Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yoshe Li. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Yoshe thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

It’s a topic that always comes up when you’re involved in the creative field. People tend to ask questions like “Are you making any money?” or “Do you have a plan for yourself?” as if it’s native or immature to even consider pursuing a career as a full-time artist or creator. But to me, I’m at my happiest and most authentic self when I’m immersed in the creative process. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas for a song, engaging in recording sessions, performing on stage or shooting a music video, it’s an indescribable feeling to witness my vision come into a completed piece of work. Nevertheless, there are moments I would wonder, “Should l get a job? Should I go look for a more steady income?” But then, I’m worried that I would not have enough time to create or keep being in that creative mindset. So for now, I’m just enjoying the lifestyle of being a musician and digital creator!

Yoshe, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Yoshe Li, and I’m a musician and digital creator. Currently, I’m pursuing my graduate studies at Parsons School of Design in the Design and Technology program. Music has always been my passion. I began taking piano lessons at the age of five and flute lessons in middle school. I have good memories of attending various recitals and contests while growing up. Then I moved from China to Canada on my own for high school, the language barriers and culture shocks made it even more challenging for my introverted self to express emotions. To overcome this, I joined school rock bands and orchestra and started writing my own songs. Crafting lyrics and melodies became my way of sharing my thoughts and feelings with others.

Upon high school graduation, I wanted to pursue music in college. However, like many parents, mine discouraged me from following that path and encouraged me to keep music as a hobby. So I ended up in Architecture and Cinema Studies at the University of Toronto, which I also enjoyed as I had an interest in visual arts. Nevertheless, I continued taking vocal and guitar lessons on the side.

During my second year of college, I recorded my first single, ‘Longing,’ with the help of a producer I met through my vocal teacher. However, the song was not released until 5 years later. It was a lot of “figuring things out” when you’re trying to do it yourself and the budget is tight.

Fortunately, right before the pandemic, my parents and musician friends helped me set up a home studio. And it was then I started learning electric guitar. The studio also allowed me do vocal and instrumental productions for myself and clients. I started sharing my progress videos of me practicing and hanging out with friends in the studio, on Chinese social media platforms. I was incredibly lucky to build a small community of music lovers who liked my content.

As the pandemic was approaching to an end, I decided to apply for graduate school, I know very well that I wanted to attend an art school in New York City. I believe that it’s a perfect place to expand my toolkit for music and digital/visual arts, and I was very excited to meet new people who are in or related to the creative field. I feel I made the right decision because I’ve been genuinely happy living and studying here.

A few months ago, thanks to the social media platform Red (小红书), I received a dm from the band “Hang Him To The Scales,” inviting me to do a show with them. They didn’t know about this but I was really excited and it marked my first solo set in NYC and ever! The experience of performing my songs on stage and interacting with people was exhilarating, and I hope to have more opportunities to perform in the future.

Recently, I’ve been back in the studio, recording and producing new music, which I will be releasing very soon!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I don’t think it’s just me; from what I’ve heard, many creators have had similar experiences. Everyone has different preferences and habits when it comes to creating music or art. Personally, when I write songs or do vocal recordings, I need to be alone in the space without anyone else around. Otherwise, my thought process gets distracted and I get frustrated.

Often, we don’t have a strict schedule. For example, if we have two weeks until the final deadline, we might work on it today, or we might not do anything until three days before the deadline. However, our brains are constantly thinking about the project, and sometimes we get inspired by the most random things in life.

So, when you see us hanging around, seemingly doing “nothing,” or acting a little “weird” or “dramatic,” it’s probably because we’re in the process of creating again!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I first started making demos and stuff, I had this mindset that I needed to find a record label for everything to happen. But later, I came to realize that signing with a label doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to “make it”; If I could go back, I would tell my younger self to spend less time self-doubting, to reach out for all kinds of opportunities, never say no to gigs, go to open mics, be even more active on social media, connect with people, and practice, practice, practice! When you do all that, things will start happening, and more opportunities will come your way!

Contact Info:

• Website: yosheli.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yosheliyosheli/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yosheliyosheliyosheli
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoshe-li-8575591a9/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/yosheli

Image Credits
Ningyi Jiang, Ariel Li