In a city not often recognized for its alt-music scene, Denver’s own YONNAS has quietly been creating a genre all his own — what he calls “dream pop for Black people.” A lifelong artist, YONNAS has evolved from rapping with indie hip-hop groups in his teens to pioneering a soulful, shoegaze-influenced sound rooted in both vulnerability and political consciousness.
After years of building his artistry in groups like The Pirate Signal and Black Hearts, YONNAS hit a personal and creative crossroads. “I didn’t want to rap anymore,” he says. “But I wasn’t a singer by trade either — I just always thought in melodies.” That moment of creative reckoning birthed his debut solo project FEVEN, which marked the emergence of his signature sound: lush, spacey guitar textures layered with emotionally honest, soul-drenched vocals.
More than just a sound, YONNAS’ music is an act of cultural reclamation. His lyrics often center on Black liberation, which for him means both the political (decolonization, reparations) and the deeply personal — the freedom to define Blackness on his own terms. “I make the sauce,” he says. “I’m not interested in people telling me how the sauce should be if they don’t make sauce.”
While his art is unapologetically made for Black audiences, YONNAS welcomes all listeners. For him, success isn’t defined by industry standards or metrics. It’s about making uncompromised art and feeling fulfilled by it. “I make the great piece of art now,” he adds. “Not later, not when I get the bag.”
You can find more of YONNAS’ genre-defying work at mynameisYONNAS.com and follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter @mynameisYONNAS.
“Spend time alone and listen to a lot of music,” he advises. “That’s how you figure out what touches your soul.“