How do you think these different cultures and identities inform your work?
Being born into these cultures and backgrounds means I’m lucky enough to have been influenced by so many different musical styles growing up. I think this is why I found it challenging at first, in my musical journey, figuring out what kind of music I wanted to create in terms of genre, as I’m influenced by so many. But I’ve realised I can use it to my advantage, as one's artist project doesn’t have to be as black and white as sometimes I feel the industry wants it to be. As long as I’m proud of what I’ve written, that’s enough. I can have a level of playfulness and fluidity in my music, which I think only adds to the allure.
Are there any other artists breaking through at the moment that you take inspiration from?
Olivia Dean! I love her voice and music so much. During lockdown she saved my sister and me - we’d have her music on repeat. I also love that she’s constantly smiling on her social media, it’s so refreshing”.
I am going to end with a feature from CLASH. They saluted Yasmin Hass as a next wave artist who is going to have a long future. With Worst of Me out in the world, it is a very exciting time for the Australian-born artist. If you have not heard her music yet then do make sure that you check her out:
“If there’s an element of theatre in new EP ‘Worst Of Me’, she argues, then that’s all the better. She’s continually absorbing new influences, continually learning, and sharpening her skills. “I feel so lucky to live in London, to be around so many different cultures, people, food, art. The more I explore, the more I immerse myself, the more it rubs off, in the best way. Lots of my lyrics I’ve written on the tube, or walking to the studio, I seem to love writing on the move. My surroundings and this city definitely inspire me and act as a catalyst to my ideas.”
Sitting down with not one but two powerhouse producers, the sessions behind the EP hinged on pure enjoyment. Taking it in her stride, Ross MacDonald and Ed Thomas augmented her vision, but never interfered. “We’d write, chat for ages and mess around with different ideas. They made me feel incredibly comfortable and it’s always such a joy to bounce ideas back and forth. I love how collaborative our sessions are and there’s always so much to learn from the both of them.
With her new EP out now, most artists could be excused from putting themselves through the creative process for a while. Not so with Yasmin Hass, however – more work is in the pipeline, including live shows and a follow-up EP. “There’s a second EP on its way,” she gushes, “with the first single out in March. I’ve written so much music over the years, which is finally coming out. I’m so excited to share it! It’s been such a humbling experience to see my music being streamed and I’m grateful to all of my listeners, thank you for the support. Hopefully I’ll see you all at my first headline show in June! Can’t wait”.
Go and spend some time with the brilliant music of Yasmin Hass. I am sure there will be an album coming out in the next year or two. If you are new to her music, then it is a perfect time to dive into the Worst of Me E.P. I hope that there are tour dates later in the year, as I would love to catch her in London. There is no doubt that Yasmin Hass is one to watch. A phenomenal talent that is going to very far, make sure that her music…
IS in your ears.
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