INTERVIEW: Troy-Based Poet Yahz Releases First Single “Loser”

interviewmusic

May 2

“Intentionally released on Valentine’s Day as an ironic opposition to the typical lovey dovey vibes, the song boasts a catchy pop and R&B sound, with playful rhymes contrasting, yet adding depth to the unapologetic breakup lyrics wrapped within.”

As National Poetry Month comes to a close, one local poet is opening a door to a future where her love for written words pairs eloquently with her love for music.

Yahz Gause, who goes by “Yahz,” is a Troy-based creative who has found comfort in writing poetry as early as sixth grade. Yahz wrote a piece through the point of view of her friend who lived through a bad homecoming experience. She encouraged her to write more, so she did. What began as a selfless bolster to a friend, turned into an outlet for Yahz to express herself.

“Poetry is a nice scavenger hunt way of writing my feelings without it just being blatant black and white,” she said.

Yahz explores themes related to relationships and experience, her upbringing, her son, and introspection in her work, often incorporating alliteration as a tool. She doesn’t stop after letting the pen hit the paper in her “diary-esque” poetry creations, Yahz submits many long form pieces to publications. Troy’s Paper Moon frequently sees the 28-year-old at the bookstore’s open mic poetry nights where she performs her expressive readings.

Her natural knack for poetry has always gone hand-in-hand with her passion for writing music. Yahz lets her artistic creations develop into whatever feels right. She’s written songs that have made more sense to turn into poems, and some poems that she’s elaborated into songs.

She leaves her free-range interpretive works for her poetry creations where she feels she can be a little more unhinged and not confined to any sort of box. But Yahz also has a deep appreciation for the structures associated with music and can tailor her words to fit the necessary repetition of a chorus or verse backed by an instrumental beat.

Yahz has performed unreleased original songs for friends and at open mic events, leaving her audience craving more and looking to listen to the tunes on their own time. It was this encouragement from her friends, family and creative circle that pushed her to take a leap and the result was the release of her first single, titled “Loser” on February 14.

Intentionally released on Valentine’s Day as an ironic opposition to the typical lovey-dovey vibes, the song boasts a catchy pop and R&B sound with playful rhymes contrasting, yet adding depth to the unapologetic breakup lyrics wrapped within. The chorus volleys between word play of “loser” and “lose her” before combining the two with the phrase “such a loser to lose her.”

A piano rendition backs the track along with occasional snapping, clapping, and a funky backing beat to support Yahz’s smooth and articulate vocals permeated with a tinge of sass.

“Loser” came to fruition after the end of a horrible relationship when Yahz began jotting down poems, rhymes, and one-liners that served as a therapeutic means to dealing with the amalgamation of feelings associated with the situation.

A first time for anything often has anticipation and anxiety running high, and for Yahz it was no different. She recognized that as an artist you want your debut track to be your best foot forward, but she was eager to take that step after all these years.

“I’ve been writing music since I was 13. It only took me 15 years to finally get off my ass and do something about it,” Yahz said.

But Yahz’s musical debut has been well-received by listeners, with many resonating with the themes in “Loser.” Other feedback has included people hounding her about when she plans to release more music. By the end of the year, she hopes to release her first album while staying true to her other love: poetry, of which she is looking to release her own poetry book.

Above all, Yahz’s drive to create and release more of her art into the world comes from her love of performing.

“I was a theater kid and I used to do pageants, so I love performing. I’m a karaoke fanatic and I would want to be able to put more music out so I can perform more,” she said.

Yahz encourages other creative individuals to take a leap and put themselves out there, but to also stay true to themselves, which can get lost in all the numbers and figures of today’s streaming war.

“Remember that you’re doing it first and foremost for you. Your music is going to represent you, but also what you put out is a reflection of you; you should always want to love your work before you want anyone else to love it.”