At a concert celebrating rap artists making a name for themselves in the Pacific Northwest, Seattleite Yonny performed his first headliner in his hometown, with support from Vic Daggs II and Vinnie WYA as opening artists. Yonny headlined another show in New York City Nov. 8.

As Madame Lou’s filled for the show, local artist and concertgoer Retro pointed out many other artists in attendance, from musicians to actors in Yonny’s music videos. For artists trying to make it in Seattle, he cites extensive networks of community and friends as the key to success.

“That’s always a big factor that on the outside you don’t really see… It’s just a really cool community. Once you’re in it, you start to meet other people that are also very talented, and it’s really cool to see them all support each other amidst the ‘Seattle Freeze,’” Retro said.

The blending of talent at the core of Yonny’s projects is also evident in the music videos for his work. Clips from the videos are projected on the screen behind him throughout the show and feature iconic locations from Seattle and around the West Coast.

Concertgoer Amar Goyal was first attracted to Yonny’s music through a music video screening of “City in Motion.” Many stylistic techniques featured in the video are adapted from techniques first showcased on social media, such as creative use of tracking shots and freeze frames to forge an instantly recognizable look. 

Goyal has been a fan of Yonny’s work for about a year, and planned to attend the Jan. 16 concert after a recent screening of another music video from Yonny’s 2024 project “Everywhere, But Always.”

“Music videos really draw me in. I see all the work that they put into it. I really feel like local artists that focus on showing Seattle in their music videos are cool to see,” Goyal said.

Yonny cites a variety of musical influences in “Everywhere, But Always.” The first artist to inspire him while working on the tracklist was Tame Impala. Then he found himself listening to jazz and Pink Floyd, a musical introduction facilitated by one of Yonny’s friends. His first experiences listening to Pink Floyd were a part of the inspiration for “Summertime Madness,” and the jazz influence can be heard on songs like “Hood Spirituals” and “Rich in Melanin.”

Yonny’s first project, titled “Ghetto Sunset,” was released in 2022. For “Everywhere, But Always,” Yonny wanted to go in a more vulnerable direction, feeling that he needed to be more open with his audience about who he was.

“People are gonna like you as an artist, but they’re not gonna know who you are. I say that to say, I feel like the project was a good way to start opening myself up to people… The more things I put out, the more people will learn,” Yonny said.

Another key part of getting to know artists in the modern media landscape is their social media presence. For the promotion of his song “City In Motion,” Yonny tried posting daily edits of the music video to short-form video platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels to garner new listeners. Yonny is also interested in finding ways to build his other hobbies—such as basketball—into content creation outside of music to show off a more personal side.

The concert itself was a delightful experience, with a lively crowd that responded with enthusiasm to the music. One moment Yonny was moving through the crowd, and the next he was lifted up into the air to crowdsurf. Even the onstage photographer sang along to the lyrics while snapping photos. The atmosphere was filled with energy for Yonny and the two opening artists.

“I think it’s really cool having all my friends [here], because literally everyone that is a part of the show is a friend of mine,” Yonny said.

Yonny is bringing something unique to the table at every step in the creative process: the cover art, music videos, and the songs themselves create experiences in a bottle that speak to a specific time and place. This artist is one to watch for those seeking out local talent. Yonny has potential ahead of him as he continues to work and cultivate his craft.