Meet Ynana Rose

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ynana Rose. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ynana, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is like a voice inside our heads that only focuses on our faults. It’s an imbalanced perspective that points us away from our authentic selves. It is entirely rooted in fear.

I always wanted to be a singer, a songwriter, a musician. It is one of my callings. I had crippling stage fright, instruments don’t come easily to me, & my left brain is very strong…& I believed that these things meant that I couldn’t become a creative person. The first thing I did to overcome imposter syndrome was to recognize that it’s the process, not the product, that matters most in creativity. That freed me up to learn, to clearly see what I needed to work on, & to celebrate the path that I was on instead of judging myself for what I had created. I also realized that persistence is more valuable than genius…& I knew I was persistent. I wrote my first song at 37. I was so terrified to play it in public that my hands curled into claws & I visibly trembled. My stage presence was the opposite of cool for a very long time. But once I had decided that I was more afraid of not walking along my destined path than of any terror I might encounter on that path, it was just a matter of time & effort.

Jealousy is also helpful. Jealousy points us toward what we need to strengthen in ourselves…what we’re attracted to, what calls for us. I had always felt consumed with jealousy when seeing musicians, especially women, perform. Once I started on my path of musicianship, that faded. I began to cheer other women on. I began to build community with other women in music. I began to heal.

I’ve been writing songs & performing them for 15 years now. I love the stage. I love being a bandleader. I love telling my stories & singing for people. But it’s been hard won. I know that my creations have value because I have value. I believe that whatever I love, other people will too. How could I ever be an imposter if I’m living my own singular, authentic life?

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader & independent artist. My latest album, “Under A Cathedral Sky,” released November 2023, reached #6 on the FAI Folk Chart, with the single “Redwood Holler” reaching #7 & “Midlife Walking Blues” #17.  I was also the #2 most added artist for the NACC Folk Adds (December 2023).

My music is a unique blend of the traditions of American roots music, & I write songs threaded with folk, country, blues & jazz influences while reaching for new horizons in my writing. I released my third full length album “Under A Cathedral Sky” in November 2023, an album about facing fear & creating beauty from it. These are songs written at the crossroads of midlife: songs of assessment, of crisis, of unraveling…and also dancing, whiskey & dating. My last two releases, “Ynana Rose” (2014), & “Tea Leaf Confessions” (2018) earned international airplay and enthusiastic reviews. I draw inspiration from artists such as Norah Jones, Gillian Welch, Sarah Jarosz, Jason Isbell and more.

I live in San Luis Obispo, California. I wrote my first song at the age of 37, which opened up a world of creative passion. Songs are like puzzles of the heart that I have to solve in order to sleep well at night. I write about authenticity & the lack of it, longing, fear, love, everyday miracles & tragedies. Music invites an eternity of pursuit and I feel blessed to go chasing it down. As a vocalist, I have enjoyed a wide background ranging from choral ensembles to folk, traditional Música Folklórica, western swing, blues and bluegrass.

I was born in Mendocino, CA and grew up in rural northern California & Oregon. I was an only child raised by a single mom, and we were totally off the grid. We lived on the side of a mountain with a pristine year round creek and wide open sky. Mendocino County boasts redwoods, giant oaks, the Pacific Ocean, and an untamed wilderness that thoroughly embraces the four seasons. When we had enough ‘C’ batteries, I was attached at the hip to a little black boom box that got one FM radio station, and it was country & western. The late ‘70s and early ‘80s were a wonderful time in country music, and I grew up serenaded by Willie Nelson, Tanya Tucker, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings & so many more. I knew every single song & sung them to the hills as loud as I could. I love how roots music allows me to expand from my country foundation into the fuller expression of music that I create today.

Some recent reviews:

“…immediately captivating… wonderfully moody… there’s a lot to explore and appreciate in Ynana Rose’s sophisticated songs.” – Andrew Frolish, Americana UK, Nov 13, 2023
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“…effortlessly weaves together the rich tapestry of American roots music, fusing elements of folk, country, blues, and jazz into her captivating compositions.” – Last Day Deaf, Oct 27, 2023
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“‘Under a Cathedral Sky’ offers a master class in songwriting. Rose captures the lacerating and uplifting complexity of human emotion and experience, compressed and communicated in three or four deeply felt minutes per song. As an added bonus, the songs ride Rose’s expressive vocals, over deft arrangements and a smoking band.” – Mel Minter, Musically Speaking, June 16, 2024

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Courage. Develop your courage in every realm of your life. Speak your truth to your children, friends, & partners. This will help you be courageous in your creativity & work.

Persistence. There is nothing more valuable than persistence. There will be times in your life when you work on your craft every single day. There will be days when you don’t. It’s the motion of return that’s the most important. Come back to it, again & again.

Be open to input. Get your ego out of the way. Song critiques have taught me an immeasurable amount about my own craft. Take input with a grain of salt & be selective about who you ask, but don’t be afraid of it. Remember: it’s about the process.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Austin Kleon’s “Steal Like An Artist.” It’s brilliant in every way & he has an excellent weekly newsletter as well.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Promo photos by Barry Goyette

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