Written interview with Japanese pianist and composer Yoko Yates and her new album – Eternal Moments. Above photo by Courtesy Kimberly M. Wang.
Jazz Blues European Union: – Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with Jazz Blues EU. Tell us about your music. When did you start performing?
Yoko Yates: – As a child, I performed in student piano recitals. When I was in high school, I played in several rock and blues bands and started performing semi-professionally at jazz and blues/rock venues during my college years in Japan.
What do you consider to be your hometown and how does that affect your music?
My hometown is Sapporo, Japan. Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido island, known for its natural beauty and long, snowy winters. When I was a child, Sapporo was surrounded by lush nature, and my experiences with the natural environment and seasonal changes left me with many memories, images, and feelings. These often became the themes of my compositions.
What performers have been your inspiration?
Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, the Rolling Stones, Steve Wonder, and many more.
What do you find most challenging about being an independent artist in today’s music industry?
I have been living in New York for a few decades and have enjoyed great music and various forms of marvelous art, which continue to inspire me. However, the cost of living here is very high, and I feel the challenge of balancing time for my music with time for making a living.
What do you base your success on?
Years of writing and performance have enabled me to compose pieces that convey my intentions and resonate with my listeners’ hearts or leave a lasting impression, which I consider a measure of success.
Can you talk about your experiences collaborating with other artists or musicians? How does it influence your creative process?
It is so inspiring and fulfilling to collaborate with other artists!
When I compose pieces, I try to hear which instrument is suitable for each part in the early stages and arrange the piece accordingly. At the same time, this album’s producer, Scott, and the quintet members: Jamie, Sam, Aryeh, and Jeff can often give me new/different ideas to make the parts more convincing, meaningful, or expressive. They are wonderful, sometimes eye-opening experiences, from which I learn and grow as a composer.
I feel so fortunate that they almost always understand the intention of my compositions and play great solos and parts on them, which makes the pieces more colorful and significant (beyond my expectations)!!
Receiving input from other members absolutely stimulates my creative process and provides me with such joy and excitement.
What was your latest musical release?
The album, “Eternal Moments,” is my latest release this September.
Do you have any news to share? Could you share the story behind your latest new CD Yoko Yates – Eternal Moments and what inspired its creation?
We had a fantastic full-house album release concert with an enthusiastic crowd. I received so much support and appreciation for my music, and I felt profound gratitude toward the guests, band members, and everyone who helped produce this album.
All the compositions included in this album are about moments in my life that evoked strong feelings or vivid images. They are so memorable that I haven’t forgotten them for a long time. That’s why I named the album “Eternal Moments.”
How does your latest album fit into your creative path? Is this a goal you wanted to achieve?
My first album, “Mystic Life,” was written from childhood experiences that left a strong impression. “Eternal Moments” was inspired by more recent events and matters, and expresses more emotional complexity and depth.
For me, creating music is similar to making visual art, as I have studied both. Working with visuals that evoke strong feelings often serves as the starting point for my compositions. I try to view the images from different angles and express them, while also weaving in feelings and emotions. The musical elements I use are like paints, clay, or other art materials. I approach both painting and music composition with nearly the same mindset. Sometimes either visual images or feelings come first, but soon the associated emotions or images come to me naturally, creating a musical expression that is true to me. An expression that depicts complex feelings that I can’t express in words is central to my art making, and I don’t restrict my compositions to a specific musical style or genre.
How do you approach the process of songwriting, and are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music?
Different feelings or emotions about my experiences or events in my life motivate me to write. They often lead me to create visual images, and I compose music inspired by both the images and emotions. Sometimes I encounter inspiring images first, then start telling a musical story that captures the emotions I felt when I saw them.
When I practice the piano, I also discover some musical ideas and develop them by connecting with my feelings and the images coming alongside.
Photo by Courtesy Erika Kapin
As an indie musician, how do you navigate the balance between creative freedom and commercial appeal?
I had never considered it until I saw this question. My primary goal is not “commercial appeal”; I follow my intent in composition, usually portraying my emotions and/or images that also evoke feelings. I try to stay true to myself and do my best to express my ideas through creative freedom, allowing my compositions to adopt any style and fit into any musical genre. I hope that this creative freedom will let my music reach a broader audience.
What role does technology and social media play in promoting your music and connecting with your audience?
I learned to use the computer during my graduate studies, so I am still learning and not entirely comfortable using it. However, I have been noticing how technology continues to change the music world.
A great thing is that we can easily share music worldwide, which was probably impossible until a few decades ago. I have my music distributed on digital platforms (Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon, etc.). I announce new albums, single releases, and concerts through social media and my website, but I usually don’t have enough time to manage social media thoroughly— sometimes just the minimum. I am constantly struggling to find time for my music amid teaching and social media duties.
Could you describe a memorable live performance experience or tour that has had a lasting impact on you and your music?
Performance is something miraculous. Although we rehearse, we just focus on the structure of each piece and leave room for creative freedom during the concert, guided by our jazz minds.
Sometimes melodies or solos evolve unexpectedly, influenced by the mood of each artist, band, or venue, or simply by chance. These moments are both surprising and exhilarating. Performing
in front of an audience often motivates me to see how my composition can be modified and
sparks new ideas.
Jamie, Sam, Aryeh, and Jeff are such talented, experienced artists with a wealth of ideas and
creativity. Playing with them is very stimulating, fun, and educational!
At the concerts, I feel a strong connection with the audience and see that they understand and
appreciate our devotion to the music. This gives me great joy!
In an era of streaming platforms, how do you feel about the changing landscape of music consumption and its impact on independent musicians?
It is definitely tough for artists who depend on streaming for their income. Since this has been
the norm in the music industry, like everything else in our modern lives, I had to adapt to it from
my debut. The good news is that we can now share our music worldwide so easily in such a
short time, which still amazes me. While I hope streaming services will eventually pay us more
fairly for our efforts, I am just happy if as many people as possible can access my music and
find value in it!
Besides streaming, I am still interested in creating physical albums of my projects, including
cover art (both inside and outside) and liner notes, if possible. These would showcase all my
original ideas, such as the track order and visual images I envision for my music. I care deeply
about the cover design as a crucial part of expressing my art. This feeling might be similar to
what novelists experience when publishing their works in both digital and print formats.
Musicians often have a close relationship with their fanbase. How do you engage with your fans and build a dedicated community around your music?
I started meeting guests I don’t know personally, but who come to concerts to listen to my
music. After the concert, they greet me and share their impressions of the show. At that
moment, I feel very grateful to them, as well as to my long-time friends and students’ families,
for their strong support of my music. I really enjoy the personal conversations with my fans after
concerts or via email.
I have been using social media, my website, and email to inform people about my concerts and
musical activities. I’m considering additional ways to connect with those who enjoy my music
soon.
How can fans find you? Lastly, please share some final words with the fans.
The best place to find my musical activities will be my official website: https://yokoyates.com/ I am also on YouTube.
Thank you so much for listening to my music and supporting me in all the ways you do! I truly appreciate your warm hearts! I am very happy if you find meanings and enjoyment in my music. I will continue to write and perform to add comfort and a little spice to your lives!
By Olivia Peevas; Photo by Courtesy Erika Kapin.
