YANG

Meet London-born UK Open Mic performer, YANG:

YANG

Hi YANG, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Solo

How old are you?

Where were you born?

London

Where did you grow up?

London

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

London definitely has an atmosphere so it affected my personality and my music massively. Although I’m strongly influenced by American alternative rock my music has an unmistakably British flavour.

Where are you based now, and why?

I’m based in London after several years in San Francisco, California. I wanted to reconnect with my London roots

What got you into making music in the first place?

I was so electrified and inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin when I was 13 that all I wanted to do was emulate them or at least follow them on the trail they were blazing.

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing, Guitar, Piano

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

Nirvana would be near the top of the list. Kurt Cobain is one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th Century. Up there with The Beatles. Sweet melodies blended with unusual harmonies and thumping, life-affirming drums and bass. He also had one of the greatest rock voices of all time. Totally unique.

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

I usually start with a passage of melody that’s popped into my head. Then figure out the chords for it. Then try and come up with other melodies / chords for other sections and slowly start building the song. The lyrics almost always come last.

Why did you get into playing them in the first place?

As a way of keeping in touch with an audience without the pressures of the music industry. It feels great to immediately share my material with people, especially new or unreleased material.

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

It’s normal to be a bit nervous but just focus on what you’re doing and the audience will be naturally drawn to you.

What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?

My occasional bouts of stage fright!

What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?

I did one at the Foundry in London 20 years ago and it was a riot! (Figuratively speaking) It also resulted in multiple bands being formed.

If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?

Yes

What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?

Not getting enough exposure. The goal is to reach as many people as possible but how? On a limited budget it’s very challenging to pay the necessary promotions on social media etc. Hence open mics are a kind of antidote to all that 21st Century social media striving.