You have accomplished so much in such a short time, but can you give me a brief background regarding your journey in music so far?
Yoyoka: I was born in the countryside of Hokkaido, Japan, and grew up in a house surrounded by wheat fields. My dad had built a music studio at home as a hobby, so I grew up in an environment where I could play various instruments 24/7. That’s how I got interested in drums, and I started jamming with my dad when I was just a one-year-old. By the time I was four, I was performing shows almost every weekend, and my family and I created lots of original songs together.
When I was eight, my drum cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” got featured by NPR, Billboard, and Rolling Stone, and it was shared by artists like Robert Plant, Chad Smith, Sheryl Crow, and Hayley Williams. After that, I got to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show twice and had the chance to perform with Cyndi Lauper and Fall Out Boy. But then, when the pandemic hit, all my plans were canceled, and I went through a really sad two years.
During that time, I started wanting to push my own musical limits, make sure I wouldn’t have any regrets in life, and use my music to make the world a better place. So, I got an artist visa, and in 2022, my family and I moved to California. My family gave up their home and jobs to support my future, and I’m so grateful for their tough decision.
The first year and a half in the U.S. was really hard, but I kept working on music little by little. Thanks to the support of so many people, I was able to release my album in October.
What drew you to playing drums rather than any other instrument? Do you play any other instruments?
Yoyoka: I started playing drums when I was one, so I honestly don’t know why I was drawn to them. I actually learned drums before I learned how to speak Japanese, so it feels like my first language. Besides drums, I play bass (I was in the bass department at the Oakland School for the Arts). I also play a little bit of guitar and piano, and I create music using Logic Pro X.
What other drummers do you admire, and which, if any, do you feel influenced by?
Yoyoka: I really admire Chris Coleman and Nate Smith. I also look up to Anderson.Paak, Joe Travers, and Simon Phillips.
For Teen covers a lot of musical sounds and styles. Was it always the plan to explore so many genres, or did that just happen as you were working on the songs?
Yoyoka: Yes, I planned it that way! I get bored easily, so I don’t enjoy albums where all the songs sound the same, or long songs that feel repetitive. After moving to the U.S., I got exposed to genres outside of just rock and pop. When I started working on my album, I knew I wanted to include as many different styles as possible and collaborate with various musicians and producers. The actual songs started to take shape around the end of last year, and I was surprised (in a good way!) that it ended up being 14 tracks.
Were the songs written to fit your chosen collaborators, or did the collaborators themselves guide the songs into their finished form?
Yoyoka: It really depended on the song. In most cases, I started with demo tracks or idea sketches I created on my iPhone or Logic Pro X, and then we worked together on arrangements and co-writing —like with “Hello Sunshine,” “Keychain,” and “Sky Blue.” On the other hand, for songs like “Time Travel” and “Shooting Star,” I focused solely on being the drummer. For “Home Bestie,” I wrote the lyrics and music and played all the instruments myself.
What has the move from Japan to Los Angeles been like? What do you miss about Japan, and what do you love about the place you now call home?
Yoyoka: Moving was really tough. We barely had any connections, and we could hardly speak English. We didn’t have an agent or staff, and even renting a house was difficult. At one point, we lived without gas for two months, got stuck for five days because of a landslide, my mom was in a hit-and-run accident on the freeway, and there were even times when we couldn’t use a proper toilet. Surprisingly, I don’t miss Japan as much as I thought I would. But I do miss the hot springs the most—and, of course, the food.
As for where I live now, I love the weather. Hokkaido is like Minnesota, where snow covers everything for about a third of the year, so this is a huge change!
What does the future look like for you, both musically and otherwise? Are there any items on your wishlist that you hope to make happen?
Yoyoka: Musically, I want to keep growing both as a drummer and as an artist. I’d love to support singers, play jazz, start my own band, and perform with my family band at different festivals. I also really enjoy recording, so I want to experience more creative moments where I can help bring songs to life. I hope to perform all over the world someday. Music has saved me so many times when I was struggling, so I want to give back by helping people feel even a little more positive through my music.
