What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is YawnyBlew.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
YawnyBlew is a name I adopted when I realized I was taking my career too seriously and losing the joy that drew me to music in the first place. After taking a year off out of frustration, I wanted to return with a sense of freedom and fun. I had previously gone by Johny Blue—John being my first name and blue my favorite color. “Yawny” started as a joke in my Instagram comments because I was always sleepy after sessions, and “Blew” was inspired by the Fall Out Boy song “Tiffany Blews.” The name felt silly and like something that could grow with me as I figured out who I was. As I’ve evolved as an artist, YawnyBlew has represented whoever or whatever I need to be at different stages of my journey.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
My musical journey began with a deep love for singing and songwriting, spending years behind the scenes crafting songs for others. During the pandemic, I stepped into the forefront as an artist out of necessity to keep my work relevant while the world was closed. Since then, being an artist has opened up a much bigger world for me, where I get to explore everything from rapping and creative direction to music development, PR, content creation, and podcast hosting.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
My last release was a piano version of “Remember,” a song from my debut album Midnight in Brooklyn. Many tracks on that album started as demos for other artists, so they didn’t always feel fully mine. But “Remember” was special—it was one of the first songs I wrote after taking a break from music. For the two-year anniversary of my album, I reimagined the song as a piano ballad, which allowed me to strip it back, rework the production, and reclaim my voice. Drawing inspiration from Boyz II Men and PM Dawn, I was initially worried it might feel too dated, but it ended up becoming one of my highest streamed songs.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
If there’s one message I hope to convey, it’s that creating music is a gift, and I approach it with joy and gratitude. I want people to feel the fun, freedom, and empowerment that comes from my music. More than anything, I hope listeners feel seen and connected through what I create.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
As a songwriter first, production was always a world I didn’t fully understand, and I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible production partners. However, over the years, I’ve had to become more self-sufficient, which pushed me to explore my abilities as a producer and engineer. This year alone, I’ve produced over a dozen songs, engineered all my own sessions, and grown tremendously as a creative.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
This year, I’ve been especially inspired by women like Cleo Sol, Doechii, Tinashe, and Doja Cat. They’re doing incredible things sonically, and collaborating with any of them would be a dream. Childish Gambino is also on my list as he continues to push creative boundaries.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
In the next year, I see my music taking me further into the world of sync, where I can continue creating specifically for film, television, and video games. I also plan to release more music, perform more shows, and expand into public speaking and podcasting.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
My next big step is releasing Bouncy ‘n’ Pretty in early November. I’m also working on music development for META and plan to release a mixtape reflecting on recent experiences in January, followed by a full sophomore album in the spring.
Are there any other promotional opportunities you’re looking for to boost your visibility?
I’m open. Thanks so much for considering me for this Q&A.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
You can find me @YawnyBlew on all platforms.
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
info@yawnyblew.com or DM me on Instagram.
