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, star of TikTok and king of online listening, the Franco-Cameroonian artist with an ethereal 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.
Since he was little, Yamê has had two great interests: computers (his mother is a computer scientist) and music (his father is a musician). “In parallel with 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 classes.” He finished his studies, started working in his field… then the pandemic and the lockdown 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 published piano-vocal covers on TikTok, including a version of La bohème, which went viral, wrote his first songs which were more rap-sounding, as evidenced by his first EP Agent 237, then eventually found his style.
“I was creating more of 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 had to put the cursor. And it was successful, and now I’m on tour! »
Powered by the German platform Colors, it’s his incredible song Bécane – 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 was released in October 2023, and several songs featured on it also racked up millions of streams.
But at 31, Yamê doesn’t think things are going too fast. “It goes with the current speed of time! », says the one who keeps up to date with all technological innovations and feeds on geek culture. “Anyway, the geek universe 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. »
There have been many pats on the back since its beginnings. Renowned producer Timbaland added ingredients to one of his songs, Stromae invited him to do five of his opening acts in spring 2023… “I’ve been listening to him for a long time, watching his tutorials, following his career… It is a well of experience and inspiration. For me, it is also an example of how 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, Bécane, to everyone! It’s truly an incredible experience, and a step in our project, which is basically a friends project, and which quickly grew. »
The title of Yamê’s album, Elowi, means “That which is not visible” in Mbo’, a language spoken in several regions of Cameroon. But what exactly is not seen? “People often ask themselves whether I am rapping or singing… But there is something that you feel, a mood, an emotion, that makes people like my music. There are adults who tell me: “I don’t like rap, but this is cool.” Then young people tell me: “I usually only listen to rap, but this is cool.” These two people have something in common, which they don’t know how to define… That’s what elowi means.”
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. »
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. »
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. This 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. “That’s quite encouraging… And that’s just the beginning! »
There was no question of having his teeth fixed either – his two incisors, which he lost at age 5 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 made 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! »
