We recently had the chance to connect with ASHER YELO and have shared our conversation below.
ASHER, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
My character; true, grounded character is evident when you are the same person when everyone is watching and when no one is around. Building a life modeled after Christ (not from a religious standpoint, but from a relational one), serving my community (friends, family, people in my proximity), and pursuing a posture of excellence in all I do naturally points me to a path of sharpening character. And I’m very proud of myself with how much I’ve persistently shown up in those capacities.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is ASHER YELO, and my life is pretty much entirely dedicated to storytelling. As an artist, producer, and writer who discovered music through LEGO (yes, LEGO), my view of music creation, world building, and the visualization of sound is quite unique. When I was 11 years old, I was convinced I would be a Master Builder at LEGO HQ, until I came across my Mum’s laptop and went on GarageBand for the first time. Dragging in the sounds from the loop bank felt the same as a LEGO brick in the sense that you could build a song, but now the world of sonics blew the bounds of physical cubes out of the water. I view music as a very all-encompassing art medium because it uses your ears, your heart, your mind, your spirit, your senses, your imagination… everything all at once. And being able to use song as a means of communicating complex and confusing and wonderful experiences is such a blessing.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
For a long time, my idea of success was very dependent on the external validation, touch points, and milestones that the music industry has to offer. It drove me to be hard-working, yes. It forced me to think outside the box, yes. But the deeper cause was a great sense of dissatisfaction in my being. That form of fuel is so taxing and expires quickly. Now, I recognize the importance of balance, community, and peace. I’ve found so much more joy in being present with what I’ve been entrusted with, and my relationship to success has changed. Now it stems from a place of knowing I’m truly loved, that there is grace when the inevitable failures come, and that I am getting better as a person every day. Having that foundation means the byproducts of output, networking, numbers, and all the other metrics for success are able to just be what they are as an extension of an inner reassurance and knowing.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
Being born in Brighton, England and then moving to the States when I was 5 was a crazy adjustment, and for the following 7 years afterwards, my family and I had lived all over the world because of their work. So a lot of the sadness and fear I faced was due to the isolation I experienced growing up. And music really became my ultimate home beyond my family because I never really adopted a sense of home geographically. Writing stories, my feelings, my woes and hopes was an amazing means of making sense of the world around me.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
That’s a great question! Funny enough, sometimes as people we can be too smart for our own good. For me, as someone who can articulate their feelings and thoughts very well, I have found myself often explaining hurts, joys, and experiences away before I’ve even given myself the chance to feel them fully. About a year ago, I made a commitment to let my heart lead more often. I trust my discernment and intuition enough that when my heart engages I won’t get derailed, because I do need to allow myself to actually be present with the fullness of what’s happening right now. So I hope for anyone reading this who has the same tendency as me can receive this encouragement; your heart needs to lead sometimes too. Trusting your thought process and experience is amazing and so valuable, just don’t forget that other part of you that may be experiencing some self-neglect.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I genuinely believe I would still make songs even if I was homeless and they never went anywhere at all. I don’t think my friends or family would allow it to get to that point, but I have definitely reached points where I had $5 to my name and no idea what I was going to eat tomorrow. God has been so faithful and kind with me. I’m so blessed to have been afforded lessons that have pulled me closer to His heart. And I think because of that, I can’t help but to pursue everything I do with excellence. Barely anyone knows the degree of how low and how high things have been in my life thus far, but I don’t really need people to justify those things, I just get to be as I am and know that what has been placed in my hands is precious. My talent, skill, and work-ethic aren’t contingent on anyone else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://asheryelo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asheryelo
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@asheryelo?si=N43JCGcPo__JZyx1
Image Credits
Audrey Maria Joyce: https://byamjw.com
Jalen Turner: @itsjetography
