We were lucky to catch up with Yoyoka Soma recently and have shared our conversation below.
Yoyoka, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Listening to lots of music, reading books, talking with family, playing sports, and hanging out with friends.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a drummer who just turned 15, and I moved from Japan to the United States two years ago for my music career. In October, I released my first album, and the release concert in Hollywood was sold out. As a drummer, I perform solo and participate in teen bands, a family band, a jazz fusion band, a piano and drum duo, support singers, and engage in numerous recordings.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Being humble, continuing consistently, and most importantly, enjoying what you do.
By continuing without fear of challenges, many people will become your allies and help you along the way.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents were not wealthy, but they moved to the countryside of Japan and rented a cheap house in the middle of a wheat field (where the rent was only $450) to provide me with an environment where I could play drums freely at any time. I rarely took lessons or learned drums from my parents, but we often jammed together, and through that, I discovered the joy of music. When I was four years old, I formed a band with my parents, and we created many original songs and performed shows almost every week. That experience shaped who I am today.
Another significant decision they made was choosing to move from Japan to the United States for my music career. They quit their jobs, left the place they had called home for over 40 years, and leapt into an unfamiliar land where they didn’t even speak the language. It must have been incredibly difficult, but thanks to their sacrifice, I am now able to continue pursuing my dreams here in Los Angeles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yoyoka.jp/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoyoka_drums
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaneaiyoyoka/
- Twitter: https://x.com/yoyokadrums
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWQAiVlpjivfvB4Cbtm_17g
- Other: https://patreon.com/Yoyoka?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
