I’ve missed this.

If you’re new here, welcome! My name is YawnyBlew. I’m an artist, songwriter, creative consultant, community builder, and digital nomad currently splitting my time between New York City and Mexico City.

This is my little corner of the internet where I share what I’m learning while building a creative life through music, community, and whatever else happens to capture my curiosity. If that’s your kind of thing, I’m happy you’re here.

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🌱 What I’ve Been Up To

The last few weeks have been a good reminder that some of the biggest shifts happen quietly.

I’ve spent my time writing songs, wandering cities, celebrating Pride in New York, meeting brilliant artists, and building a few things I’m excited to share when the time is right.

None of it was particularly loud.

All of it mattered.

Pride in New York was exactly what I needed. Between Indie Week, New York Music Month, and time with family and friends, I got to reconnect with so much of my community. One of my favorite moments was Queer Capita’s June Mixer at TikTok. Huge thank you to everyone who came out and showed love. (QC is also looking for new board members, especially in Nashville and Los Angeles, so shoot over an email if you’re interested)

I was also honored to join the Recording Academy’s 2026 New Member Class as a Voting Member, which still feels a little surreal. I’ve spent so much of my career advocating for artists behind the scenes, so having another opportunity to support and celebrate my peers feels incredibly meaningful.

After New York, I made my way back to CDMX, where I’ve been slowing down, soaking up the city’s art and food, and wrapping up several library music projects. One week I’m writing Brazilian funk, the next it’s country EDM, hip-hop, or Latin pop. Apparently “slowing down” still means hopping between four genres in a week. I’m really enjoying being so tapped into recording, writing and collaborating.

I’ve also been quietly bringing to life something that’s been living in the background of my work for a long time: my creative agency Planet Renga. It’s my way of bridging the work I’ve found myself doing between the songs: artist development, creative strategy, partnerships, and community building. Its a safe space for world builders existing in the margins. If you’d like to know more or have a project you’d like my help on, reach out. contact@planetrenga.com

🎶 Music I’m Proud to Be Part Of

One of the greatest gifts songwriting has given me is the people it’s brought into my life.

Back in 2021, I found myself wanting more than just collaborators. I wanted more queer creative community. I wanted to create alongside artists whose stories felt familiar and whose work reminded me why I fell in love with songwriting in the first place.

Funny enough, the universe answered.

One of those people was Keiynan Lonsdale.

Keiynan recently wrapped up his Heart Defence era with The Heart Defence Mixtape: RELOADED, and I’m grateful to have contributed to “Whine & Cry” and “Belong 2 U.” Beyond the songwriting, it’s also been incredibly rewarding supporting him as a creative thought partner as he prepares to roll out his sophomore album later this year.

Not long after, another awesome artist entered my orbit: Dyllón Burnside.

Dyllón recently released his debut album, Genesis, and I had the privilege of co-writing “Bare” and “Lost & Found.” Collaborating with another Black queer man who leads with vulnerability and intention became so much more than a writing session. It became a space to create, to fellowship, and to heal and feel seen.

Genesis is one of those albums that deserves to be experienced from beginning to end, and I hope you’ll spend some time with it.

To close out Pride and Black Music Month, I also released Y&F Vol. 2, the second installment of my collaboration series. It’s become one of my favorite traditions, celebrating artists I love, giving great songs another life, and keeping me accountable to the monthly release rhythm I’ve maintained since January 2025.

July’s release is incoming. 📳

✍🏽 Substack Musings

One of my favorite parts of Substack has been using Notes as a place to capture ideas before they become full essays. Sometimes they’re observations. Sometimes they’re questions. Sometimes they’re just me trying to make sense of where music, culture, and technology are headed.

Here are a few recent musings if you missed them:

• Pride, Black Music, and Legacy

• AI Didn’t Replace Collaboration for Me. It Expanded It

• How I Predicted the Orchestral Pop Renaissance and What’s Next?

• I Didn’t Get the Job

If we aren’t already connected through Notes, come say hi. It’s become one of my favorite places to think out loud.

💭 Until Next Time...

I’m excited to be writing here again.

Thanks for checking in and following along as I continue building, learning, and figuring things out in real time.

What’s something you’ve been quietly building that isn’t quite ready for the big announcement yet? I’d love to hear about it.

Until next time,

Yawny 🩵

Happy June. Hope you are all well.

If you’ve noticed the newsletter has been a little less frequent lately, its because i’ve been trying to focus more time on being present and do a bit less. I’ve spent the last month bouncing between Houston, New Orleans, Portland, and Los Angeles on my digital nomad journey. Every city gave me something different to sit with, but one realization kept following me around: I haven’t been making enough room for nothing.

Not rest. Not vacation. Nothing. No agenda. No deliverable. No immediate next step. Just space.

🌀 The Beauty of Not Knowing

For most of my adult life, I’ve been the person with a plan. Even when things felt uncertain, I usually had another project to build, another goal to chase, another version of myself I was working toward. Lately, though, I’ve been experimenting with a different question: What happens if I admit I don’t know what’s next?

Not in a scary way. In an honest way.

The answer has been surprisingly simple. Because the moment I stopped trying to force clarity, clarity started showing up on its own. New conversations appeared. New opportunities emerged. Ideas that had been sitting quietly in the background suddenly became louder. So I think I am going to give into that not knowing even harder.

I’m giving myself what I’ve been calling a baby reset. Nothing dramatic. No grand reinvention. Just a conscious decision to spend a little less time online and a little more time in my actual life.

🌆 June in New York

June feels like the perfect month for it. I’ll be in New York for Pride, Black Music Month, New York Music Month, Indie Week, Juneteenth celebrations, and whatever adventures find me along the way. I’ll likely have my film camera nearby, collecting little moments, reconnecting with people, and reminding myself that not everything needs to become content immediately.

Some things get to just be experiences. Some things get to belong to us before they belong to the internet.

I’m curious: How do you all reset? What helps you reconnect with yourself when life starts moving a little too fast? And if you’re in New York this month, what events are you excited about? What should I add to my calendar?

Shoot me an email, reply to this newsletter, or send a text if you have my number. I’d love to hear from you.

But first... some updates! ⬇️

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🪩 🎶 “I Like It” Remixes

Last month I released two new versions of “I Like It,” and more than anything they reminded me that songs don’t have to stay frozen in time. What started as a breezy disco-pop love song became an opportunity to explore how the same idea can evolve through experience, collaboration, and perspective.

• “I Like It (Uncles in Mercedes Remix)”: Inspired by a trip to London and my love of UK dance and R&B music. It pushes the song into glitchier, club-ready territory with plenty of rich gay uncle energy.

• “I Like It (The Longest First Date Version)”: Created alongside Ty McKinnie and Je’Vel, stripping the song down to piano, strings, and harmonies to highlight the tenderness at the center of it all.

One version celebrates community, possibility, and the dance floor. The other leans into intimacy, commitment, and the quiet moments that keep love alive. More than anything, these releases reminded me how much fun it is to revisit an idea with fresh ears. They gave me a chance to collaborate with people I admire, experiment with new sounds, and connect with audiences who may not have connected with the original version. Both are out everywhere now, and I’m grateful they get to exist alongside the original.

✨ Magical Tios/Trios

Speaking of magical uncles... I’ve had a few other releases floating around the world lately that I’d love for you to spend some time with.

First up, THR333.wav wrapped our release sprint in March with a glitchy little EP from the future. If you’ve been craving something playful and progressive with a dash of Y2K and officecore dystopia, check out 333.

And if that’s not enough music, amir. and I recently joined Rob Milton on his single “Another Boy” from his album Everybody Loves Rob Milton. Rob continues to make some of my favorite queer R&B, and it was a joy to contribute to a project that feels so warm, vulnerable, and human.

Taken together, these releases are a reminder of one of my favorite things about music: community. Whether it’s revisiting an old song, building weird little future worlds with collaborators, or showing up in someone else’s story, I continue to be grateful for the people I get to create alongside.

🌈 Outside With Queer Capita

One thing I’m especially excited about this month is getting back into community as part of my work with Queer Capita, where I serve as Head of Content. We’ve got a handful of opportunities to connect throughout June in New York. If you’re looking for queer music community, industry connections, or simply a reason to get out and meet new people, I’d love to see you at one of these:

• June 9 — NYC Industry Mixer: A community-centered evening of networking, mentorship, conversation, and live music featuring a special performance from Frankie Grande.

• June 11 — Out + Proud: A Queer Artist Showcase: Presented by the Recording Academy as part of Grammy House New York during New York Music Month. A celebration of Pride, Black Music Month, and independent artists doing incredible work.

• June 26 — Loud & Proud: Presented by Queer Capita, Dolby Atmos, and JBL. A networking event and artist showcase featuring Adam Oh and Infinite Coles, highlighting some of the most exciting LGBTQ+ artists on the rise.

If you’re planning to attend any of these, come say hello!

✍🏽 Substack Musings

I’ve still been sharing little thoughts and observations between newsletters, and honestly they’ve become one of my favorite parts of being on here. A few recent musings from my feed you might have missed:

• AI Didn’t Replace Collaboration for Me. It Expanded It.

• How I Predicted the Orchestral Pop Renaissance and What’s Next?

• Community Is Not a Step and Repeat

• The Case for the Non-Linear Career

Let me know if you’ve been enjoying these. They feel a little less polished, a little more immediate, and probably the closest thing to how my brain actually works in real time.

🕊️ That’s All For Now

Ok, so yeah. If you want to connect this month, let’s please do it IRL.

I’m taking a nice little step back from social media for a bit, just to get grounded in reality again. Less scrolling, more living. Less documenting, more experiencing. I’m excited to reconnect with my NYC community, support some incredible artists, and spend a little more time seeing what happens when I make room for surprise.

I’m also still putting out feelers for new job opportunities, consulting work, speaking engagements, and creative collaborations, so if something comes to mind, shoot me an email or connect on LinkedIn. I’d love to hear from you.

In the meantime, take care of yourselves. Drink some water. Touch some grass. Call somebody you love.

I’ll check in with y’all next month.

Love,

Yawny 🩵

It’s been a few weeks. I hope this finds you feeling refreshed, or at least moving with a little more intention than the world around us has been lately.

My last update was in March, and while I meant to tap in sooner, I’ve been taking some real time to reassess. Traveling, working on music, celebrating a birthday, and getting honest with myself about what actually deserves my energy right now.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to give yourself grace in real time. Not just in theory, but in practice. Slowing down, getting quiet, and recognizing that not every season is about output. Some seasons are about alignment.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been pouring into the things that ground me and move me forward. Updating my resume. Refining my content and speaking decks. Creating new music. Getting clear on how I want to show up and what I want to attract in this next chapter. More alignment. More abundance. More creative and financial freedom on my own terms.

I’m still in it, still figuring things out in real time. But I feel clear. And I feel committed to building something that reflects who I actually am, not just what performs well online.

If you’re in a similar space, recalibrating, questioning, tightening things up, you’re not alone. There’s something powerful about choosing intention over urgency.

As always, I appreciate you being here and growing through this with me. If we haven’t caught up in a minute, tap in 🩵

Alright, let’s get into this week’s updates.

🎶 NEW MUSIC

Today I released a remix of my single “I Like It.”

It’s inspired by my trip to London last summer for All Points East. Watching FKA Twigs and JADE reminded me how seamlessly UK artists blend R&B, pop, and electronic music in a way that just feels good.

I booked time at Pirate Studios while I was out there and started building from that inspiration. The result is a dancefloor-ready remix just in time for Pride, plus a slower piano and strings version dropping next week with Je’Vel and Ty McKinnie.

Make sure you check out the visualizer for today’s release on YouTube.

During that same session, I also recorded a feature for Rob Milton. “Another Boy,” featuring myself and amir., dropped last month as part of Everybody Loves Rob Milton. Another queer love song for the dancefloor. Tap in.

Lastly, amir., SADBOYMUSIC, and I wrapped our THR333.wav sidequest with the EP 333, which dropped at the end of March. Four songs, very future-facing, very fun. I’m really proud of that one.

🌈 QUEER CAPITA ACTIVATIONS

I’m continuing my work with Queer Capita and we’ve got some upcoming ways to connect.

May 13, we’re hosting a mixer during Music Biz Week 2026 in Atlanta. If you’re in town, pull up and meet other queer industry folks.

June 3, we’re hosting a virtual resume review. Submit if you’re looking for feedback or trying to level up.

We’ve also got Pride Month programming coming soon, so stay tuned or hit me if you want to get looped in. And check out our job board tooooooo.

✈🏽 NEXT STOPS

As you know, I kicked off this year as a digital nomad. It’s been really fulfilling to move around, tap into new environments, and build in real time.

Next up: Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York.

I’m actively looking for opportunities to create, collaborate, speak, and connect in each city. If you’re based in any of these places, reach out. Would love to build or just catch up.

✍🏽 SUBSTACK MUSINGS

I’ve still been posting smaller thoughts and reflections between newsletters on my main Substack feed. A few recent ones you might’ve missed:

• How I Predicted the Orchestral Pop Renaissance and What’s Next?
• I didn’t get the job.
• Community Is Not a Step and Repeat
• The Case for the Non-Linear Career

Let me know if you’ve been enjoying these or want more of them included here.

That’s it for this week!

If you’ve got any good vibe resets, books, playlists, or grounding practices, send them my way. I’m loving learning about new tools and resources. Excited for the coming weeks and to continue to connect with ya’ll!

- Yawny 🩵

I hope your week is feeling good to ya. I’m currently between cities and feeling very full and grateful. My time in Los Angeles was beautiful. I really appreciated connecting with my extended family and creative community, and spending a lot of time near the beach. This will land on your desk while I’m settling into my 3rd city on my 2026 nomadic journey. Its been fun moving around again and tapping into fresh inspo and energy.

The Oscars this weekend charged me up a lot. Seeing Michael B. Jordan, Ludwig Göransson, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, EJAE, and Ryan Coogler win were beautiful victories for diversity, for fresh ideas, and for hardworking creatives long overdue for their spotlight. It was also extra special to see Teyana Taylor and Junglepussy up on stage for Best Picture.

I do so much work around pushing for marginalized voices and representation, and it’s nice to see Hollywood is starting to catch up. I felt the same when Bad Bunny took home AOTY.

The world is crumbling and it’s more important than ever to be reminded how richly diverse, dynamic, and unique we all are. Hopefully, it’s enough to bring us back from the brink of destruction. Or not. Idk 😅.

Anyway, if you are joining us for the first time: my name is YawnyBlew. I write songs, I build community, I make cool shit. I also share resources and bad dad jokes. Welcome.

Let’s dive into this week’s recaps.

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🌊 New Music: “CUT333” by THR333.wav

This month we launched THR333.wav, a collaborative project with my friends amir. and SADBOYMUSIC. While collaborating is not new for us, this is our first joint effort at world-building and cohesion, and it’s been a lot of fun letting the music, art, and story speak for themselves.

“CUT333” is our latest single, from our EP 333 dropping on 3/31. The song comes with a fire visualizer by SB, and it’s a record about confidence and loving on yourself in a system that doesn’t always endorse that. We got our first write-up as well. Shoutout to the good folks at AFROTRAX for the love.

• 👉 Watch the Visualizer on Youtube

• 👉 Read the AFROTRAX Feature

The best way to support us and this project is to buy it directly on BandCamp, where you’ll get access to the full EP instantly. Pre-saving is also amazing, and you can check out the singles “THR333” and “CUT333” out now on all streaming platforms.

✍🏾 Songwriting Round-Up

It’s always a joy to see songs I’ve been a part of as a songwriter continue to make waves around the world.

Trent Park - “Lil Old Me” (Grammy U Inclusion) - This was such a fun song to write with Trent and Mike Brown. We got together in 2023 while Mike and I were in town for the GLAAD Black Queer Creative Summit and wrote this record about how doubts can be fuel when you are fighting for your dreams. Trent is such a visionary when it comes to building visuals, creating activations, and creating worlds around his music. Such an inspo. Congrats on the Grammy U love.

👉 [Listen to the Grammy U Monthly Playlist]

Keiynan Lonsdale - “Belong 2 U” + Operation Heart Defence Short film - Keiynan is on an incredible run right now. From starring in one of Netflix’s top films (War Machine) to performing in The Normal Heart in Sydney, to continuing his music journey.

Working with him has always been special. He was actually my first time writing with another openly queer artist, and that experience shifted a lot for me and gave me a friend and brother for life.

Our co-write “Belong 2 U” is featured in his short film The Heart Defence, which continues to gain coverage. Most recently, he reflected on the film in RUSSH Magazine, definitely give that a read. He’s also the ELLEMAN Australia cover star this month. Shoutout to the homie crushing it! 👉

💎 Resources & Opportunities

Groover reached out earlier this year to work together. I like the platform a lot and have used it in the past to promote my work. The timing was great because we are in the middle of the THR333.wav rollout, and I thought it would be fun to give our first unofficial release, “Technicolor,” some new life.

I am always game for fresh collaborations and partnerships that align, so if you are looking to work together, shoot me a message.

Also, if you are an emerging creative, check out this awesome fellowship via Google. I just applied and would love to see some familiar faces joining me.

👉 [Apply for the Google Creative Fellowship]

Lastly, this week’s Music Industry Jobs via Queer Capita are now live across our platforms. If you are looking for work, check it out, and if you got some roles to fill, feel free to shoot them over!

👉 [Browse Queer Capita’s Music Industry Jobs]

💭 Substack Musings

In case you missed it, I’ve been dropping some shorter reflections and essays on the feed lately. Here are a few recent ones:

• Community Is Not a Step and Repeat

• The Case for the Non-Linear Career

• Being a Resource While Needing Resources

• 👻 Ghost in the Machine

🌱 Before I Go

I recently read James Blake say that over 95% of his work was never released:

“I’d say the 10,000 hours we talk about… I probably spent that just doing things that never came out.”

That really stayed with me.

The music industry asks a lot of creatives, often with very little return. So much labor, so much time, so much unseen work.

If you’re a creative, someone out here contributing ideas, culture, art, and beauty, know this:

You are valuable.
What you create is valuable.
Who you are is valuable.

We deserve better ecosystems. Better culture. Better community. And at this point, it’s something we have to both demand and build ourselves.

I started these newsletters as a way to feel seen. Now they’ve become a way to help others feel seen too. That means a lot to me.

Before you go, I’d love to hear from you:

What’s one project you spent hours on that never came out, but taught you the most?

Drop it in the comments.

Catch you on the next one.

Big love always,
Yawny 🩵

I’m reporting live from a coffee shop in DTLA. It feels like I’ve lived a million lives since I left this city three years ago. I’ve been reflecting a lot, creating, and soaking up this good West Coast weather.

I used to think places were vortexes for manifestation and actualizing dreams. Lately, I’m realizing more and more that the vortex has been in me this whole time. I know, big woo-woo energy up top, but it’s been sitting with me as I’ve been back in a place where I lived so much life and dreamed so many dreams.

How much of what has come true was because of LA, and how much of it was my sheer will to make it real? (Also, can I use that same energy to will Little Damages back into existence? IYKYK 😅)

As we connect this week, I invite you to reflect on the places that helped you realize your dreams. How much of that power do you actually own as your own?

This week I’m coming at you with an exciting new project update, more ways to connect through Queer Capita (and beyond), and some cool resources. March Madness is upon us and you know how I get down every March!

Let’s dive right in.

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Introducing THR333.wav

THR333.wav is a collaborative project between myself, amir., and SADBOYMUSIC.

What started as a single song turned into a shared creative universe we’re building in real time, rooted in sound, story, and atmosphere.

Sonically, the world lives between alternative R&B, experimental pop, electronic textures, and cinematic scoring. Picture a rave in an abandoned office building. Glitching computer screens. Disco lights flickering during a quiet revolution. That tension between grit and release is the heartbeat of the project.

What I’ve been enjoying most about this project is how different it feels from my usual process. I’m inhabiting a new character. I’m thinking in terms of world-building instead of autobiography. I’m getting to be strategic about rollout, mystery, and discovery, rather than centering our faces or personalities.

The collaboration itself has been a masterclass in sharing space, resources, and control, and trusting something bigger than any one of us.

Our EP 333 is available now for purchase on Bandcamp and Untitled. If you’re into immersive projects and want to support the world we’re building, owning the music directly goes a long way.

You can also step into the world through our two lead singles, streaming now:

• “THR333”

• “Technicolor”

Queer Capita: Ways to Connect

Queer Capita continues to be one of the spaces that reminds me I don’t have to build alone. We’ve got two chances to connect IRL coming up:

Pride & Pen: A Queer Writer’s Round Fundraiser
Thursday, March 5, 2026 – Nashville

SXSW Music Industry Connect: Artists, Creatives & Professionals Meetup
Friday, March 13, 2026 – Austin

We also share a weekly job board on our site and will be running a Women’s History Month series highlighting First Jobs in Music. If there’s someone you’d love to see spotlighted, send their name this week so we can lock them in for March.

A.COUSTIC: Press Round-Up

My January compilation A.COUSTIC received a really thoughtful write-up from iGuitar. What meant the most was how deeply they understood the intention behind starting the year with stripped-back versions of these songs.

Here’s a moment from their review that stuck with me:

“A.COUSTIC’s stripped-down style puts YawnyBlew’s songwriting and voice front and center. On ‘Against the Tide,’ the acoustic guitar keeps the mood melancholic. His smooth vocals glide over the guitar with an easy R&B feel, drawing on ’90s influences but sounding fresh and modern… ‘dusk’ is quiet and thoughtful, with gentle picking and close harmonies that deepen the introspective mood.”

If you’ve been vibing with A.COUSTIC, thank you for letting the quieter versions of these songs live with you. I’ve got one more acoustic in the chamber that I’ll be dropping in April, so stay tuned.

Resource for Artists

Artist friends, please check out the DAG Foundation. They’re giving away $20K to artists, and applications are open through March 18.

I applied myself. If I don’t get it, I’d genuinely love for someone in this community to receive it. We all deserve systems that actually support our creative lives.

Apply here.

Also, my good sis Ladidai is a must-follow for anyone in music, content, or tech. She’s been sharing some really great posts, just launched her website, and is a masterclass in being a modern creative entrepreneur. Tell her Uncle Yawny sent you.

Wrap-Up

I’ve got a few more stops before heading back east to love on Dominic and my momma for a bit. I’m finishing a sophomore album (you can preview some of those songs HERE), stretching into new production skills, and staying open to what’s next as the universe does its cosmic dance and the world continues to go up in flames.

What a wild time to be a creative. We need meaningful art now more than ever. People deserve hope and inspiration, and I hope this newsletter keeps you feeling grounded and in good spirits during these times.

If you’re in Austin, Houston, or New York City in the next few weeks, let’s grab a coffee. If we’re not in the same city, we can always do a virtual one too (link here).

Thanks for being here and being awesome. Talk soon.

— Yawny

Hope this month is treating you like a baddie.

I just made it out to the West Coast and am enjoying reconnecting with the city where I first came to make my dreams reality. If you’re just joining me, I am on my second digital nomad journey to shake the shit out of the universe and unlock my next wave of unlimited potential.

This isn’t my first time seeking alignment through travel. I’ve learned that for me, leaping and finding nets is a bit of a cosmic dance that happens every few years.

The last time I took a major road trip—driving from LA to Vancouver—the universe rewarded me in a massive way. I completed my album DREAMBIIG with amir., landed a job at Meta, and was accepted into the GLAAD Black Queer Creative Summit. I also started a lot of deeply healing songs that I am excited to revisit and finish on this trip.

This week’s updates are a mix of songwriting wins, community opportunities, and a sneak peek into my 2026 releases. If you value intentional ramblings, self-deprecating humor, and a bit of anxiety-fueled genius, you’re in the right place.

My name is YawnyBlew. Welcome to my newsletter.

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🎬 Keiynan Lonsdale: Operation Heart Defense

Once upon a time, I was scared to be an openly queer person, let alone a queer creative. Today, I’m grateful for a life that allows me to move freely and fellowship with people who mirror that freedom back to me.

Keiynan was one of the first queer artists who truly felt like “me.” Writing with him for the first time and telling our stories without compromise is a memory I’ll never forget. He’s become a real friend, inspiration, and supporter.

He just released his short film, Operation Heart Defense, and I couldn’t be prouder of the work we did together. Our song “Belong 2 U” (produced by Phillip Lewis) is an anthem for autonomy—one of my favorite things to write about. The film is a companion to his mixtape The Heart Defense, which also features our other co-write “Whine n Cry.”

We’ve got a lot more in the pipeline, but for now, enjoy this mini-movie and get your life.

• 👉 Watch the short film

• 👉 Listen to the soundtrack

🌈 Queer Capita: Spotlight on Black Excellence

I joined Queer Capita last fall as Head of Content. It’s been a joy building intentional resources for our community. If you haven’t explored yet, check out Ask Capita (our anonymous Q&A) and the Music Industry Job Board we run every Monday.

For Black History Month, I’m proud to spotlight leaders from my personal network in our new series, including:

• Dae Bogan

• Jasmin Benward

• Tyrie McKinnie

Mark your calendars:

• NYC Headshot Event: February 20

• SXSW (Austin): I’ll be out there for something low-key and fun. Message me if you’re attending!

🎸 A.COUSTIC & The Road to Sophomore Year

A.COUSTIC has been out for a few weeks now. Seeing y’all reconnect with these stripped-back baes has been so grounding. If you’ve been streaming, thank you. Truly.

I’m currently working on a gang of new music. Official releases are a few weeks out, but my supporters on Tidal and the demo-sharing app Untitled can catch early previews now. I’m prepped and ready to launch the sophomore album era.

• 👉 Stream the A.COUSTIC EP

💎 Paying It Forward: Creative Resources

Sharing resources brings me so much joy. I really believe the more I share, the more the universe mirrors that energy back. I love hunting for grants almost as much as I love applying for them.

If you’re looking for your next opportunity, these three pages are essential follows:

1. Pick Up The Flow NYC – Great for local creative hubs.

2. Transform The Hustle – High-level career gems.

3. ArtConnect Opps – A goldmine for international grants.

💭 Before I Go

Check out some of my random Substack Musings that I share directly to my feed. If you want to know my thoughts on being a resource while needing resources, being a Ghost in the Machine or my thoughts on the fear (THE FEAR), hit the hyperlinks.

I want to hear from you: Which part of this update resonated most with you? The music, the career moves, or the resources?

Reply to this email and let’s talk about how we can support each other this month.

Chat soon,

Yawny 🩵

I hope this update finds you well, rested, and easing into the new energy of 2026.

If you’re new here—welcome. I’m YawnyBlew: artist, A&R, and creative strategist working at the intersection of music, storytelling, and community. I’m glad you found your way here.

2025 was one of my most ambitious years yet. I released music monthly, produced a podcast, developed multiple indie projects, and worked full-time as an A&R and communications strategist at Meta. It was wild, deeply fulfilling, and—if I’m being honest—a lot. One of my proudest years. Also my busiest.

Which is exactly why 2026 is feeling different.

This year, I’m focused on applying everything I learned with more intention and less urgency. We’re calling it the Year of Ease.
Ease in our workflows.
Ease in our relationships.
Ease in our hearts and minds.

Ease in trusting that the foundation has been built—and now it’s time to tend the garden.

That’s also why this newsletter didn’t hit your inbox at the top of the year. I’m learning to be less invested in rushing and more committed to building things that actually last. Fewer frantic sprints. More aligned output. Better energy. A real challenge for someone who is usually go-go-gooooo 😅

I can’t promise a rigid cadence this year.
But I can promise that when you hear from me, it’ll be thoughtful, useful, and right on time.

If you’re someone who values:

• authentic creativity

• intentional community (online and IRL)

• honest conversations about music, careers, and sustainability

—you’re absolutely in the right place.

Let’s get into it.

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🎸 A.COUSTIC EP (Out Now)

My first release of the year is A.COUSTIC, a compilation of some of my favorite stripped-back, acoustic records.

I’ve been reworking my songs acoustically for a while now, and last year I quietly released a few original acoustic tracks into the world—from November’s “Freeze” to the three songs I co-produced for Alibi Music’s Sorrowful Indie album.

There’s something really grounding about just vocals, lyrics, and one or two instruments. Raw. Cozy. Honest. If you need chill study music, something to warm you up during cold weather, or a Valentine’s Day go-to, this one’s for you 🩵🩷

Huge thank you to the collaborators who helped bring this project to life:
amir., Lili K, Rrarebear, Sean Hamilton, Adrian Mendoza, Elizabeth Gaylord, and THEBRASS.

👉 A.COUSTIC: [Listen Here]

🌈 Queer Capita Updates

Last year, I joined Queer Capita, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQIA+ music industry professionals, and currently serve as Head of Content.

This year, I’m helping shape our voice and expand the resources we offer our community. Two recent launches I’m especially excited about:

Ask Capita
An anonymous Q&A series where folks can submit real questions about careers, money, burnout, AI, and the industry at large. Our board, extended community, and allies respond with honesty and care. I answered our very first question—on AI and job security—and the responses have been really positive.

Queer Capita Music Industry Job Board
We also launched a new job board for music industry professionals. It’s been really meaningful to surface open roles and help connect people to real opportunities—especially creative folks who don’t always fall neatly inside the traditional job-market lens.

If you’re actively looking, or just staying informed, it’s worth checking out.
📸 Instagram | 💼 LinkedIn | 🌎 Website

Also also we’re spotlighting Black queer music industry professionals for Black History Month, so feel free to send suggestions my way.

✈🏽 Coming to a City Near You

I’m doing a little city hopping this year.

New York, I love you deeply. But the snow… and the prices… we need a break 😅

Over the next few months, I’ll be spending time in:
Mexico City, Los Angeles, Austin (SXSW), Houston, and New Orleans.

While I’m on the move, I’m looking to:

• work on music in each city

• collaborate with local artists and producers

• speak on panels, at schools, or creative events

• host or join community conversations

I’m sharing my speaking deck for visibility, and I’m always down for a coffee, walk, or low-stakes creative hang. Virtual chats are welcome too—you can grab time on my calendar and we’ll take it from there.

✍🏽 Substack Musings

Between newsletters, I share shorter reflections and cultural commentary on Substack. If you want more of my brain, here are a few recent pieces:

• Ghost in the Machine

• A Note to My 2019 Self

• The Burden of Being Interesting

• Y’all Could Never Make Me Hate Dawn Richard

🌱 Before I Go

I’d genuinely love to hear from you.

What would you like more of this year?

• exclusive music previews?

• creative tools and breakdowns?

• grant and opportunity resources?

• conversations about sustainability and wellness?

And in the spirit of transparency: I am actively looking for opportunities this year as an artist, public speaker, producer, and creative strategist. If my work resonates and you’re interested in building together, let’s talk.

Wishing you a grounded and powerful rest of the month.

Yawny 🩵

It’s snowing in Jersey. I’ve got coffee steaming in my smiley-face cup. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is on in the background. And I’m sitting here staring at this screen, trying to figure out how to even begin wrapping up this wild, wild year.

In short — thank you.
Thank you for being along for the ride.
Thank you for listening to the music, reading these updates, and sending love back.

What started as an accountability hack turned into one of my favorite creative rituals. These newsletters help me stay grounded, reflect on what’s working (and what isn’t), and connect with the people who actually care about my nuanced takes on art, community, and balance 😅

This year I got to fire on all cylinders — expanding my skills, my output, and my reach. From monthly releases to music development work at Meta, it’s been a landmark year. All while navigating personal lessons that reminded me who I am outside of the work.

So here we are. End of Q4. Let’s dive in.

💜👹 “The Fear, THE FEAR” ft. Lili K

I decided to close out the year by revisiting one of my favorite releases with one of my favorite singers.

“The Fear (Demo)” was a turning point in this 12-for-12 journey. It wasn’t planned. I had no release ready for May, and I’d just written the song for a grant I didn’t get. Releasing it anyway was a full act of faith — a “trust the universe” move that ended up shaping my year.

So when I started thinking about how to end things, I knew I wanted to revisit it properly. And I knew Lili K was the only one who could help me take it home.

We go way back — early LA days. Shared a manager. Wrote songs for Empire. Hiked, hit the beach, crashed Grammy parties. She’s family. A true artist’s artist. Hearing her voice float over this nu-jazz ode to fear gave the song new life.

Here’s some early coverage:

• PREMIERE: Listen to YawnyBlew’s Jazz-Soul Finale “the fear, THE FEAR” ft. Lili K

• YawnyBlew works through his trepidations in new single “the fear, THE FEAR” featuring Lili K

I hope it reminds you that fear can be fuel. Every new leap can feel terrifying, but if it’s aligned — lean in. Leap, and the net will appear.

🌈 Queer Capita Press Round-Up

In October, I joined Queer Capita as Head of Content, and it’s been such a joy getting to know the rest of the board, planning for 2026, and seeing how much love our 2025 board announcement received.

We were covered by GLAAD, Billboard, and Notion, and honestly? It’s surreal.

• GLAAD: Queer Capita’s Next Era

• Billboard: Board Announcements

• Notion: Building the Future of Music Culture

The GLAAD piece hit especially hard since I was part of their Black Queer Creative Summit two years ago — a real turning point in my creative journey. Full circle moments only ✨

🎤 Speaking in 2026

As much as I love catching up here, I’ve really enjoyed seeing everyone out in the wild even more. There’s something about real energy, real conversations, and being in rooms that remind you why you do this.

I’m excited to keep leaping off the screen next year and I’m officially putting the vibes out for more speaking opportunities in 2026. My Speaker Deck was a labor of love — part reflection, part flex — and I’m super proud of how it turned out.

If you’ve never seen me in action before, check out:
🎙️ My Afros & Audio recap: Vulnerable, Black & Free
💡 My Queer Capita x Epidemic Sound Pride Panel
🎧 The Creator’s Toolkit Season 2 on YouTube

Let’s hang IRL in 2026.
👉 View My Speaker Deck
📬 Book Me / Let’s Chat

💿 What’s Next

I’ve got some work to catch up on — and, more importantly, some rest to catch up on too. The universe said what she said, and I need to sit tf down for a bit 😅

If you’re in the NY/NJ area and doing anything fun (and non–work-related) in the coming weeks, let’s hang.

Next year I’ve got some big plans for my creative agency launch and my sophomore album, and I’m also manifesting more outside time — catching up with my West Coast community and popping into a few new cities while I settle into what’s next.

I hope you all take this time to rest and recharge too.
Let me know how your year went, what you’re most excited about for next year, and how we can continue to support and uplift each other.

Sending y’all love.
🩵
Yawny

I hope everyone’s gearing up for some time off with family and friends. This time of year always brings that weird mix of nostalgia and relief — the music industry starts to wind down, and I start romanticizing rest even though I never fully commit to it 😅.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what real downtime looks like. While I haven’t mapped out an official “rest schedule,” I have been starting my days slower, taking calls when they feel right, and letting myself be a little more human again. I even been staying out past 10pm on weeknights! Perks of being my own boss (again)😛

November’s been sweet. Reconnecting with friends, soaking up creative energy, and celebrating a few really special updates. Let’s get into it before I spiral into my end-of-year playlist decisions or rant about which streaming service I’m jumping ship to next since mine has gone to crap.

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🌈 Queer Capita 2025–2026 Board

This month the 2025–2026 Queer Capita board was announced, and I’m honored to join as Head of Content.

Being an out and visible queer artist changed the entire trajectory of my career — not just artistically but in how I show up as an executive and community builder. Supporting marginalized voices has always been core to who I am, so it feels deeply aligned to join a team dedicated to visibility and connection for LGBTQIA+ professionals across the music industry.

I’m joining an incredible group of creatives, strategists, and storytellers from all walks of life. Can’t wait to build with this team in the year ahead.

Check out the full announcement via Billboard and Notion.

❄️ “Freeze” Press Round-Up

“Freeze” dropped on 11/11 and has been getting so much love. I’m super thankful. Huge shoutout to The Q Reviews, Yams Playlist, Pride Tunes, Chill Space Music, The Rhythm and Melody Room, and Chill Acoustic Hearts for the features and playlists.

This one’s about stillness, rest, and being present — all things I’ve been practicing (and trying to get better at). Produced by Rrarebear (Kehlani, Trippie Redd, MGK), I’m grateful it’s resonating with people.

Check out the lyric video on YouTube and stream the full song everywhere.

🎬 Talks With Myself

Over the summer, I got to connect with the cast of the web series Talks With Myself at their Season 6 premiere, hosted by Mike Brown. That night turned into a creative link-up — I met Erby Beauvil (producer/actor) and Roger Omeus (series creator), and we started brainstorming. A few months later, they reached out to feature several of my songs in the new season, now streaming via OmeProTV.

As someone who started my journey through sync placements on Empire, getting to support Black, queer storytelling through series like The Out Crowd, For the Boys, and now Talks With Myself has been a continued joy and privilege.

🎥 12 Releases in 12 Months

I recently dropped a new video on YouTube breaking down how my year of monthly releases went — what worked, what didn’t, and why releasing a song every month has been one of the most freeing and joyful creative challenges of my career.

I talk strategy, lessons learned, and how this experiment shaped my upcoming 2026 rollout. Watch the full video here.

📝 Substack Musings

I’ve been sharing random thoughts on my Substack feed — part reflection, part essay, part “what if I just said the thing?” energy. Next year, as I expand content and launch my creative imprint, I’ll likely evolve these into a more formal posts somewhere.

But for now, here are a few you might’ve missed:

• What Sinead Harnett’s Story Reminded Me About the Music Industry

• Joy as Proof

• Bouncy ’n’ Pretty Turns 1: My Little “Rebuild the Whole Damn Life” Era

• On Remembering My Grandmother (and What Memory Even Is)

🎁 December Release

December’s release is set for 12/11 and is available for pre-save now. If you can’t wait — shoot me a message and I’ll send you an early listen because it’s giving season and why not 😌

It’s a reimagining of one of this year’s songs with a special guest I’m very excited about and inspired by my favorite quote from The Artist Way, “Leap and the net will appear.”

Thanks for rocking with me through another wild, beautiful month. Here’s to rest, reflection, and good music — however you find it.

Big love,
Yawny 🩵

“This is a building period, not a hurry up and rush period. Building requires quiet moments. Still moments. Moments of just living.”

2025 is slowly winding down and honestly, what a year. A landmark one. A humbling one. A breakthrough one. I spent most of this weekend in stillness, letting the world move around me, trusting that I didn’t have to sprint to stay aligned with my purpose. I rested. I listened to LUX on repeat. I watched Digimon: The Movie and then fell into a rabbit hole of think pieces about how that movie shaped a generation 😅. I let things settle. I let myself breathe.

This week’s newsletter is about quiet calm and progress. Process and the beauty of becoming. Let’s dive in.

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💜 100 to Watch

I am honored to share that I was selected as part of the National Black Justice Coalition’s 100 Black LGBTQ+/SGL Emerging Leaders to Watch in 2025.

NBJC has been uplifting Black queer community for 10 years, and to be recognized for my work in music, storytelling and creative strategy feels deeply aligned. Even sweeter that I get to share this moment with Mike Brown and so many talented folks in our extended community.

I am excited to meet everyone in the cohort and see what we build together.

• Official announcement here ⬇️
  NBJC Marks 10 Years of ‘100 to Watch’ with Relaunch of Groundbreaking Leadership Program

🎶 A Year of Releases (Almost Done)

Two more releases left this year. I’m genuinely proud of how I showed up for myself creatively. No theatrics. No waiting on a perfect moment. Just discipline, curiosity and trusting my art. October’s release, “Basic AF” has been received really well and I appreciate the convos its allowed me to have around validation, vulnerability and healing. I had to share it with my therapist (a first for me) and she had my favorite response to the song.

“This is simply, basically complex. The song is vulnerable and the artwork reflects your becoming. Beautiful work, John.”

🥹

We also had some really cool press, including some international ones which I really appreciated since the song is so lyric forward. I’m glad to see the words and messaging translate across language and culture.

• YAWNYBLEW se la joue “Basic AF” avec la vulnérabilité comme ligne de basse

• Basic AF | YawnyBlew lança canção reflexiva sobre o que significa crescer

• YawnyBlew Finds Grace In The Mess With Reflective New Single ‘Basic AF’

November’s Release: “Freeze”

“Freeze” has been quietly living on YouTube, TikTok and Tidal for a bit, and I am grateful for how the Tidal Spotlight community has embraced it. Their support gave me the confidence and financial backing to wrap up this year of releases confidently and also begin to plan what 2026’s release slate would look like.

For a song about sitting still with your feelings, it has created a lot of movement in my life. I cannot wait for you to have the full release.

December I am keeping close to the chest but it’ll be fun and features one of my favorite singers ever who may or may not have just made her return to music as well pretty recently.

🧡 Closing My Chapter at Meta

My contract at Meta wrapped last week.

I walked in craving creative freedom, stability, and space to grow. I walked out with all three. And with a deeper confidence in who I am as an artist, producer, curator, and sonic architect.

I learned how to build inside large systems without losing my voice. I had the chance to work with world-class musicians and sign my friends and frequent collaborators Phillip Lewis (Phury) and Nikal Fieldz (Ill Think in Ink) whose music now soundtracks Reels from BMW, Fenty, NFL, Sephora, Carhartt, and more — with hundreds of thousands of plays and impressions across Instagram and Facebook daily.

I couldn’t have asked for a better role or a better season for it. I’m excited to take everything I learned and scale it into the next era.

🌱 What’s Next

I am trying to be still. I cannot promise I will be. But I am trying 😂.

I’m quietly getting my sophomore album ready for 2026. I’m laying the foundation for my creative agency and imagining what it means to work in a way that feels nourishing — not draining. I want more collaboration, more community, more storytelling, more ease. I want to keep my creative freedom at the center. And I want a little more sunlight in my life — so I’ll be in LA for the first few weeks of the year. If you’re there, let’s link.

If you want more of my brain in between newsletters, here are some recent Substack posts you may enjoy:

• Hip-Hop Is Fine Actually (and James Gunn Agrees)
• The Era of Xania Monet and Why I’m Not Panicking (Yet)
• My First Love (15 Years Later)
• The Cult of Ophelia (or Why Fandoms Concern Me)

Thank you for reading and for being in community with me. Truly.
Reply and tell me how you are doing for real. I’m listening.

@yawnyblewmusicAll Points East had great shows but it also had this swing and the swing was awesome 😂🩵✨ #innerchild #selfcare #solotravel #london #fyp

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Always,
Yawny 🩵

It’s been a minute, about a month since our last catch-up, and I hope you’ve all been good.

It’s been a whirlwind for me in every sense of the word. I spent most of the past few weeks with family as my grandmother transitioned, and it shifted a lot for me. It’s been beautiful, heartbreaking, grounding, all of it. I’ve learned so much about what it means to show up for the people you love, and also what it means to let go.

I’m still unpacking everything it brought up, but one thing I know is that it’s changed how I move. How I think about life, love, and legacy.

So yeah, I’m slowly getting back into the flow of things, work, music, life, but with a softer lens. Less grind, more grace. Let’s get into what’s been going on.

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🎶 “Basic AF” + Year-End Release Check-In

We’re in the home stretch of the year, which means I’ve only got three releases left. Crazy, right?

Today’s drop is “Basic AF”, a song about being humbled by your own humanity even when you think you’ve got it all figured out. It’s a reminder that healing isn’t linear. Sometimes you’re the wise, grounded version of yourself, and sometimes you’re just in your feelings. Both are fine.

Produced by Mike Brown, this one came together quietly over the last few months. I actually finished it during my London trip. It couldn’t have come at a better time. These fall months always have me in my reflective bag. If you’ve been asking “what is life?” lately, this song’s for you.

And speaking of reflection, next month’s release is “Freeze.” It’s an acoustic record I wrote last winter about slowing down and giving yourself permission to just be in the middle of chaos. I uploaded the demo to Tidal Spotlight, and they featured it on their Somber Pop playlist ❄️ (major love to their editors for that one).

You can preview Freeze on Tidal and YouTube, where I also dropped a little behind-the-scenes clip from the day I recorded it. The full song drops 11/11.

As for December’s release, I’m keeping that one close to the chest. Just know it’s dope, it’s special, and it’s definitely not a Christmas song 😅.

🎙 Afros & Audio x The Creator’s Toolkit

Last week, Mike Brown and I pulled up to Baltimore for the 7th and final Afros & Audio Podcast Festival, and y’all, it was beautiful.

We were there repping our podcast, The Creator’s Toolkit, for a live panel called Vulnerable, Black, and Free. It was exactly what it sounds like, an open convo about authenticity, wellness, and what it really means to show up as Black creatives in spaces that sometimes ask us to shrink.

The weekend felt like family. The energy was loving, warm, and affirming in every way. And in true “content as accountability” fashion, we dropped a brand-new episode, The Extended Summer Check-In, to celebrate.

It’s an honest, fun catch-up about where we’re at creatively and personally this year. We talked about everything from how we measure success to the music and artists that keep us inspired, plus all the highs, lows, and lessons that come with trying to balance art, work, and being human.

🎥 Watch the full episode now on YouTube.

💭 Final Thoughts

That’s all for now. I’ve been dropping smaller reflections on my Substack feed lately, including a full tribute to my grandmother, Leyda, if you’d like to read more.

Take care of yourselves and your people. Rest when you need to. Celebrate when you can. And if you know of any good Halloween parties in New York, hit me up. After the month I’ve had, I need to go shake sum ass🕺🏾💀.

Big love always,
Yawny 🩵

Transitions are the theme of the moment, and I’m learning to greet each one with more tools, more grace, and more gratitude.

As Q3 wraps, I’m proud of the momentum I’ve built this year:

• A release every month 🎶

• Major progress on my sophomore solo album 🥈

• A new collaborative project ❸❸❸

• Growing visibility through community and content 🫂

That’s… iconic behavior if you ask me! Excited to keep the energy high and wins plentiful.

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Now with that, let’s dive into some highlights!

🌐 Community Engagement

For years, I thought I was bad at networking. Looking back, it’s because I was focused on networking instead of building community and real connections. These days, it feels so much lighter — I’ve been able to meet people in ways that are intentional, impactful, and genuinely fulfilling.

✨ 343 Labs
I had the chance to come in as a mentor for the students at 343 Labs (shoutout to Madi and Stephanie for bringing me in). The experience was incredible. Many of the students have only been producing for about a year, yet their progress and creativity blew me away.

Instead of weighing them down with too much industry talk, I focused on encouragement — reminding them to prioritize their own output, nurture their voices, and trust their ideas as they figure out their paths. That felt important. Too often, the music industry imposes rules and expectations before you even find your footing. My hope is to foster a future where young creatives feel empowered to buck the system, build new ones, and make cool shit along the way. That’s the kind of impact that excites me.

✨ Concept Studios – 1-800-CONCEPT Mixer
Shoutout to my cousin Ravon for inviting me to this one. Shubhi and her team at Concept curated such a cool pocket of NYC creatives — directors, dancers, producers, event planners, and more. The mixer was a chill rooftop vibe, and I got to exchange energy with some inspiring folks.

Every conversation was a reminder of how important it is to put yourself out there and collaborate. I was especially inspired seeing how many people already knew each other and were building together. Definitely looking forward to joining forces in that ecosystem.

Check out their app — it’s full of opportunities and ways to connect. And if you’d like to come with me to their next event, hit me up.

I’m always looking for more community events in NYC and NJ — send me info if you’ve got something coming up. And yes, I’m sketching out my own mixers soon. 👀

🎧 Afros & Audio + Podcasts

Next month, I’ll be part of the final Afros & Audio Podcast Summit in Baltimore. My session, Vulnerable, Black, and Free – Live Show, is about how authenticity, wellness, and vulnerability are superpowers for Black creatives.

Podcasting started as a side quest, but it’s become a beloved extension of my art. I love facilitating conversations just as much as I love writing songs.

Both of my shows are now live on YouTube:

• BIIGGER Than Our Dreams (with amir.)

• The Creator’s Toolkit (with Mike Brown)

🎟 Tickets + details: afrosandaudio.com

💭 Closing: A Year of Releases

This year has been a marathon of monthly drops, but instead of draining me, it’s fueling everything: my next solo album, a new collaborative project, and even clarity around my next career moves. My full-time role at Meta has been a huge part of that spark — giving me the perspective to see music’s value on a macro scale and helping me reverse engineer my own creativity and pipeline.

For the first time in over 20 years of chasing this dream, I feel balanced in my creative, financial, and personal freedom — and it’s deeply gratifying. It’s everything I hoped for, and I’m excited to keep growing while helping more creatives find that same space for themselves.

The world is on fire, which makes it even more urgent to make the things we love, empower each other, and uplift what we believe in by any means necessary. Let’s make the things we dream about, together.

💌 If this resonated, share this newsletter with a friend or drop me a note. I’d love to connect, collaborate, or just share space.

Sending you good vibes for the week ahead,
✨
– Yawny 🩵

A year later… what better time for a re-introduction? Hi! My name is YawnyBlew. I’m a multidisciplinary something-or-other 🌟 with a passion for intentional output, connection, and creativity. I wear a lot of hats 🎩 — all with intention, care, and an acquired sense of humor 😅.

This newsletter started as a little experiment, a place to drop my updates so I didn’t have to scream into the void of social media every week. But somewhere along the way it turned into something much more meaningful — a practice in consistency, community, and giving myself permission to grow, experiment, and shine in real time 🌱.

If you’ve been here since day one: Thank you! This year has been a beautiful ride and I’m so grateful to share it with you.🚀

If you’re just pulling up: welcome! You’re catching me mid-transition (then again, aren’t we always?). Leaping and finding nets has become my specialty — a little cosmic dance with the universe that i’m honored to participate in. 🌌

2025 has been a landmark year — monthly releases, executive producing for some incredible indie artists, and continuing my work in tech and sync as an A&R and executive producer. Next up? Wrapping this eclectic year of drops, officially kicking off my sophomore album era (early 2026), and bringing on new projects across development, strategy and personal growth. All while perfecting the art of staying grounded, human, and connected in the most authentic ways possible. 🌍

Das it! Das the intro. If you’re still here, let’s dive into some updates, ways to connect, and more. Shamone! 🕺🏾🌟

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🎶 “I Like It” Press Round-Up

This month I dropped my 8th release of the year, “I Like It”🪩 It’s quickly become one of my favorites — a snapshot of where I’m at now: grounded, playful, joyous, and down to dance.

Grateful to the outlets who covered it 🙏🏾📰

• MUZE.fm: YawnyBlew Drops Fresh Single ‘I Like It’ – Spotlight on Queer Joy and Lasting Bonds

• SoundLab: YawnyBlew’s Flirty New Single ‘I Like It’ Hits Streaming With a Big Impact

• Conversations About Her: YawnyBlew Unveils Soft Power Dance Cut ‘I Like It’ About Choosing Joy

One of my favorite pull quotes said it best:

“Taken on its own, ‘I Like It’ is a compact mood: mid-tempo, luminous, designed for shoulder-to-shoulder rooms where the point is connection, not catharsis. Within YawnyBlew’s arc, it reads like a thesis statement for a phase that values boundaries, presence, and community as much as chart-ready sheen.”

This song is an ode to easy love, soft life-ing, and giving yourself permission to joy hard AF.🩵 I’m glad it’s resonating. And with just four releases left this year, I’m hyped to finish strong.

🎧 Afros & Audio Podcast Summit

I’m honored 🙏🏾 to be speaking at the 7th and final Afros & Audio Podcast Festival on Friday, October 17th, 2:00–2:45 PM 📅🕑 at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, MD 🏛️🌆.

I’ll be part of “Vulnerable, Black, and Free – Live Show,” a conversation about how authenticity, wellness, and vulnerability are superpowers for Black creatives. It’s about showing up fully in spaces that often ask us to shrink — and how we care for ourselves while doing it.

Huge thanks to Mike Brown and the Afros & Audio team for the invite.

🎟️ Tickets + details: www.afrosandaudio.com

📀 Release Round-Up

This year has been full of collaborations and releases that reflect the intention, community, and impact I strive for in everything I do:

• Trent Park – “Lil Ole Me” 🎶 Co-wrote this one with Trent and Mike Brown back at GLAAD’s Black Queer Creative Summit in 2023. Its our second co-write together, and the new video is stunning — proof of the magic that happens when community links up with purpose.

• Katini – “Soleil” ☀️ I helped produced the first Audio Ritual for Katini Skin this summer titled “Soleil” and the song just hit 60k Spotify streams 🎧 Katini recently spoke with Womanly Magazine about all the amazing work she’s doing across beauty, wellness, and music and it is pure inspiration.

• Xunami Muse – “Muva” video — directed by Jervelle Frederick and Jahmia Phillips — was just selected for the 2025 Queer Voices: NYC Film Festival with WerQfest. I help shape this track + served as Executive Producer on Xu’s debut album and couldn’t be more proud of the song, the video and our team for this achievement.

• Liisi LaFontaine – “Lost in Tulum” 🌴 An evergreen summer bop that finally got its shine with this gorgeous Karl Shakur–directed video. Proud of Liisi for bringing it back to life years later. If you’re in San Diego, catch her on stage in Benjamin-Laurence O’Keefe’s Huzzah!

💭 Final Thoughts

This fall, I’ll be wrapping up my contract at Meta — and I couldn’t be more proud of the work I’ve done in just two years. From signing Phillip Lewis and Ill Think in Ink as artist suppliers, to shaping sonic identity across Horizon Worlds, Instagram, and WhatsApp, it’s been a ride. Along the way I sharpened my skills as a copywriter, curator, A&R, and audio engineer — and learned what it really means to build at scale.

As this chapter closes, I’m calling in the next one. I’m seeking opportunities that align with my three pillars: Music Development, Creative Strategy, and Thought Leadership. If you know of something — or just want to build — shoot me a message or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Year one of this newsletter has been about showing up and finding my voice. Year two? Expansion, alignment, and deeper community. Thanks for rocking with me. 💫

If you want to chat, book some time on my calendar!

Peace,

Yawny 🩵

I came out here for All Points East, some sightseeing, and a little rest — and I’m so glad I did. This city feels like a home away from home on just my second visit, and it’s been feeding my inspiration in all the right ways.

It also happens to be a big week: a new release, a fresh co-write out in the wild, a podcast interview I’m proud of, and a really good feeling about the months ahead. Let’s dive in.

🎶 “I Like It” Out Now 😛🩵

As many of you know, I committed to releasing something every month this year — features, re-releases, remixes, demos, freestyles, and brand new music. But August’s drop might just be my favorite yet.

“I Like It” (produced by Eric Watkinz and mixed by Craig Levy) was born out of a challenge I gave myself last summer: write a queer love song for life after the clubs. What came out was a silly, disco-drenched ode to my relationship, soft life-ing, and all the little inside jokes that make growing old with your person feel like living in a rom-com.

This one feels special, and I’m excited to give it a proper push. Expect some remixes and an acoustic version before the year wraps. It’s never too late to release the song of summer, baybeee 🪩🩵✨

🌴 Speaking of song of the summer… Liisi LaFontaine – “Lost in Tulum”

I first connected with Liisi back during COVID while I was working at Hardcover. The little gay boy in me instantly recognized her from the Dreamgirls musical with Amber Riley and was hyped to be in the room with Broadway-level talent. Liisi is a powerhouse vocalist, no doubt — but honestly, she’s also one of the funniest and sweetest people I’ve ever worked with.

Now that we’re both based in New York, it’s been a joy to reconnect and cook up some music together for her full-length debut next year (it’s gonna be 🔥). In the meantime, she’s officially throwing her hat in the ring for song of the summer with “Lost in Tulum” — an ode to endless beach days, vacations with friends, and the magic of letting yourself get lost in it all.

Hit that streaming link, baybeeee 🏖️🍹✨

🎙 Detoxicity Podcast Episode 205

I’m back on Mike Joseph’s Detoxicity podcast for round 3 🎧. Our last convo was during the week I was packing up for my Pacific Northwest road trip in June 2023, so it felt extra special to reflect on everything that’s shifted since then.

Mike is consistent — curious, compassionate, and deeply committed to centering identity, healing, and humanity. Most of our best chats aren’t even the ones we record, but I’m glad a few of them are, because we get into it and drop a lot of gems.

Episode 205 captured one of those moments. We talked about music, queerness, resilience, and making space for the next generation. Raw, honest, joyful — a reflection of why I do what I do.

🎧 Listen here if you wanna tap in.

🏫 Workshops

Regarding pouring into the next generation… last week I had the chance to speak with students at Building Beats and Girls Write Now 💡. I don’t feel like an “expert,” but I do feel like someone who works really hard and creates with intention — and that qualifies me to share space with young creatives.

Building Beats’ students blew me away. Intentional, career-focused, asking sharp questions about how to make a living in this industry 💼🎶. Talking with them reminded me why these conversations around sustainability and reform are so crucial.

At Girls Write Now, Je’Vel and I ran Everything Can Be a Song. We showed mentees how to turn their scripts, books, and poems into music. Their energy was incredible, and it was powerful to see their eyes light up as they realized their words could live in a whole new form ✍🏾🎤.

If you want to support the future of the creative industry, these are two orgs worth checking out.

I’ll be recapping London in a later post, but my All Points East recap is already live on my Substack feed. You can also catch more of my random musings there — posts like:

✨ Why I “Post Like an Artist” 🎨
✨ Tyler, the Creator, duality, and giving myself permission to dance 🕺🏾
✨ Using content as accountability
✨ Negative self-talk during my songwriting years
✨ My GLAAD Black Queer Creative Summit reflection (congrats to Cohort 2 🥳)

That’s it for me this week ✨. Drop me a light blue heart 🩵 if you’re still rocking with me. Next month marks a year of this newsletter and I wanna do something special. Maybe a hang. We’ll see 👀.

Big love,
Yawny 🌀

I’ve been loving my output, a lot.
For me, intentionality + content = magic. Everything I put into the world has a purpose — whether it’s showing off my work to attract new opportunities, connecting with community, holding myself accountable, or just putting something positive out there.

Last week, I dropped a video about my journey as a songwriter and why I decided to walk away from it in the traditional sense after working with one of my heroes, Pharrell Williams 🎯.

I usually avoid name-dropping (feels icky), but I can admit now — that week in Miami changed everything in 2022. After years in the “songwriter” lane, I realized I’d been selling myself short. I wasn’t just a songwriter. I was a world-builder 🌍.

Since then, everything I’ve created has been a testament to trusting the universe, following my heart and maximizing my full vision🩵

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Lets get into some quick recaps!

🎤 “Lion’s Gate (Freestyle)” Love

“Lion’s Gate” was a different kind of release for me — not a throwaway but also not a big push, just me bridging my worlds: intentional music rooted in growth and evolution with fresh strategy and connection points.

The rollout as been about the bigger picture less me-me-me and more creating space for others to share their desires + affirmations 🙌 Thanks to everyone who has been comfortable enough to manifest with me during the Lion’s Gate portal.

💬 Favorite review? My mom:

“That song is your truth!!!! Love it!”

She saw me at my lowest in 2022 when I first wrote this song and was my biggest cheerleader during my rebuild. Shoutout to moms! Especially mine 💐.

Also, big thanks to Zillions Magazine for the love, they had this to say about the song:

“Honest, soulful, and clever… a meditation booming with rhythm… addressing burnout, healing, and artistic expression, all with attitude. It is music for people who think, who have hurt, and are still choosing to hope. It's raw-feeling yet incredibly refined, in a way that the freestyle form allows.”

🔥 Ate.

This year’s goal was one release a month. Partially to clear the hard drives, partially to attract me work and opportunities. Its been a lot of fun connecting in this way.

Another new song is coming before August ends, but until then, hit up the last 7 months on your platform of choice. “Lion’s Gate” is my fave so far… but “Bitch I’m Alright” has been running up the plays too so maybe spin the block on her.

Which one’s been your fave so far? 🎧

📚 Upcoming Workshops

Grateful I get to share my creativity + journey with the next generation ✨.

• Tonight: Building Beats — Music Business Week 🎶. Topic: my fave… rollouts.

• Saturday: Girls Write Now with Je’Vel — open to the public! Talking songwriting + world-building across mediums.
  🔗 Join us here » Girls Write Now Event

Want me at your workshop, panel, or event? Hit my email 💌 info@yawnyblew.com

🇬🇧 London + Sunday Sessions

By the next newsletter, I’ll be across the pond ✈️.
Part work trip, part vacay, all vibes.

London fam — let’s connect! If you’re in music, tech, or just a bihhh with vibes, send me a message. Or drop your fave park/museum recs so I can soak up all the best parts of the city.

I’ll be back in Sept and i’m feeling like it might be fun to do a full month of weekly one-off sessions 🎛️. Probably Sundays (but I can be flexible). Mix and matching some of my favorite folks, trying out different sounds and styles, just something fun to keep us all creative and communal. Let me know if you’d be down for something like this. 🩵

That’s me for now. Stay safe, inspired, hydrated, and in your bag 💧.

Peace ✌🏾
Yawny

My only callbacks on The Voice came when I sang Frank Ocean songs, and my first invite to co-write in L.A. was off a demo I recorded drunk about a fictional purple tiger. I was committed to the bit.

I kept my face off the artwork, turned songs into riddles, and for a while, it was fun folding myself into these layered characters and complicated storylines. But eventually, I hit a wall. I wanted the person who showed up to sessions — loud, silly, colorful — to start showing up in the music, too.
I needed it, because I was starting to lose myself in it all.

And that’s where the shift began.

“Lion’s Gate (Freestyle)” is a love letter to that transition. It’s a thank-you note to my past self for being brave enough to start over and wise enough to evolve. It’s a manifestation anthem born from a moment in 2022 when I was dreaming of the life I’m now living.

Today, I’m celebrating a version of myself I fought hard to meet:
The one who lets the light in.
The one who still feels deeply but now shares it in color.
The one who knows honesty can be joyful — and depth doesn’t always have to hide in mystery.

“Lion’s Gate (Freestyle)” is out now. It’s playful. It’s spiritual. It’s packed with manifestation energy and affirmations for anyone trying to make peace with their past while boldly stepping into their becoming.

And just for kicks? I gave y’all a blurry cover. Gotta keep a little mystique alive. LMFAO.

To the ones still figuring it out: same.
To the ones building new versions of themselves: I see you.
To the ones who forgot music can feel good — this one’s for us.

🦁🩵 Happy vortex season.

🎶 “Can’t Compete” Is Still THAT GIRL

If “Lion’s Gate” is my open-hearted “I’m ready” moment, “Can’t Compete” is the strut. The fire. The flex.

This song — which I first dropped in 2022 with amir. — just hit 359M+ views and 240K+ video uses on TikTok in the last 90 days.

From the beginning, I’ve been hyper-intentional with this one: rereleasing it in different versions, pairing it with visuals, running ads, pitching playlists, letting it evolve and expand. Every step has been on purpose.

These numbers aren’t just a win for a song. They’re a win for patience. For long-game rollouts. For believing in a record and continuing to push it over time.

I’m beyond grateful to everyone using the track in glow-ups, affirmations, workouts, transitions. “Can’t Compete” was born from confidence and community, and watching it resonate with so many people is its own kind of manifestation.

I’m excited to continue exploring sync opportunities for this song and sharpening my strategy so I can keep helping other artists do the same. If you’ve got a project and want support on your rollout — let’s talk.

☀️ Soleil Almost to 40K

A quick celebration for one of my favorite releases this year: “Soleil,” the affirmational Afrobeat-inspired anthem I created with the radiant Katini Yamaoka, is approaching 40K streams on Spotify!

This song was built around wellness and light — tied to Katini’s skincare line, Katini Skin, and its launch at Sephora in May. It’s been so dope to watch her community show up for the music just as much as the products.

If you haven’t yet, listen to “Soleil” the next time you’re doing your morning routine. We built it as a daily ritual, and I hope it brings peace and presence to your day.

🇬🇧 London, I’m Coming!

I’ll be in London at the end of August, and I’m hoping to connect with local creatives while I’m there.

If you’re an artist, writer, producer, photographer, or just someone vibing in the R&B, alternative, or dance space — especially if you’re Black and/or queer — hit me up.

@yawnyblew#onthisday ready for another London adventure!

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I’ve been super inspired lately by UK artists like Cleo Sol, Sugababes, FKA Twigs, KWN, and JADE, and I’d love to meet folks in those worlds. Or just build with anyone creating from a place of honesty and curiosity.

Let’s link.

💌 Quick Links

• 🎧 Lion’s Gate (Freestyle) — stream it now

• 🔥 Can’t Compete — trending on TikTok

• 🌞 Soleil — your affirmational anthem

• 📨 Let’s build — reach out here

Dasss it for me. Drink water, ask the universe for what you want and go make it happen. Also Dominic turn 13 next week. He accepts treats, belly rubs, or donations for a car rental so he can hang out the window for a whole weekend 🤣🐶

I first read it back in 2014, and promptly quit my job, went back to school, and started taking my creativity (and career) way more seriously. It’s the reason I journal the way I do, every morning. It’s why my go-to pep talk is still: “Leap, and the net will appear.”

So when I picked it back up last month while locking in on my sophomore album, I figured it’d be light work. I didn’t feel blocked. I just wanted a tune-up. A few more tools.

But turns out… I was blocked.
Not creatively — ego-wise.

I was walking around like, “I already know this. I’ve healed. I’m evolved.”
Then I hit Chapter 2 — the one about poisonous playmates and crazy makers — and whew. The mirror showed up.

The crazy maker in my life right now isn’t loud or obvious. It’s more like a feeling. A pattern. That quiet energy that claps with one hand and cuts you with the other. The “I love your ideas” that quickly becomes, “But let’s be realistic.”

And that’s been a trigger for me— because I’m someone who loves to collaborate, loves to laugh, loves to uplift. But not everyone deserves access to those parts of you if they can’t meet you with the same warmth and respect.

In those interactions, I’ve found the best response is to keep shining. Keep showing up. Stand firm in who I am and what I believe in.

Nothing destroys a crazy maker like watching an unblocked creative thrive. And nothing destroys an ego block than a quiet humbling from the universe.

We’re never too far into the journey to be reminded who we are — and why we started.

If anyone else is currently reading (or re-reading) The Artist Way, lets chat! Would love to discuss the book with others on their creative journeys.

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With that said, lets jump into this weeks recap!

🎶 Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC)

I got to attend LAMC in New York this year — something I’d had on my radar for a while. A few years back, I thought Latin music might be my shortcut into the industry, but I never fully gave myself the chance. I didn’t feel “Latino enough” or like I had the right sound.

Now, I’m in a different place. I’m not creating to prove anything — just to tell my truth. And this conference came at the perfect time, reminding me that how I express my culture is valid, real, and worth exploring.

Throughout the week, I got to sit in on some awesome panels. The “Creating a Successful Release Strategy” discussion with TikTok and Meta (shoutout to Kat De Jesus and Maria Sanchez!) was a highlight — so many gems from folks at Warner Music Latina, Sony Music Latin, Yágueri, Guerrera PR and more. I also really enjoyed the “How I Wrote That Song” Q&A with Meme del Real and BMI’s Jesus Gonzalez — it’s always refreshing to hear the stories behind the records.

Outside the panels, I had an amazing morning at the TikTok/SoundOn offices — huge shoutout to their team for the warm welcome and insightful programming. I capped off the week at my Meta home office, where I fully abused the photo booth Maria set up for us (and dragging Madi along for the ride).

LAMC was especially beautiful because I got to see so many queer Afro-Latinx creatives there. It felt like a quiet “I see you” from the universe.

Shoutout to all the amazing artists and execs who traveled from all over the world for it — and to the folks behind the scenes who made it all feel intentional and warm.

I definitely came away from it with more ideas, potential collaborators, and a renewed desire to co-write more in Spanish. If you work in the Latin music space, hmu! Lets create :)

🌈 Yawny & Friends PRESS

Last month I dropped Yawny & Friends Vol. 1 — a compilation project to celebrate the first half of my year of monthly releases.

Big thank you to everyone who’s streamed it. Seeing “Shade” pop off while Aja is slaying All Stars every week has been surreal. It’s also been dope getting new eyes on my collaborations with Alibi Music.

Some recent press I’m proud of:

• AfroTrax: Yawny & Friends Vol. 1 EP Shines with Queer Anthemic Grit

• BWM: YawnyBlew & Je’Vel on Working with Xunami Muse, Making Music, and More (shoutout to Bryce Quartz for always sharing his platform!)

• ExtraVaFrench: “Bitch I’m Alright” is a quiet storm of lo-fi resilience

I’m really at my best when I get to collaborate with people I love and respect, so celebrating that through a project like this is an honor. Vol. 2 is already underway and I can’t wait for you to hear what’s coming next.

You can stream Yawny & Friends Vol. 1 everywhere.

🎧 July & Beyond

I’m deep in prep mode for H2, including a new drop at the end of this month 👀

If you want a sneak peek, you can preview my July, August, and September releases via Untitled. I love this app — it makes sharing unreleased music easy and collaborative.

These new songs mark a shift. They’re more personal, more vulnerable, and they usher in the start of my sophomore album era. I’m excited (and a little nervous) to finally share what these last few years have really been like.

💭 Final Thoughts

Wherever you are in your creative journey, I hope you’re giving yourself some grace. Drinking your water. Protecting your spirit from the crazy makers of the world.

You’ve got everything you need to thrive — sometimes you just need a reminder.
So here it is: Keep going. You got this.

Big love,
—YawnyBlew

P.S. I’ll be in London in late August. If you’re in the city and want to connect — especially if you’re a Black, queer, or music-adjacent creative — hit me up. Let’s connect! ✨

P.P.S. If you’re enjoying this newsletter, forward it to a friend or share it on social — it helps more than you know 💌

Pride definitely feels like one big party. I love tapping in with queer community on such a macro scale and seeing us celebrated and uplifted in meaningful ways. This year felt particularly special because the events I attended really aligned with what I value most.

Pride and queerness can sometimes feel one-note in how they’re portrayed, so I was glad this year’s festivities reflected my intersections, the beautiful complexity of queerness and identity, and the things I champion most: community and creativity.

🎤 Unmuted: A Pride Panel with Queer Capita & Epidemic Sound
Huge love to Queer Capita and Epidemic Sound for hosting one of the best panels I’ve been part of. I got to show up not just as a creative, but as an A&R and community builder — and speak to what it means to support queer artists from all sides of the table. I saw so many familiar faces, met some brilliant new folks, and left feeling connected and recharged. (Also my bff from high school came 🥹)

📚 Threads Pride Book Fair
I pulled up to the Threads Pride Book Fair and got to connect with authors, creatives, and folks across Meta. I even got to see Bob The Drag Queen and grab a copy of their book — which was wild because years ago we met to develop music around that project when it was just a mixtape and a show concept. Watching it evolve has been incredible. Moments like these remind me how far I’ve come, and how lucky I am to do this work.

🙏🏽 Retro(aid): A Black Queer Church Experience
I also attended a Black queer church service that was really special. It was called Retro(aid). Singing, poetry, affirmations, prayer, deep breaths — it felt like healing. I left that space overwhelmed with gratitude and this quiet whisper from the universe:

There’s more.
More community.
More truth.
More connection.

🎶 Free Serpentwithfeet Show
I caught a free Serpentwithfeet show by the water and it was amazing. He’s an artist who, like me, exists between genres, communities, and expectations, and yet radiates something deeply pure. The music, the moment, the intimacy — it felt like home. It reminded me of the power in building your own lane.

📵 (Mostly) Off the Grid
All of this took place while I was observing a (partial) social media break. I’m re-reading The Artist’s Way, and last week was the “media deprivation” test. It was tough. I slipped up a few times. So much of my work requires me to be online — and most of my downtime involves vegging out in front of the TV.

Still, I came out of it more present and aware of how much time I waste scrolling. It reminded me to use social media more intentionally — as a tool, not a time-sink. And since it’s summer, I’m challenging myself to swap virtual time for more real-world experiences.

If you’re in New York — or passing through London, Miami, or Los Angeles — let’s link up IRL this summer. Hit me. ✨

🧠 Reflections on Songwriting & Letting Go
I recently read an article titled “The ‘Pure’ Songwriter Is Disappearing — and It’s Everyone’s Problem” and it really hit me. It reminded me of the world I stepped away from so I could build the life I have now.

I still mourn the 25-year-old version of me who packed up and moved to LA to chase a dream. I feel for the kid who took two trains and a bus to get to the studio, who interned at record labels between school and a full time job, who believed if he just kept going, it would all work out.

And truthfully, it did. Just not the way I expected.

Healing from that broken dream gave me new dreams — and a new purpose. These days I feel seen, valued, and aligned with the work I get to do. And I still write. I still create. I still collaborate. I redefined what success looked like for me.

If you're a songwriter or creative struggling right now, I see you. I hope you never forget how powerful you are. If you can dream up a song, a painting, or a story — you can dream up a life that honors who you are.

I did it. You can too.

We deserve more — especially the songwriters and unsung heroes of the creative industries. I hope systemic change comes, but in the meantime, I’m committed to making smaller shifts wherever I can. I hope the ripples reach you.

Finish June strong! Catch you next month! 🩵
-Yawny

It’s Pride and Black Music Month, and I just want to say how proud I am to exist at this intersection and to be able to live freely and authentically. With everything going on in the world, it’s more important than ever to celebrate yourself and the people around you.

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This past week has been a lot of that for me. I’ve been deep in development for my sophomore album, while also being outside and soaking up as much joy as I can during this weird-ass rainy summer in New York.

Special shoutout to Grammy House NYC for hosting an amazing Pride event this weekend. I got to kick it with my boy Ty McKinnie (who killed it earlier that day at BK Pride) and reconnect with my extended creative community, including folks from the GLAAD Black Queer Creative Summit. It felt really good to be reminded of the larger universe I get to be a part of — and all the amazing things we’re doing.

With that said, I’m super excited to kick off this week’s highlights, because they are really special. Let’s dive right in:

🎉 Yawny & Friends, Vol. 1 🎉

I dropped a compilation project today called Yawny & Friends, Vol. 1 — a collection of my favorite releases from the past few months and a personal check-in with the goal I set to release something every month this year.

It’s been a lot of fun, and this project feels like the perfect way to celebrate the halfway point — during Pride and Black Music Month, no less!

The album features:

• RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Xunami Muse & Aja

• The always brilliant Je’Vel, Mike Brown, SADBOYMUSIC, COLDPRESSEDPAPI, 3DDI3 WAYN3, She’s Ryan, Tahjere, and Eric Watkins

• Plus standout tracks from me and amir. from our album with Alibi Music

You can also check out the companion playlist, where I highlight some of my favorite co-writes with Keiynan Lonsdale, Pyra, Jussie Smollett, Stout, and Boyfriend.

It feels amazing to be a part of all this great music, and I’m really glad I get to keep sharing it with y’all and continue connecting and collaborating in new and exciting ways.

🏳️‍🌈 Unmuted — A Pride Panel & Mixer in NYC

This month, I was invited to join a panel hosted by the amazing folks at Queer Capita, in partnership with Epidemic Sound.

🎤 Unmuted: A Mixer & Panel Celebrating Queer Artists
📍 Epidemic Sound NYC Office
🗓️ Thu, Jun 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM
🕖 Mix & Mingle + DJ Set
🎙️ Panel moderated by Goldie Harris (UnitedMasters)

If you’re in New York, pull up — I’d love to see you! 👉 Click here to RSVP

✨ Closing Thoughts

This time last year, I started working with Meta’s Music Development team as an A&R. It’s truly been the opportunity of a lifetime — a chance to funnel 20 years of music industry experience into a team and program I care deeply about.

It’s even more meaningful to do it alongside longtime collaborators like Phil Lewis and Nikal Fieldz. Check out the music we’ve developed together on IG under Phury and Ill Think in Ink, and feel free to shoot me any content you make with it!

I’m excited to keep growing as an artist, executive, and thought leader. Thank you for all the support on this journey. And if we haven’t caught up in a while, shoot me an email! Let’s reconnect.

Enjoy the rest of Pride and Black Music Month.
See y’all in July.

With love,
Yawny

In that quiet space, I realized: my real dream wasn’t about accolades or fame. It was about freedom — creative, financial, emotional — and living a life filled with love, purpose, and meaning. Once I got clear on that, everything started to shift. The dream got bigger, but also more grounded.

Last month was a beautiful reflection of that clarity.

I spent my mom’s 60th birthday with her — something I missed out on for years. We celebrated her life with family and friends, and it felt like a true gift to be fully present. We also saw Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter show together, and watching Bey on stage performing with her daughters, rooted in joy and legacy, I saw what a full life can look like when you allow yourself to have all the parts — not just the work.

I was reminded that the dream means nothing without people who care about you, without balance, and without joy and purpose.

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In that spirit, I am excited to dive into this weeks highlights.

🧖🏽‍♀️ “Soleil (A Katini Skin Audio Ritual)” Out June 6 ✨

Katini is a friend and collaborator who constantly reminds me what intentional, joyful work/life balance looks like. We first connected during my “all or nothing” days in LA. I remember driving to our first session in a car with no brakes because I was so desperate not to miss an opportunity.

Reconnecting now, in a healthier chapter, has felt incredibly rewarding. She’s doing amazing things with Katini Skin — her award-winning facial oil-serums which just launched at Sephora. I was honored to co-create a special song with her and Grammy-winning producer Joshua Giunta to celebrate self-care, self-love, and the power of a morning ritual.

The song is called “Soleil,” named after her new brightening serum, and it’s an ode to grounding yourself each morning. We were super inspired by Cleo Sol’s “One Love” and Beyoncé’s “Spirit.” “Soleil” is deeply aligned with where I’m at creatively — music rooted in intention with the ability to elevate experiences.

“Soleil” drops Friday and is available for pre-save now

🏳️‍🌈 Yawny & Friends — Celebrating Pride and Creative Community

It’s Pride Month, baybeee! Supporting and uplifting my community through music and collaboration has given my life so much meaning in recent years.

When everything fell apart a few years ago, one of the biggest realizations I had was that I wanted to fully stand in my authenticity. I wanted to help make space for voices like mine in every room I walked into.

That energy has been there since the beginning — from my first placements on Empire w/ Jussie Smollett, to two genre-defying EPs with Pyra, to co-creating with artists like Keiynan Lonsdale (whose album was a lifeline for me during the pandemic. Major thanks to Phil Lewis for making that connection.)

This year, I renamed my Pride playlist Yawny & Friends because every artist on it is someone I admire deeply and am honored to work with. It’s wild to look back and see how far I’ve come — from those Empire sessions at Rodney Jerkins’ house in 2017 to executive producing Xunami’s NDA: New Drag Age album this year. This playlist is a celebration of queer art, collaboration, and community.

Stream Yawny & Friends on Spotify 🩵💿➡️

🗃️ From the Vault: My Beyonce Demos 🪩

My songwriting career often involved writing for months on end, hoping for a break — and sometimes, right in the middle of the hustle, I’d make something just for me that shifted everything.

In 2020–2021, I worked with Dave Hamlin and wrote two demos he went crazy about. He told me they were shortlisted for a project he couldn’t talk about. I was excited — mainly because those songs were things I wrote from the heart, not for the pitch.

“Camera’s Ready” was inspired by ballroom culture and artists like Azealia Banks and RuPaul. The other was a ballad called “Breathe,” about reflecting on life and taking a moment to be still. Eventually, I found out he was working on Beyoncé’s album(s) — and realized how close I was to being on Renaissance or Cowboy Carter.

The version of me who moved to LA to risk it all for a placement would’ve been gutted to be that close and not land it. But when I found out in 2022 what he’d been holding those songs for, it actually set me free. My biggest potential placements came from songs I made for myself. Not the ones I spent hours tweaking, wondering “what would the label want?” Just me, being Yawny.

“Camera’s Ready” gave me the push to make DREAMBIIG and Bouncy ‘n’ Pretty, while “Breathe” has been something I revisit whenever I need to remember I’ve always had everything I needed.

If it’s good enough for Beyoncé, it’s good enough for me 😂

You can hear those demos on my Untitled account if you’re curious.

🏀 Parting Thoughts — Let the Dream Chase You

This weekend, I went to Orlando to support my partner in a Pride basketball tournament. Being present for someone I love while he does what he loves? That’s what it’s all about. And to do so surrounded by community was beautiful and affirming. (Also they won which is always a plus)

I hope my fellow creatives are making time to live their lives. Chase your dreams, yes — but let those dreams chase you too. Rest. Play. Exist. I promise it’ll make you a better artist and a fuller human.

Catch y’all in a few weeks.

🩵 Yawny