We recently connected with Yalene and have shared our conversation below.

Yalene, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I released my brand new single ‘Right Now’ on August 30, 2024. It’s been such a special experience because this was the first song that I wrote for someone else. Usually, my music is quite self-reflective and indicative of my own thoughts and feelings. The purpose of this song is to uplift a friend of mine who was going through a tough circumstance. They were having a bad day at the end of a really hard month, and I wanted to comfort them and make them feel that everything would be okay. Though we were living in separate cities at the time and I was trying to make them feel better on FaceTime, what I really wanted to do was drive to their house, hug them tight, and take them out for their favourite mango drink.

Since having released the song, I’ve seen this song comfort so many other people– including myself. When I’m having a bad day, I think of this song being written for me. We all deal with our mental health, and no one is exempt from the ups and downs of caring for it. So I love this song because I get to share a beautiful self-love moment with everyone.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Yalene and I’m a pop, alternative-R&B singer and songwriter from Toronto. I was inspired to pursue a career in music as a young girl listening to the self-empowering and unapologetic, yet, intimate lyrics of female pop singers. I fell in love with Britney Spears and Lana Del Rey who opened doors to a new world of womanhood that I had yet been exposed to. They inspired me to reflect on my feelings and life experiences and transform them into art.

I began performing covers at local festivals and open mics and soon began writing my own songs on the piano to share my stories. I wanted to make music that transports people to another space, where they can tap into their most vulnerable thoughts and feel safe listening to my music.

I’m proud of the music that I released thus far and will be releasing later this year. I spent my entire girlhood dreaming about the records I have made and going to be putting out. I have put my entire heart into this craft of being an independent recording artist. It was important to me that every aspect, whether it be the lyrics, the production, the engineering, was in tune with the vision I had for the song. I wanted people listening to the song to feel as I did when writing the songs.

Since releasing music in 2021, I have released two EPs and numerous singles on streaming services. My music centers around falling in love, heartbreak, and complicated relationships. I collaborated with local producers here in Toronto to cultivate a sound that blended melancholic pop melodies with hip-hop production. The songs are a cumulation of my music and life experiences.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I told my parents that I wanted to pursue music straight out of high school they weren’t too thrilled about it. They wanted me to get post-secondary education before diving into a career in the arts. In the end, it was a difficult decision for both of us to come to a compromise. In 2020 I achieved an Industrial Engineering Degree and upon graduation instead of applying for jobs like all my friends, I decided to find my way as a singer and songwriter. It felt like such a crucial decision, but at the same time it also felt like the choice was already made because I knew deep down I wanted to be a musician. It wasn’t easy for me to navigate my new career during the pandemic, because I really had no idea what I was doing most of the time. Luckily I met some great friends, mentors, and producers online who have made it all easier; that’s the beauty of this journey.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The best part about being an artist is connecting with people through my music. It’s seeing them smile in the audience when I’m performing one of my songs and reading their comments on my socials. A lot of being an artist and songwriter is very personal, lonely, and quite daunting. I write songs about my relationships, my aspirations and fears, and my observations– it’s just a more musical form of my journal. But when I get to put the songs out and perform them, it doesn’t feel lonely anymore, but it rather feels fun, freeing, and exhilarating.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yalene.ca/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/yalenesi
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563760705096
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/yalene
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/yalenes
• Other: TikTok; https://tiktok.com/@yalenes
  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5bLdgGnCPiSgpfaojpGGX4?si=hMgm4kitRw2gRSSPH2u5hA
  Apple Music; https://music.apple.com/us/artist/yalene/1585070016

Image Credits

Emily Zhu
Cindy C.