Meet Yilon | Music producer& Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yilon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yilon, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

To be honest, I have never been able to maintain a work-life balance. I used to love life and hate work. Now, I love and hate them at the same time, haha. Since I started pursuing music, I feel like I am taking “work hard and play hard” to an extreme because my play has become my work. I was constantly thinking about the projects I was working on and trying to do better. It has really helped me in the beginning. I was improving fast by having this mindset.

However, later on, I started finding myself getting burnt out more and more often and becoming less and less efficient. I was constantly stressed, unproductive, and unhealthy. That’s when I realized I needed to take a step back. I used to tell myself I didn’t deserve a break or treat if I couldn’t produce anything good. But time after time, I have proved that creativity can’t be forced, especially in the field of art. There is a healthy limit to every person in terms of how far to push yourself, and I have found myself becoming happier and more productive since I started looking for my limit.

As a person who learned the hard way, I have to admit that having a work-life balance is not overrated. Some of the most successful and mentally healthy people I have met all have good work-life balances. Now, I believe giving yourself a life outside of work is the basis of working hard. I am definitely trying to get better at that.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Turning feelings into musical ideas and bringing artistic visions to life are what excite me the most. As a former street dancer, I have been dreaming of creating my own music. Unlike many artists who started playing music at a young age, I was clueless about music until my college years when I began learning music production on my own. I was teaching myself by listening to songs hundreds of times, trying to identify every sonic element and recreate them as closely as possible. It took me a very long time to work up the courage to decide I wanted to pursue music, and a lot of hard work to get good enough for a good music school. It was difficult in that sense. But in another way, it is the easiest thing I have ever done. Because I am doing what I love, I am just automatically motivated all the time. Even though I face frustration and self-consciousness all the time, it’s impossible for me to not keep going.

I tend to create breakup songs or tender love songs, mostly within the pop or R&B genres. I exist to make music and content that resonates with people experiencing loneliness or intense emotions in life. What sets me apart? Probably a lot of failed relationships, haha. As a very empathic person, I am able to understand what a lot of people are going through and communicate that through music.

An important thing I learned along the way is that “Presentation is half of the art”. As a creator, it is easy to get obsessed and not see the bigger picture. Taking a step back and thinking about how the final product is going to be presented and what purpose it serves can save so much headache.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend is visiting Miami, Key Biscayne is a must. Take a drive from Brickell to Crandon beach, there are amazing views and beautiful beaches along the way. You can stop anywhere you want and it is not as crowded as south beach.

My suggestions are probably more valid in asian foods, here are some really good asian food spots!
Taste 107
Hi-pot
Pho79
Ginza Japanese buffet
Shinju Japanese buffet

Aside from those
Chalan on the beach
and El Chalan
are really good!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am thankful to so many people. My time at Frost School of Music has helped me a ton. I was clueless when I got in, then I met a lot of great musicians, and they showed me the way. I wouldn’t be able to go from writing songs in my bedroom to producing a whole EP without my friends: Diego Clavijio, Jason Raiser, Jacob Holmes, Kara Brusven, Amy Yu, Mint Shi and Michael Melnik! These people showed me the way into the professional world, worked on my projects, and played on my songs. Most importantly, they supported me and encouraged me along the way! As a reader, you probably don’t care who those people are, but thank you for giving me a chance to thank them! 🙂

Website: yilonmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yilooong/