Alice Vyvyan-Jones: Yaya Bey, do it afraid is a powerful album title. What does this phrase mean to you, and how does it encapsulate the essence of the album?

Yaya Bey: It means that nothing in life is guaranteed, which is scary. You can try your hardest at something and not be guaranteed success, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. [In this album], I’m channeling courage. I don’t operate out of fear because if I did, I would just be paralyzed, I’d be stuck, I’d be inactive. But I’m not, I’m very brave.

You can’t be courageous if you are not first afraid, because there’s nothing to be brave about if you’re not afraid.

And is there a notable moment you remember being brave? 

I have to be brave the whole time. I always have a political message when I perform, and it gets me into a lot of trouble. But i don’t give a fuck. I have to be brave constantly because I have to deal with a lot of bullshit and put my foot down all the time, especially as an artist. It’s very transactional in this industry. People want to see you do numbers, and if you don’t perform, they throw you away, so the whole thing requires courage. 

Legacy

Do you think there’s a responsibility, then, as an artist, to be political?
I can’t speak for other people; I can only speak for what I think I’m responsible for. And I can’t save the world, I’m not even sure if I can save myself, to be honest, but I’m not going down without a fight. The whole ship might very well kill me, but you know yourself what’s wrong and you know what you believe in and how you and other people deserve to live, and you need to speak on that – so I will do that. 

You often reference your father, Grand Daddy I.U., who was a famous American rapper. How does your father’s legacy show up in your work today?
I mean, just the fact that I have work is his legacy. I am his legacy. Everywhere I go, he goes. He’s not amongst the living anymore, but there’s nowhere I go that I’m not taking him with me. He actually didn’t want me to be a singer. He wanted me to be a songwriter, but it’s not his life. It’s mine. So, I did what I wanted to do, and then he eventually got on board. You couldn’t tell my dad what to do, and I’m a lot like him, so I honoured that by doing my thing. 

So songwriting came naturally to you?
Oh, I couldn’t stop songwriting if I tried.

Step by Step

What does joy look like for you?

Joy can look like a lot of things, like sometimes you don’t need something grand to be happening for there to be joy. Sometimes joy is just being able to sit still. Ultimately, joy is something deep inside of yourself. 

If you could meet your younger self, what would you say to her? 

Just chill out. Life is long, there’s a lot of life to live. You haven’t got to figure it all out today. 

And do you think there’s increasing pressure on younger generations to be successful? 

Absolutely. I saw a video of a girl saying she thinks a dream is only worth living if we can have it whilst we’re young, and I think about that, and I think, why? And it’s because this world is teaching us that only being young and thin, and beautiful makes you worthy. But that’s pointless. The whole life is worth living, not just the vain part – all of it. So relax. 

Doing it Afraid

Your upcoming album, do it afraid, how would you say it differs from your other bodies of work? 

It still sounds like me, but my sound has evolved. Every album is different from the last because you’re in a different place in life. This album reflects who I am in this present moment.

And who is that? 

Someone grown. I think I’ve grown a lot on the album and as a performer, so I’m excited for people to see my growth and effort. I put a lot of effort into this album. 

What does a future version of you look like? 

Honestly, I don’t know. All I know is I’m going to be an artist because that’s what I’m meant to do in this lifetime. My relationship to my artistry may change, the world is changing around me in unprecedented ways, and I’m sure I’ll be adapting to that. Making music is one thing, participation in the industry is another thing, and that is the job, just like anyone else’s job, like any other 9-5, and there’s always things that are trying to push you out. All I know is I am grateful to still be here and to have support.  

I’m going to be kind, I’m going to do the best I can, and I’ll continue to make music. 

All photos by Ilo Toerkell.

do it afraid by Yaya Bey is out on June 20th via drink sum wtr. Follow Yaya Bey on Instagram to stay up to date.