Spotlight: WXPN 24 Hour Song Challenge Finalist: Yuneer Gainz – WXPN

What is your hometown? Where are you currently based?

My hometown is Brooklyn, NY. I am currently based in Delaware.

How long have you been performing? Are you mainly a solo artist, do you also play in bands?

I have been performing for over 10 years. I am primarily a solo artist with musicians playing alongside me at shows and gigs.

What inspired your interpretation of the keyword “summer time”?

It was instinctive, a natural flow of thought. I let the idea of ​​Summertime guide me without being weighed down by over-analysis, and allowed myself to be myself. For me, Summertime embodies fleeting moments, a flowing river of memories floating alongside someone I once knew or might one day meet.

Can you tell us a bit about your process? Do you write lyrics first, then hooks, etc.?

I let the song write itself. When Sam, one of the producers of my piece, said, “If I didn’t have this prompt, I’d want you to write a song about grown men crying,” I took that phrase and let it guide me. Some people call my lyrics poetry, others dialogue. I just express what I feel. If you can have a conversation, you can write a song. We don’t start deep conversations with preconceived ideas; we talk until we find meaning. That’s my writing process.

Are you playing somewhere this summer where our audience can see you?

I haven’t booked anywhere yet, but I hope to do so soon. If not, maybe sometime in September.