Meet Yeza — The Rude Girl Rebel That’s Next Up From The East Side

Jamaica’s eastern parishes are known for the musical talents they’ve produced, like the King of Reggae himself Bob Marley, Popcaan, and Dancehall’s youngest giant Skillibeng. The community of Bull Bay for instance continues to birth new stars for every generation. Yeza, is one of Bull Bay’s best-kept secrets on the cusp of notoriety, and her musical prowess is no joke. Boasting lyrical fortitude the likes of Lady G, mixed with the smooth sultry melodies of Tessanne Chin, Yeza is up next from the East Side with a rude girl roots aesthetic that she embodies in sound and style. 

Bursting onto the scene in 2017, the young artist has maintained and built on her momentum as a well-known performer in the local space. Earlier this year she made an impressive debut on Beenie Man Vs Bounty Killer’s Verzuz after party. The pandemic has halted some of her plans to release music and continue her crusade of spectacular performances, but Yeza spoke to DancehallMag about how she’s navigating the space and taking the time to pace for our new normal.

When would you say you really started and why?

Well, officially I would say I started in 2017 when my first single Irie came out. The reason why I started; I felt like I owed it to myself to pursue my passion in life. Single-handedly that was the reason and we only get one shot so I decided to take it. 

 Do you have musicians in your family?

No.

Where would you say your love for music came from?

My love for music comes from listening to the music that my parents used to listen to. Also the sound system culture in my community. It’s kind of like, little bit of a bridge between urban and rural. So the sound systems were out and about, not exactly right next door to me but close enough to call it that. A few houses down you have a man named Clivey. His sound is called Fireside Vibes, and for as long as I can remember he’s always set up and playing out. It was always these songs I didn’t know, until I started to get accustomed to them. Through that I started to learn a whole host of other genres of music as well. I was like yeah this is nice; and I think that’s where the love started.

A lot of people developed most of their musical tastes from their parents. What kind of music did you find playing in your household?

So like for mommy, she was more the sassy one; so I would hear Sean Paul, Janet Jackson, Destiny’s Child. Daddy now he was kinda more the smooth criminal, so basically I would hear like Anita, Bob Marley, The Isley Brothers and that kind of thing. So basically I would say daddy I more the soul listener, and mommy was more the funky, dancehall type. 

I kinda get that blend from your music of like a more smooth, melodic side combined with a more rebellious side. Even your moniker invokes the word rebel, why do you feel you identify with it?

I think that I might see myself as an outcast, especially in this world. Being a black woman, growing up– my kind of features and mannerisms aren’t what’s presented to me as the norm. You know they say with children from age seven you internalize a lot of things. I think that is truth in many ways because I internalized a lot about my surroundings. Based on what I’m starting to understand; I am a complete misfit based on the projection of what society says I should be. So I was like wow, I have to be a rebel. There’s no other choice, if I want to move how I move and be how I am. It’s automatically against the status quo. So I feel like it just came naturally.

The pandemic has been rough for many people, but some also attest that they’ve been able to be grateful for the time. What has your experience been like? 

It has been tumultuous I won’t lie, I don’t know if I’m at a place where I’m the most grateful for this time but I do appreciate the time a lot because it has forced me to understand gratitude better. It’s like did I really understand what it meant or what it felt like to be grateful? I’m not sure but I went deeper within myself. I’d always practiced self awareness but I was forced to go a bit deeper. I started to really understand the meaning of being grateful. Just the fact that I have a roof over my head, I have a family–despite everything that’s going on in the world. That was like a teacher for me.  

That’s a lot of growth, but do you feel like you’re ready for this to be over, do you miss anything?

Of course! I’m definitely looking forward to the next event, the next public event with everything sound and everything string up. I’m definitely looking forward to that. I miss it yeah! 

Even though we don’t have as many dedicated spaces for performers to hone their craft and present publically, I remember seeing you performing a few times and even right before the pandemic you were doing quite a few shows, do you feel like the performance space was beginning to see an expansion in that way?

Honestly yeah I do I think 2020 was probably my biggest year. I remember being on Verzuz with Rory and Swizz Beatz and not knowing how that happened [laughs].  It was just kind of like a momentum that was building and I don’t know when covid just slapped us. But my energy right now is like, well this has happened and this is where I am. I’m being easy with myself, not trying to rush my process. Just trying to regroup and pick up where I need to instead of being negative about it.

Do you have any new music? Have you been recording?

Yeah, I’ve been working on a lot of stuff. I’ve been recording non stop. But you know what, due to the uncertainty of our present situation, I don’t even want to say single, or album or anything. When the product is finished and we have a roll out plan and everything, then I’m gonna be like this is the date y’all[laughs]. 

How have you been spending this time?

I’m spending time with my family. I’m inside more often so they see my face more. It’s nice I’ve been talking more with my aunt and chilling with my cousin. I’ve also been writing more, a lot more. Meditating more, spending more time in nature, that type of thing. Yeah.