To call Melbourne-based artist Yeo an 'up-and-coming whiz kid' at this point in his career seems condescending: he's already here, he's been here, and he's determined to stay here.
Yeo's third release, 'Ganbaru', will be released this month. A mix of his R&B-infused pop influences and chilled electronica, Yeo says 'Ganbaru' is the album that “brings me back to the same style as when I started, in a weird way”.
The album's title, 'Ganbaru', is derived from a Japanese word, which Yeo says is used to “tell someone to hang in there, or say good luck to them”. This is the message of the album: work hard and keep on truckin'.
You might associate those words with Yeo's own perseverance with his music career, but he says he also wants it to be a message to other people trying to find their way in the music industry.
Putting in the hard work seems to be no problem for the young muso. With the recording process for 'Ganbaru', Yeo says perfecting the art of making an album is about being careful. “You take more time on things. You learn to be more careful the more you do it.”
Yeo's music has been a mix of genres: his long-time love for R&B is obvious, while he says there was even a point where things got a little bit country.
Yeo's received plenty of airplay thanks to triple j and a lot of attention for his well-produced live shows in particular. But it was the single 'Girl', from his 2014 album 'Come Find Me' that really got people's attention. But the music world first came calling long before that.
The defining moment for Yeo was the second he received his high school results. “Music was the only class I did well in,” he says. “I just figured if I'm going to do something forever it should be the thing that I'm good at: the only thing I'm good at.”
A solid decision, especially if you know you've got the talent to back it up. Aside from work on the album and prepping for the upcoming shows, Yeo's also been working as Emma Louise's tour musical director. “Basically I make her live show happen,” he explains.
Despite suffering a cold recently, Yeo hasn't let anything keep him from the mammoth task. He says he just had to work through it, because he's such a big part of Emma's show.
Part of the job was working with Emma Louise when she supported Sam Smith's national tour. Yeo even got to meet the sweet-voiced 'Stay With Me' crooner, though he caught the poor guy at the end of a long stretch of shows. “I did meet him at the very end. He kinda keeps to himself. I think it's just that he meets like a million people a day: it's hard being famous.”
Yeo's doing well in the fame game himself, with a national tour covering a lot of ground. “It's only nine dates but there's a lot of work that goes into it,” Yeo says. “And on top of that, I'm working my day job.”
Yeo's not exactly a newbie in the business anymore, but he knows he's still young and has plenty to learn. “The production's definitely improved as I've learned more,” he says of the new album's sound.
Yeo also credits his ever-changing style and mix of genres to the fact he's influenced by the music he loves. Yeo says that's the reason his sound kind of changes around as time goes on: because of what he happens to be listening to. In a way, he basically sets out to make his own version of the music he loves, “which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it”.
Yeo intends to keep going with his music as long as possible, even though he recalls attempting to quit the business at one point. “It didn't work out.” But that's all in the spirit of 'Ganbaru' after all: he toughed it out.
And the future of Yeo? “Yeo might not be around forever, but I'll be making music in one form or another for the rest of my life.”
Written by Stephanie O'Neill
Yeo Tour Dates
Fri 26 Feb - World Bar (Sydney)Fri 4 Mar - Pirie Social Club (Adelaide)
Thu 10 Mar - SCU Uni Bar (Lismore)
Fri 11 Mar - The Foundry (Brisbane)
Sat 12 Mar - Sol Bar (Sunshine Coast)
Fri 18 Mar - Settlers (Margaret River)
Sat 19 Mar - Jack Rabbit Slims (Perth)
Thu 24 Mar - Howler (Melbourne)
Sat 26 Mar - Transit Bar (Canberra)
