YV Media Digital Cover: Yari Toro Interview
YV Media: Coming out of Amsterdam, NY, you’ve built major momentum to become one of the most streamed artists from Upstate New York. How has your Upstate roots and split performing between the Capital Region and NYC shaped your sound and stage presence?
Yari Toro: Being from Upstate has played such a huge part in my career. It makes me unique from every other typical artist you see blow up from big, well-known states and cities. Everyone always says they’ve never heard of Amsterdam, NY when I tell them where I’m from lol, so I take a lot of pride in the fact that I’ve been able to make so much noise in the music industry as an ARTIST while coming from such a small town.
Of course, being so close to NYC and having such a big music scene right there has played a part in my experience & exposure too. Performing between the Capital Region & NYC has given me different experiences and different crowds. I think that helped me become more comfortable and versatile on stage. But being able to come from where I come from is exactly what makes me different. 518!
YVM: Your high-energy breakout track "Pressure" really set the tone for your rise. What was the exact moment or inspiration behind creating that song, and how did it set the standard for your follow-up releases?
Yari: When I think about “Pressure,” I laugh because I sound so young and always remember I had an issue with someone at the time. Basically, if you listen to the song, I was literally talking about exactly what was happening and going on at the time lol.
I was only 19, which seems so young now. I was turning a lot of the dumb stuff I used to do into music. I got tired of beating girls up. I get nothing out of that. I’d rather talk about them in my music and get rich off it. “Pressure” is a true experience. Not everyone knew the story behind it, but the vibe was something people could relate to. They could dance to it, sing to it, and just have fun with it. To this day, it’s still one of people’s favorite songs from me.
It definitely set the standard for my next releases because it was a record where I was both rapping and singing, so I knew I had to really outdo myself after that. And looking at where I am today, I feel like I definitely did.
YVM: Tracks like "Too Mixy" and "Pink Lemonade" have racked up over 100,000 views on YouTube. How do you approach crafting visual concepts for your singles to ensure they capture your high-energy vibe?
Yari: I actually creative directed both of those videos. Shooting videos and bringing my records to life is one of my favorite parts of my career. One of my best friends, Kemiyah, who has been here throughout my entire journey, shoots all of my visuals. She shot both of those videos and even shot these magazine photos. She really helped me capture exactly what I see in my head and bring my vision to life. I’m really grateful to have someone as talented as her who understands my vision and knows how to bring it out of me creatively.
I’ll never forget the day we shot “Pink Lemonade.” We talked about the power of “just doing” not overthinking and simply doing what WE love and want to do. Not what other people want, and not what we THINK they want. We sat together for at least six hours going through the footage and figuring out exactly what we wanted and didn’t want, and how I wanted everything to come together. That was the first video we ever did like that together, and it hit 50K in about two weeks. It’s still my highest-viewed and most-liked video on YouTube right now. We were SUPER proud of that one.
YVM: You’ve shared stages with big names like GloRilla at the Capital Center, Fivio Foreign and DreamDoll at the Palace Theater, and Toosii. What is the biggest lesson or takeaways you've gained from opening for such heavy hitters in the industry?
Yari: Honestly, since we’re talking about takeaways and lessons one thing, I’ve learned and I’m sure other big upcoming artist can relate is that sometimes an opportunity is just for the moment and that’s okay. Where I’m from, sometimes you’re opening for a bigger artist, the focus can be on the business side of things — ticket sales, bringing people out, and what you can do for the event but I still look at every opportunity as a blessing because I got the experience, I got in front of a new audience, and I got to perform alongside artists I look up to.
The biggest lesson I learned is that it’s all happening for me. All of it. Whether I had a bad show, or had an amazing night, there’s always something I can take from it. I get another chance to gain new fans, get my music out there, and become a better performer in front of bigger crowds. It’s all part of the journey. Those experiences are necessary for an upcoming artist because they motivate you to keep going and know that one day, I’m going to be the main act.
YVM: You made a huge splash with over 1 million views on your On The Radar performance. How did you prepare for that session, and what did hitting that milestone mean for your career?
Yari: It meant everything. It still means everything. On The Radar overall was a huge milestone in my career, and the million views were just the cherry on top. I had manifested being there, so getting there sooner than I thought I would was such a huge blessing.
I wanted to come in there with something different. I feel like that was the beginning of me truly finding my own sound when it came to rap. I never wanted to sound like somebody else, and I don’t think I ever really did sound like anyone else, but with that performance, I found something that people really grasped onto. It showed me that I could be myself completely, do something different, and people would still connect with it.
YVM: Dubbed "Miss Viral," you seamlessly balance being a recording artist with your heavy social media presence as a content creator. How do you balance staying authentic to your music while continuously engaging your online fanbase?
Yari: It all leads back to the music, and that’s the fire part. I think being yourself and doing things for you is really how you balance it. I don’t post content just for views or likes or stuff like that. It’s how I connect with people. It’s how I show my fans what I love to do and who I am, and it’s how you build a connection with people who genuinely support you.
Just a few months ago, I was struggling with trying to make music and constantly create content for the internet, and honestly, it’s not healthy. That’s when you start to lose the love for it. I had to get back to doing things for me — making content that I actually have fun making and posting because I want to.
And ironically, it’s actually benefited my career in the best way. Especially these last few months. I’ve gained so many supporters through my content, and my OG supporters always want more. At the end of the day, it all leads back to the music.
YVM: With over 250,000 total streams under your belt and major co-signs, what can fans expect next from Yari Toro in terms of upcoming projects, collaborations, or tour dates?
Yari: I’ve never dropped a full project yet, but I do plan on preparing for one. I feel like this project is going to mean a lot to me, so I don’t want to rush it. I want it to feel right and really represent where I am as an artist.
I know it’s going to be worth the wait, and I know it’s highly anticipated. A full body of work from Yari Toro is something I feel like the world needs — and something I know people are waiting for. So, I’m taking my time, making sure it’s right, and getting ready to give them something they haven’t gotten from me before.
YVM: Why does your voice matter?
Yari: Because it can change lives. Especially as a young woman, I feel like it’s even more important. It’s a lot harder for women in this industry, so our voices do in fact matter. We do in fact have to continue to use them. You never know who is listening, who needs to hear something you said, or who can see themselves in your story. If I can make somebody feel something, inspire them, or even make them feel less alone through my music, then I know my voice matters.
Follow Yari Toro on Instagram @yari.toro
Yari Toro Management: Leonard Croft @leonardcroftmgr
Photo Credit: N$YNC Media @nsync_photography_, @ke_supreme
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