Fifteen-year-old guitarist, bassist and drummer extraordinaire YOYOKA recently released her debut album, For Teen, a 14-track collection of music blending elements of rock, pop, jazz, and funk.
For Teen features an array of elite musicians and producers, including Narada Michael Walden, members of Jamiroquai, Roman Morello, and Marco Mendoza.
At the age of one, YOYOKA began playing the drums, followed by forming a band when she was five years old and received endorsements at age eight. She’s appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show twice and has performed with Cyndi Lauper, Fall Out Boy, and Jack Black.
She and her family moved to San Francisco in 2022. She studied at the Oakland School for the Arts, where she learned English, guitar, bass, and took advanced classes in music. In 2024, she signed an endorsement contract with Ludwig.
From a purely subjective viewpoint, entry points on For Teen include the opening track, “Origin,” a shimmering, jazz-flavored tune with hints of psychedelic prog-rock running through it. A personal favorite because of its amalgamation of alt-rock, jazz fusion, and prog-rock, “Blue Sky” highlights the dazzling guitar talent of Yukihide “YT” Takiyama.
The retro, disco flow of “Time Travel” offers a delicious, upbeat soundscape topped by the evocative vocals of Josephine Peppink.
On “Home Bestie,” YOYOKA shows off her multi-instrumental ability, playing guitar, bass, and drums on the track – a pop-punk-laced tune brimming with beguiling energy. The fat with funk “Double Trouble” rides the popping bassline of Ken Okada and the tightly finessed drums of YOYOKA.
“Shooting Star” merges R&B, soul, and tinctures of reggae into a sparkling, dreamy tune suffused with gossamer, breathy harmonies and the soulful vocal tones of Tulani, who also played harp on the song, giving it luscious, celestial accents.
For some reason, “Mud-Stained Boots” conjures up suggestions of Tommy Bolin’s guitar work on Cobham’s Spectrum. Whereas the classical jazz zest of “Sparkling – Duo Version” allows both YOYOKA and Ai Furusato to strut their gifts – YOYOKA on drums and Furusato on piano.
Tying the album off, “Hello Sunshine” features the delicately gorgeous voice of Rachel West atop a folk-rock melody underscored by YOYOKA’s expressive percussive niceties.
Wonderfully arranged and innovatively imaginative, For Teen is thick with tasty traditional and experimental flavors. This is an excellent album.
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