Neither a singer nor a rapper, Yamê does Yamê and doesn’t look like anyone. Crowned Revelation of the Year at the most recent Victoires de la Musique, TikTok star and king of online listening, the Franco-Cameroonian artist with an airy voice concocts melodies that pierce the souls of millions of listeners. He will perform for the first time in Montreal, two evenings at Club Soda as part of the Francos. We spoke with him about his rise.
Self-taught
Since he was little, Yamê has had two great interests: computers (his mother is a computer scientist) and music (his father is a musician). “At the same time as my studies,” he says on the phone in an affable voice, “I made music out of passion. I went to jam sessions, I learned without taking lessons. » He finished his studies, started working in his field… then the pandemic and confinement arrived.
“I had a little click: I told myself that I would prefer to live my passion as a job, rather than having a job to finance my passion! » He posts piano-vocal covers on TikTok, including a version of Bohemianwho went viral, wrote early songs that were more rap-sounding, as evidenced by his debut EP Officer 237then ends up finding his style.
“I created more what I liked to listen to, and it took me a while to find what suited me musically. Little by little I understood where I should put the cursor. And it was successful, and now I’m on tour! »
The effect Bike
Powered by the German platform Colors, this is his incredible song Bike – more than 72 million views on YouTube since its release in June 2023, and 119 million plays on Spotify! – which will give it a huge boost in visibility. His album Elowi comes out in October 2023, and several songs featured there also accumulate millions of plays.
But at 31, Yamê doesn’t think it’s going too fast. “It goes with the speed of current time! », says the one who keeps up to date with all technological innovations and feeds on culture geek. “Anyway, the universe geek speaks to all levels of life today. Anyone who doesn’t master it will quickly be overwhelmed by the world that’s coming, and that’s too bad for them. »
From Stromae to Victories
There have been many pats on the back since its beginnings. The renowned producer Timbaland added ingredients to one of his songs, Stromae invited him to do five of his opening acts in the spring of 2023… “I have been listening to him for a long time, I watched his tutorials, I followed his career… It is a well of experience and inspiration. For me, it is also an example of the way in which French-speaking song can defend itself in the world. »
The Victory of Male Revelation, at the start of 2024, is a “recognition” from his peers which makes him proud. “I saw the Victoires on TV when I was little, it was big, prestigious! There is a merit, a privilege in receiving a Victory. And it allowed me to sing my sound, Bike, for listening! It’s really an incredible experience, and a step in our project, which is basically a friends project, and which quickly grew. »
Melodies
The title of Yamê’s album, Elowi, means “What is not visible” in Mbo’, a language spoken in several regions of Cameroon. But what exactly don’t we see? “We often ask ourselves the question if I rap or sing… But there is something that we feel, a mood, an emotion, which makes people like my music. There are adults who tell me: “I don’t like rap, but this is cool.” Then young people who tell me: “I usually only listen to rap, but I like this.” These two people have something in common, which they don’t know how to define… That’s what it means, elowi. »
Yamê is inspired by all styles of music, from jazz to hip-hop to R’n’B, likes to listen to Armenian tunes as much as Maghreb gnaoua, and integrates all of that into his music. Beyond the lyrics, it is in the melody that the emotion is concentrated. “The melody is a message that is immediately understood. More than the texts, which can often be misinterpreted. »
The tour
It is certainly the sensitivity of his interpretation, the power of his melodies and the particularity of his very high voice that allows Yamê to give shows all over France – he literally tours the festivals – but also in Berlin and in Oslo than in Rabat and London. He is performing this summer for the first time in North America, and was scheduled to pass through New York before arriving for two evenings in Montreal.
” I’m eager to. It’s like arriving in a new world in a video game! Everything has to be done again, but differently. » Did he imagine traveling to this extent with his music? ” No way. But… I’ve always been a dreamer, so there was always a part of me that was like: you know what, we’re going to do something that’s going to explode, so incredible that it’s going to go all the way to the other end of the world. But more happened than I imagined. »
The following
By the end of 2024, Yamê will continue to perform almost everywhere on stage, and will even make his first Olympia de Paris in February 2025. It will also be the year of another album. “I’m always writing! » When he looks at the figures which illustrate his success, he puts them into perspective – “I know the volatility of subscribers” – and does not feel dizzy. “It’s rather encouraging… And it’s just the beginning!” »
PHOTO OJOZ, PROVIDED BY BELIEVE FRANCE
The artist Yamê
There was no question of having his teeth fixed either – his two incisors, which he lost at 5 years old in a fall, while he still had his baby teeth, never grew back. “I would have a choice, I could do something!” But it was always my hallmark, even before I started making music, that I was missing teeth. » So this is now part of his story – he often talks about his “snags” in his songs. ” Yes ! That doesn’t mean that maybe, later on, I’ll have my teeth done… and I’ll lose all my charm! »
Yamê is performing this Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16, at 8 p.m., at Club Soda
Visit the show page