YAZ steps into the spotlight with her debut EP ‘Wish You Were Here‘, a six-track project that blends sultry pop and smooth R&B, embodying both her evolution as an artist and her commitment to honest storytelling. Known for her catchy hooks and heartfelt lyrics, YAZ first made waves with the garage-inspired single ‘Mr. Valentine’, which quickly became a fan favourite. While that track was her breakthrough, ‘Wish You Were Here’ reflects a shift towards a more soulful, confessional pop.
Growing up in a household where music was ever-present YAZ developed a deep appreciation for both classic and contemporary R&B, which she instinctively weaves through her music. Her insular writing process often begins in her bedroom, where she turns personal reflections into relatable anthems for those seeking affirmation or a dopamine boost. With ‘Wish You Were Here’, YAZ establishes herself as a standout in the UK pop scene, creating a dreamy, quixotic soundscape.
As YAZ herself says, this EP is “just the beginning.”
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You’ve mentioned coming from a big family. What are some of your earliest memories of music, and how did those moments shape your love for it?
Well, my dad listens to a lot of Arabic music, so I definitely remember that. And my mum is such a huge music head. She was always listening to Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Destiny’s Child and Amy Winehouse – she had music on 24/7. On the way to school she would always play music, which is definitely a core memory for me.
You described the EP as feeling ‘like me in an mp3. It’s like pages lifted from my diary’. What made you want to put those personal experiences into an EP?
Writing for me is … I don’t know if this sounds cringe but it’s not really a choice. It’s just the way I process situations and my emotions, so it just kind of naturally happened. I don’t think I’ve ever gone to write a song and thought, “I want to talk about this super vulnerable experience.” It just kind of falls out, and it really is my diary. My favourite songs that I’ve made tend to be a bit more personal. I guess there are one or two songs on here that are the most vulnerable, but overall, I like making music that uplifts people. So it’s either coming from one of those two perspectives: just doing something for myself, or wanting to make a fun song.
Is there a different creative process for either type of song? Do you feel you have to put yourself in a different place to write something a bit more emotional compared to something more upbeat and uplifting?
With songs that come from my personal experiences, I tend to write them by myself. A lot of my music starts with me writing in my room, and then I’ll bring it to the studio. But I did write one song with my friend Orlando that’s not on this EP called ‘T-Shirt’. That’s the first time I’ve made such a vulnerable song with someone else, so I guess I’m coming out of my shell and able to write those more personal songs with others. Bouncing off other people can be great when you’re writing music. But I do approach both types of songs in the same way. When I was writing something like ‘American Girls,’ the most pop song on the EP, it had to have a bit more intention behind it. But overall, it’s the same process for me.
How would you describe the vibe of ‘Wish You Were Here’ in three words?
Honest. Production-wise, it’s quite dreamy. I’m just thinking about the production – the strings and the vocal arrangements sound kind of dreamy. Honest, dreamy and romantic.
‘Retrograde’ was the first track you released as part of this project. What’s the story behind that song, and why was it the one you chose to tease the EP with?
I feel my music before this EP was very garage and drum-and-bass-sounding, in that world. ‘Retrograde’ is actually the furthest song on the EP from that, and I wanted to take a step in a new direction and show, “this is what I’m doing now,” because it feels so different. That’s the only strategic reason, other than that I just love the song. I wrote it about being scared of your feelings and hiding behind astrology, blaming how you feel on astrological positions, star signs, and all that. Once I had “retrograde” in my head, building the song’s vocabulary was fun, and it kind of wrote itself in that way.
Going back to your debut track ‘Mr. Valentine’, you mentioned it was garage-inspired and your sound has now obviously evolved. What influenced this change to a more pop and R&B terrain?
The thing is, I was making pop and R&B music before I released ‘Mr. Valentine,’ so I feel like I’ve always had that as a sound in my mind. But ‘Mr. Valentine’ just kind of happened. I wrote it for someone else, and then I put it on TikTok, and it started doing well. With ‘Mr. Valentine’ and those earlier songs, you can hear that lyrics are important to me and there are elements of pop and R&B melodies. But I wanted to make music I can perform live and sing forever.
You’ve said that almost every idea for this EP was derived in your bedroom. How do you make your environment right for writing?
Once I feel like writing, I’ll just write. It doesn’t really matter where I am; I could be in my car, in bed, or even on the toilet. But sometimes, I’ll light a little candle.
You mentioned that your mum had you listening to artists like Aretha Franklin and Amy Winehouse. Who are some of your main musical influences?
I’ve always had phases of being totally obsessed with certain artists. When I was a kid, my mum introduced me to Jamiroquai, and I was obsessed with them for about six months. Then I went through a big Michael Jackson phase, and later, Amy Winehouse. I think Michael Jackson, even though you can’t necessarily hear it in my music, has been a huge influence on me. Ariana Grande inspires me a lot, and I used to be so into Britney Spears. And recently, I’ve been inspired by Victoria Monét and groups like SWV and Destiny’s Child. Those two girl groups were such an obsession of mine and definitely shaped my approach to music.
We’re approaching year-end. What’s next for you? Do you have any big goals for 2025?
My main goal is to start performing live. That’s a huge thing I’m looking forward to. I want to focus on training my voice and my performance skills so that I can really be present on stage and enjoy it fully. My confidence has grown a lot over the years. If you’d asked me when I was 13, I’d have said no way! But now, I’m so ready and excited for it.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about the EP?
I just really hope that whoever listens to it takes the time to dive in and feel those feelings with me. I want it to make people feel confident, happy, seen, and heard. I hope you enjoy it!
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‘Wish You Were Here is out today via APOLLO.
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Words: Myriam Boudine
