11 YokoO Tracks You Should Know

France

YokoO

United States

The Roof at Superior Ingredients

YokoO & Guests

Sabeel Chohan

Gray Area's new venture, "Debut," aims to bridge the international house music community by bringing established and emerging artists to cities they've never performed in. This initiative seeks to expand artists' fan bases and provide fans with fresh, exhilarating musical experiences. Having played a role in introducing major artists and brands like elrow and Awakenings to new audiences in the past, Gray Area believes in the magic of first-time experiences. By promoting artists in new venues and cities, they hope to cultivate a thriving, unified house music ecosystem. Debut is not merely a marketing strategy but embodies Gray Area's commitment to fostering collaboration, unity, and musical discovery.

Debut

The Room at Superior Ingredients

Debut: YokoO New York Headline Performance

Benin

AMÉMÉ

Apollonia

United Kingdom

Archie Hamilton

Türkiye

Carlita

Italy

DJ Tennis

South Africa

Black Coffee

CamelPhat

Switzerland

Deer Jade

Iran

Dubfire

Francesca Lombardo

Guatemala

Gordo

Jean Pierre

Germany

Konstantin Sibold

Layla Benitez

Loco Dice

Maher Daniel

Marco Carola

Brazil

Mochakk

Ms. Mada

Natalia Roth

Rossi

Tony y Not

Saint Martin

Happy Bay

SXM Festival 2023

Ranger Trucco

Melvo Baptiste

LEFTI

Stanton Warriors

yunè pinku

Israel

Saraga

Hybrid Minds

Manoo

Jamie Love

We often find ourselves trapped in our daily routines and familiar environments, leading to a sense of stagnation and dissatisfaction. Changing our surroundings can catalyze personal growth and push us out of our comfort zones. This concept can also apply to our approach toward music and the styles we choose to create and share. 

, a record label chief, producer, DJ, world traveler, and professional yogi, embodies this approach as he continually challenges himself to embrace new opportunities for building his brand, wellness, and record label, 

Himalayan Way - Francesco Mami & YokoO Remix

Born in France, by age 20, YokoO moved to Australia. The venturous artist needed a change of pace far away from his stomping grounds. It was time to manifest a new path. YokoO brought only a bag of records he had accumulated since he was 15. His objective was to attend a university to master the English language, study international business, and acquire a visa. To earn extra income, he started accepting DJing jobs on the side.


“At the end of my international business degree, I realized not only that I didn’t want to go back to a corporate environment, but also that I could generate a decent income just through playing music. I decided to pursue a career and teach myself how to write music,” YokoO tells us.

Whether it’s creating or listening, music serves as an escape. Its beauty is its ability to evoke powerful emotions, nourish a sense of connection, reflect feelings and experiences, and provide an understanding or distraction. As an artist, YokoO personifies the role of a creator and consumer, having grown up resonating with wistful music and honing his skills as a guide toward unique soundscapes. He further sharpened his mastery in engaging a crowd when he developed a fixation for deep house in 2008 and had the chance to play marathon sets at a residency.

“I always love to explore given that I am provided with a platform to express myself,” he explains. “I try and make the experience harmonic and flawless so that even though people never know where it’s going, it flows.”

With set times typically limited between 90 minutes and three hours, it’s become challenging for artists to dig deeper and showcase a broader range of their music. “It usually takes me an hour to find my groove and capture the audience into my bubble, then you can take them anywhere, and you become the puppeteer.”

Ornella

His approach to playing live is similar to his attitude towards traveling without a set itinerary: unpredictable and exciting. He finds that playing on more than two decks is a thrilling way to layer sounds and improvise new songs on the spot. It reflects his perspective on life, where embracing the unknown and not imposing restrictions leads to unexpected and memorable experiences.

Speaking of avoiding constriction, YokoO talks about the essence of his imprint 

. It’s his vision to provide an outlet for himself and emerging artists to trumpet their proficiency in diverse sounds and reach new audiences.

“I feel that a lot of artists are trying to fit in or follow trends when they have a lot more to express,” YokoO says. “With

 I am trying to push a circle of artists to tap into their truth and let that be expressed freely,” he adds.

The remarkable thing about YokoO is that he utilizes his affinity with different styles of music and rhythmic sensibility to branch outside of the sound he was known for before launching 

. His visionary ear for groove and melody allows him to evolve and expand his audience’s horizons, exposing them to other facets of his identity. Before establishing his platform, he was notorious for his magnetic melodies released on 

, which he explains was only one of the versions of his creative output.

“A lot of my followers appreciate my versatility and change of sound, but some still associate me solely with my achievements on 

,” YokoO explains. “They may be expecting me to follow that style - but I’m not, I have been communicating that this is not me, it’s only a part of me,” he adds.

After six years of believing that I was fully done with Burning Man, the stars happened to align this summer when I got a calling to go. 

Back in 2016, I never thought that Burning Man would allow me to press the reset button and relieve myself from many things I was carrying emotionally. Then suddenly when I was out on the playa in my element, I began to feel myself again: connected, worry-free, present. 

Thanks to 11 days of complete disconnection from my computer and phone, I was left at the mercy of nature’s elements which brought me back to a place of peace and serenity.  

It was such a joy to take part in Burning Man’s social experiment, one that unites a community of like minded beings from various backgrounds. 

I loved getting my hands dirty while building the camp, helping out with a friend's art structure and chatting with new and old friends every single day.  This was a whole new experience for me; an experience that filled my heart and inspired me in powerful ways. 

For the first time, I can safely say that I have been transformed by my time on the playa, and for that I feel grateful and humbled. 

Memorable moments like riding solo on my bike, letting go of plans, eating nourishing food, getting totally lost in the city, visiting random camps and more often than not connecting with strangers was pure magic. For me, this is the essence of Burning Man: an experience of contribution, full of serendipity and spontaneity. 
 
Here’s a personal highlight of mine that I’d like to share: 
It’s Friday evening, and I have been chosen to set the mood on the Robot Heart bus (which I must admit was one of my favorite nights out there). Here I am pre-set drinking Sake and sharing stories with my dear friend Benjamin Alexander.  The bus is parked at camp when I jump on top and begin to play for 20 minutes before the wheels start turning. Our drive to the deep playa begins, and with that a brutal dust storm follows.  I was instantly taken back in time to my 2015 Burn when I was fascinated by the fairy-lit bicycles chasing the bus, lighting up the space with an array of moving colors.  Eventually, after an hour of driving around, the wind stops, the dust settles, and the bus finds its parking spot for the night.  I finally remove my dust mask and watch the vast space in front me light up as I finish my set.  An unforgettable moment, visual, crowd…everything was perfect. 
 
To all of you who are reading this who were there dancing and glowing on the playa, I would like to say a huge thank you!  I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life.  You inspired me to smile and shine. 
 
Until next year.
 
Julien aka YokoO xx 
 
FOLLOW YOKOO
soundcloud.com/yokoo 
instagram.com/yokoo_dj/ 
facebook.com/yokoomusic/
yokoo.bandcamp.com/ 
youtube.com/user/YokoODj 
https://djyokoo.com/ 

Photo Credit:
John Dill

YokoO - Robot Heart - Burning Man 2022 by Robot Heart

YokoO’s leap of faith and commitment to establishing something that genuinely represents him is a testament to the power of authenticity. It’s a shining example to other artists of embracing change and confidently presenting their musical expressions. On

, listeners will find his taste in rich harmonies, pulsating beats, flawless chords layered with fluent vocals, and basslines that vibrate with a deep house groove. Upcoming releases from 

When YokoO isn’t working on expanding his label or touring, he is recalibrating and focusing on the things that bring him happiness: wellness, exercise, practicing yoga, reading about philosophy & spirituality, and forming genuine connections with loved ones. All of which makes us humans more in touch with ourselves and the present.

We often find ourselves trapped in our daily routines and familiar environments, leading to a sense of stagnation and dissatisfaction. Changing our surroundings can catalyze personal growth and push us out of our comfort zones. This concept can also apply to our approach toward music and the styles we choose to create and share. YokoO, a record label chief, producer, DJ, world traveler, and professional yogi, embodies this approach as he continually challenges himself to embrace new opportunities for building his brand, wellness, and record label, SATYA.



Born in France, by age 20, YokoO moved to Australia. The venturous artist needed a change of pace far away from his stomping grounds. It was time to manifest a new path. YokoO brought only a bag of records he had accumulated since he was 15. His objective was to attend a university to master the English language, study international business, and acquire a visa. To earn extra income, he started accepting DJing jobs on the side.


“At the end of my international business degree, I realized not only that I didn’t want to go back to a corporate environment, but also that I could generate a decent income just through playing music. I decided to pursue a career and teach myself how to write music,” YokoO tells us.



Whether it’s creating or listening, music serves as an escape. Its beauty is its ability to evoke powerful emotions, nourish a sense of connection, reflect feelings and experiences, and provide an understanding or distraction. As an artist, YokoO personifies the role of a creator and consumer, having grown up resonating with wistful music and honing his skills as a guide toward unique soundscapes. He further sharpened his mastery in engaging a crowd when he developed a fixation for deep house in 2008 and had the chance to play marathon sets at a residency.




“I always love to explore given that I am provided with a platform to express myself,” he explains. “I try and make the experience harmonic and flawless so that even though people never know where it’s going, it flows.”



With set times typically limited between 90 minutes and three hours, it’s become challenging for artists to dig deeper and showcase a broader range of their music. “It usually takes me an hour to find my groove and capture the audience into my bubble, then you can take them anywhere, and you become the puppeteer.”






His approach to playing live is similar to his attitude towards traveling without a set itinerary: unpredictable and exciting. He finds that playing on more than two decks is a thrilling way to layer sounds and improvise new songs on the spot. It reflects his perspective on life, where embracing the unknown and not imposing restrictions leads to unexpected and memorable experiences.







Speaking of avoiding constriction, YokoO talks about the essence of his imprint SATYA. It’s his vision to provide an outlet for himself and emerging artists to trumpet their proficiency in diverse sounds and reach new audiences.




“I feel that a lot of artists are trying to fit in or follow trends when they have a lot more to express,” YokoO says. “With SATYA I am trying to push a circle of artists to tap into their truth and let that be expressed freely,” he adds.





The remarkable thing about YokoO is that he utilizes his affinity with different styles of music and rhythmic sensibility to branch outside of the sound he was known for before launching SATYA. His visionary ear for groove and melody allows him to evolve and expand his audience’s horizons, exposing them to other facets of his identity. Before establishing his platform, he was notorious for his magnetic melodies released on All Day I Dream, which he explains was only one of the versions of his creative output.




“A lot of my followers appreciate my versatility and change of sound, but some still associate me solely with my achievements on All Day I Dream,” YokoO explains. “They may be expecting me to follow that style - but I’m not, I have been communicating that this is not me, it’s only a part of me,” he adds.





YokoO’s leap of faith and commitment to establishing something that genuinely represents him is a testament to the power of authenticity. It’s a shining example to other artists of embracing change and confidently presenting their musical expressions. On SATYA, listeners will find his taste in rich harmonies, pulsating beats, flawless chords layered with fluent vocals, and basslines that vibrate with a deep house groove. Upcoming releases from Retza, Francesco Mami, Haider Uppal, Hermanez, Cristina Lazic, and many more will fuel the energy for SATYA.



When YokoO isn’t working on expanding his label or touring, he is recalibrating and focusing on the things that bring him happiness: wellness, exercise, practicing yoga, reading about philosophy & spirituality, and forming genuine connections with loved ones. All of which makes us humans more in touch with ourselves and the present.

YokoO

Articles

Other artists