Description
Stand for Myself is the anthemic new album from Yola. Produced by Dan Auerbach, the record marks an idiosyncratic sonic shift for the UK born/Nashville based artist- a sophisticated and diverse sonic mix of symphonic soul and classic pop, tracing an expansive musical thread to Yola’s most eclectic musical inspirations. Yola’s inimitable vocals share nuanced stories of allyship, black feminine strength through vulnerability, collective awakening and loving connection from the sexual to the social.
One of the most significant professional moments in her career, came when she met Dan Auerbach, the accomplished producer and front man for The Black Keys. A friend had sent Auerbach a video of Yola performing at an event in Nashville, to which Auerbach replied, “Let’s get her on the phone!” Soon, he and Yola were sharing ideas and a fruitful creative relationship was born. Auerbach produced Yola’s 2019 landmark record, Walk Through Fire, and he also produced this follow-up release. “The first time I met Dan we wrote ‘Shady Grove.’ I hadn’t met him before we started writing the first album.” To make Stand for Myself, Yola fleshed out songs that were both brand new and several years old. She mined old voice memos and wrote new material during the pandemic lockdown—sometimes, she says, on her sofa at 5 a.m. with a glass of wine. It is clear that Yola, now a four-time Grammy nominee, has arrived and her bountiful story has accompanied her to the stage, front and center.
