Yeija connects with us to talk about her new release "Spell On You" and the journey behind the song
- STAFF
- Jul 22
- 9 min read
By: Staff
Yeija’s “Spell On You” is a mesmerizing triumph, showcasing her electrifying talent and emotional depth.
Yeija’s latest track, "Spell On You," is a powerful blend of raw emotion, captivating storytelling, and a hauntingly beautiful vocal performance. With every note, this song invites listeners into a world where vulnerability and strength intertwine, and it’s clear that Yeija is not just creating music; she’s crafting a soundtrack for the soul. The track sets the stage for a much-anticipated journey, one that will explore themes of heartbreak, self-destruction, and healing across her upcoming EP, DEVIL´S ROOM.
But what’s behind the music? What does it take to transform heartache into melody, and how does Yeija’s unique cultural background shape the sounds that we hear today? In this one-on-one interview, we talked with the artist to dive deeper into her creative process, the powerful influences behind her work, and what’s next on the horizon.
Scroll down and read on for a closer look at the artist behind the music, Yeija, like you’ve never heard her before.
Begin Interview:
Hello Yeija, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. For the fans meeting you for the first time, is Yeija your given name or a stage name? What inspired you to choose that for your artist persona?
A. Yeija is a stage name. It doesn’t come from anywhere specific, which kind of mirrors how I’ve always felt. I’m half Japanese and half British. I was born in the UK but raised most of my life in Germany, and I’ve never fully identified with just one place or culture. Funny enough, at first my stage name was “Yei,” which means "flourishing" in Japanese, but it felt incomplete. I added “ja” to give it softness and femininity, and the result was something completely new. It’s not tied to any one origin, and I like that.
Q. We absolutely loved your vocals! The forward placement in the mix was a fantastic engineering choice—it really draws the listener's attention and enhances the entire performance. When did you first discover your voice, and what was the pivotal moment in your life that led you from singing in the mirror to recording in a professional setting?
A. Thank you. Honestly, I didn’t start taking proper vocal lessons or learning technique until a few years ago, and I am still learning new things every day. It is an ongoing process. I started off as a shower singer, and when I was 7, I began taking piano lessons. I found out my piano teacher was also a singing teacher, so we slowly shifted from classical piano to singing pop songs with chords. It wasn’t serious, more just for fun. We never really focused on vocal technique, and I did that for about 7 years. After that, I always wanted to keep singing, but my family couldn’t afford lessons at the time.
About 4 years ago, I came across my current vocal coach, Anh-Khoa Trần, who helped me discover not just technique but also my sound as an artist. I learned that singing is mental, spiritual, and it became something therapeutic for me. It took me a while to find my voice, and I feel like it will always keep evolving as I enjoy experimenting with my sound.
Q. As a teaser description, what would you tell someone about this song to intrigue them about its meaning and get them interested in listening to it?
A. Okay, I’d probably describe it as a modern cinematic Disney pop song with a twist of RnB. Honestly, just be open. If you like it, you like it. If you don’t, maybe you’ll like another song of mine, because every song I make has a completely different vibe and genre. But if you don’t resonate with my tone of voice, you probably will not like me lol.
Q. Where do you start the production of your music—i.e., in a home recording studio or with an outside producer? How do you finalize your finished work—self-mixed/ mastered or another source?
A. Every song has a different approach. Usually, I write the song beforehand to some chords or a sample. Then producers add their spice, and I like to be there so I can give my input. I do all the vocal production myself, and I outsource the mixing. I have learned the basics of production and mixing, but I would not trust myself to mix my own stuff yet, because it is a skill in itself. I just like being able to communicate my ideas properly.
Q. Your upcoming EP "DEVIL´S ROOM” explores themes of heartbreak, self-destruction, and healing. Can you talk about a specific moment in your life when music became the sanctuary you needed to navigate those emotions?
A. It’s a constant process. You never know what life will throw at you next. There isn’t just one moment where I turned to music and everything was “fixed”. It’s a constant journey. And the key is to keep showing up for yourself, especially through difficult emotions.
I am definitely still in my healing era. Not gonna lie, there’s still plenty of moments where I want to act self destructive, not just out of heartbreak but from feeling out of balance within myself. Writing music has always been a place of reflection.
One of the most challenging phases was when I was working with a producer who was also my boyfriend at the time. After we broke up, he broke his promise on giving me the stems for the songs we had worked on together. He withheld them from me for eight months. At the time, I thought I’d lost that music forever. It was messy. Those eight months were extremely challenging. It felt like god was testing, if music was really what I wanted. In that time I built my own studio in my home, started all my songs from scratch and refound my sound. Even the painful things happen for a reason.
Q. As a member of the Born 2 Sing choir, you've had the opportunity to perform in powerful spaces like the Elbphilharmonie and collaborate with artists like Samy Deluxe. This sounds so amazing, what were these experiences like?
A. I love the Born 2 Sing community. I’m so grateful for Anh-Khoa Trần, the mother of B2S, for creating such a safe yet boundary pushing space for people.
Unfortunately, I was in Japan filming music videos during that Elbphilharmonie performance, but just last week we performed at “Samy Deluxe’s Blockparty” — and in general, performing together is always such a beautiful experience and very different than being on stage alone. The energy in the room is always magical, and you can really feel the impact we have on the audience.
Q. Your upcoming EP, DEVIL´S ROOM is described as a cycle that captures both chaos and closure. How do you think the process of creating these songs has impacted your own personal healing journey?
A. I think while I was writing these songs, I was still deep in the chaos. Only now am I starting to find closure, during the release. Every song holds a different emotion. Sometimes I feel like it’s my alter ego speaking, sometimes it’s my wounded inner child, and other times it’s my future self talking to me. I like to feel through all of it first- and I guess I still am.
Q. Being part of a choir rooted in uplifting BIPOC voices must have given you a strong sense of community. How has being surrounded by diverse voices influenced your perspective on music as a tool for healing and empowerment?
A. It made me feel seen, understood, and not alone. It’s more than just singing- we cry together and we laugh together.
It pushes me and inspires me, especially when it comes to performance. I used to be very anxious on stage, and sometimes I still overthink a lot. But singing with them has helped me focus less on perfection and appreciate the connection more.
Q. The theme of "identity and belonging" is central to your music. In what ways do you feel that your music helps bridge the gap between the different aspects of your own identity, and how do you hope it resonates with listeners experiencing similar struggles?
A. This question really stood out to me, so I took a minute to write down my thoughts in my notes. That’s why it might read a little differently from the rest.
Sometimes I don’t even know who the hell I want to be. Growing up with hybrid identity in a foreign country, I often felt lost and disconnected. Even my accent confuses me sometimes. I catch myself switching depending on who I’m talking to, or where I am, and I still don’t really know which one feels the most like me.
I’ve tried to be all of them, and I’ve also tried to pick one. And still, I’ve felt like none. I used to think that I had to filter out parts of myself to feel a sense of belonging and be taken seriously. This is something I’m still learning every day.
To me, identity is not a fixed thing or something you have to “grow into”. It’s already in you, even if you’re still on the path, learning how to bring it to the surface. I believe we all have a multifaceted personality. It’s all our ego anyway. I could literally wake up and decide to be a completely different person than yesterday.
Still, that doesn’t erase the pressure society puts on us or how quickly the world tries to label us.
You’re allowed to be in-between—to be layered, chaotic, contradicting, ever-changing, and still unsure of who you are right now.
Those feelings are what influence my music.
Each song holds a different side of me, sonically, emotionally, in feeling, in character. Even the way I act, perform, or use my voice shifts between songs, because I’m not trying to stick to one emotion or genre. When you shuffle my EP, you won’t know what version of me you’re going to meet next.
My music doesn’t try to force one version of yourself. It creates a space where everything can exist at once.
You don’t need a box to belong.
Q. Heartbreak and self-destruction are such intense themes to explore. As an artist, how do you navigate expressing these raw emotions while still maintaining a sense of hope and strength for both yourself and your audience?
A. Whatever comes, comes. When I write, I don’t try to force a hopeful narrative. Most of the time, that hope shows up on its own—almost like it’s balancing out the heaviness, because duality exists in everything. There’s light even in pain. There’s softness inside destruction.
Q. The process of healing is often nonlinear. As you reflect on the stages of healing you’re portraying in "DEVIL´S ROOM,” is there a particular stage you feel most connected to in your personal life, and why?
A. I think I feel most connected to the grief part- accepting that you have to let go and take that illusion to the grave. I’m still not fully over it, but once the EP drops you can ask me again ;) Sometimes the writing comes quicker than the actual processing lmao.
Q. Do you have a favorite song from your early years of listening to your favorite bands—one of your favorite artists you'd love to cover in the studio because it still feels deeply connected to who you are today?
A. I can’t really decide on just one song — I listened to so many different artists growing up. I remember having all of Rihanna’s CDs and playing them on my CD player when I was eight, feeling like the baddest hahaha. She’s definitely a huge inspiration to me, not only because of how unapologetic she is, but also because of the way she’s embodied so many different genres and styles.
Q. Many artists hit a few walls along the way. Have there been times you questioned continuing with music? What helped you stay committed to your path?
A. I’ve never wanted to give up or questioned continuing with music — that’s crazy. But of course, there have been days where self-doubt just hits me.
Q. What are your wish list top 3 venues to perform at?
A. Tiny Desk, London´s O2 Arena, in a small pub somewhere in Newcastle for my family over Christmas.
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or artistic perspective?
A. My mother teaches me so much about perspective, while my therapist helps me understand how the mind, body, and soul are connected. Even “difficult” people have helped me grow a lot.
Q. What do you want people to remember most about you after hearing this song and reading this interview?
A. You are loved and more than enough!
Q. And finally, what’s next? Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be excited about? We'd love to be the first to share the news!
A. I have so many songs that are just waiting to get out there. First, I’m dropping six singles, followed by my EP “DEVIL´S ROOM, and then I’ll just see where my path takes me. I’m also hoping to move back to the UK. Guess we’ll find out.
Yeija, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
