In the Spotlight: Yasmin Hass
Born in Melbourne, Australia, singer/songwriter Yasmin Hass was raised in London, England, by her German mother and Jamaican father. Yasmin draws her musical influences from the eclectic sounds she was exposed to growing up; from Luther Vandross and Angie Stone to Eva Cassidy and Leonard Cohen. Yasmin says ‘my heritage plays a big part in developing my sound, as it is important to me that I draw from both the soulful and classical styles I grew up listening to and loving to create my own raw, unique sound.’
We had the chance to ask Yasmin some rapid fire questions:
When was the first time you realized you wanted to be a musician?
-I’ve loved singing and music ever since I was little, but I didn’t think about doing it as a career until my twenties. I guess I was worried that if I had to start taking it seriously, it would take the joy out of it for me. But I love it just as much, more so even.
What’s the first album that made you fall in love with music?
-Eva Cassidy – Songbird
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
-Shamelessly… it’s ‘Hoedown Throwdown’ – Miley Cyrus
Which artists have influenced your career?
-So many and I’m often adding new ones to the list, but a few that jump to mind are Joni Mitchell, Paolo Nutini and Lianne La Havas.
Who do you dream of collaborating with?
-Bon Iver and Little Simz!
Where (location-wise) do you get the most creative inspiration?
-It completely depends on the day and mood I’m in. I’ve written a lot by the river in Hammersmith, that’s one of my favorite writing spots. I also find that getting out of London and going somewhere new sparks so much inspiration, as it gets me thinking in a different way.
What media are you consuming right now (reading/watching/listening to)?
-I recently finished ‘The Shadow Of The Wind’ by Carlos Ruiz Zafón and it’s now one of my favorite books. I’m currently reading ‘Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin – loving it! I’m obsessed with Tokyo Vice the TV series that I just finished, I thought it was amazing and I’m now watching the latest season of The Boys. At the moment I have ‘Casual’ by Chappell Roan on repeat, as well as ‘El Bueno Y El Malo’ by Hermanos Gutierrez.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever gotten?
-Learn how to be okay with failure and believe that you will get to where you want to be, even if at this moment you’re not there yet. Failures are instrumental in progress, as they make you realize what it is you need to work on.