Ignite had the pleasure of catching up with indie-pop artist and content creator YKARE to discuss social media, his writing process and future plans.
Hi YKARE, for our reader could you please tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is YKARE and you’ve probably seen me singing in the shower on Tiktok. I’ve been making music since my teenage years, using it as a way to share my perspective on life
Your music blends emotional depth with playful indie-pop vibes. How would you
describe your signature sound?
Finding my own sound has been quite the journey for me. I started making melodic rap because that’s what I listened to the most when I was younger. Lots of juice wrld, trippie redd, iann dior. Then i started listening to artists like Jasiah and City Morgue and this caused me to have a trap metal sound for awhile. Then i found artists like glaive and ericdoa and i fell in love with hyper pop and wrote music in that style for awhile. Now i'm finding my own sound and that’s within an indie pop style, i don’t know how long this will last considering i find inspiration from so many creatives. I do feel like i'm finding my own sound within this genre
Your latest single Torta Fever has been described as a heartwarming celebration of love. What inspired you to write this song?
This song was written when I was trying to write a “meme song” for social media. It was never meant to be what it is today. It’s blown up on social media and so many people have commented that it’s a “funny” song but say that it’s too good to be a meme song and that they unironically listen to it everyday
When you’re writing a song, do you start with lyrics, melody, or a feeling? What was your process for Torta Fever?
This is a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately. I feel like my workflow is not like an artist. I feel like I can barely even call myself an artist because I literally only write music when I have something to say. Never have I been able to say “i'm writing a song today” and then write a song. Usually, songs come to me when I'm driving or doing something completely unrelated to music and then I'm hit with inspiration. With torta fever I remember knowing I wanted to make a meme song but then the idea hit me at work. Next thing you know I'm in my content creators friend (@lilcumtism) closet recording the song with my friend Zaire (the feature on the song)
With over 1.8 million TikTok followers and 500,000 Instagram fans, you’ve built an incredible community. How has social media influenced your career?
Social media kept me from giving up as an artist. I had been trying for years to make my passion a sustainable path for me to take and I was at a crossroads to choose the regular 9-5 path or continue trying to be an artist. Right as I was ready to give up everything in my life changed off of one video. Now I sing songs in the shower for a living
Your viral performances have captivated millions. What’s the most memorable fan interaction you’ve had?
Usually, I don't get recognized because online I'm wearing a costume. But one time I had a kid recognize me at an ice cream shop I used to work at and asked me if I was “this guy” and he showed me a picture of me wearing my signature costume on TikTok. He then said he asked because he was unsure because I looked a lot fatter without the costume on, I couldn't stop laughing.
How do you balance being a musician and a content creator in today’s digital landscape?
It’s hard because right now I make more content than music. There has to be a balance because marketing is everything and having a strong social media presence is what will create the viral effect that most artists are looking for. I don’t wanna say that it’s the only way but I tried for years only dropping music and no content and it wasn’t until i became a content creator that I would actually see how fast it would grow my music and entire brand
TikTok and Instagram have changed the way artists connect with fans. Do you feel pressure to constantly create new content?
The pressure is definitely there but I love that I now have a platform where I can connect with people who connect with what I have to say in my music
Are there any dream collaborations you’d love to make happen in the future?
I will one day sing with ericdoa in the shower
What’s next for YKARE? Is there an EP or album on the horizon?
I don’t wanna say too much but I want to be able to tell my story through my music. I feel very one dimensional right now and I want to show everyone what really goes on in my life outside the shower