V Girls: Ylona Garcia – V Magazine

The latest 88rising signee talks to V about her early musical inspirations, moving to California and performing at Head in the Clouds.

The latest 88rising signee talks to V about her early musical inspirations, moving to California and performing at Head in the Clouds.

This feature appears in V137, now available for purchase

From an early age, Ylona Garcia showed a special gift. Precisely, a special gift for singing. At the age of nine, she performed renditions of Adele at her family’s Christmas parties, and in her mid-teens began writing songs on the set of Pinoy Big Brother. Shortly after, she was signed to 88rising’s sister label, PARADISE RISING. And since then, the Australian-born singer-songwriter has enjoyed a meteoric rise. She’s infiltrated the charts and been on our most coveted playlists since the release of her electric single, “Entertain Me.” At the time of writing, the song has over 19 million streams and over four million views on YouTube. “What I love about ‘Entertain Me’ is the confidence and the essence,” she says from her home in Los Angeles, California. “The lyrics, melody and production scream both confidence and strong determination in one individual.” And that’s exactly what Ylona is.

While the track features heart-pounding beats and infectious melodies, at its core is a message about self-love and well-being. His latest release, “Vibin” also addresses this philosophy. The “Very Special Song”, as Ylona calls it, is about not feeling pressured to define relationships, but rather engaging in a carefree mentality and enjoying every moment. “I want to be able to take people on a journey when they listen to my songs,” she shares. And if Ylona has just arrived on the music scene, releasing her first single in 2016, she is already making her mark. She shone last year at the Head In The Clouds Music and Arts Festival. Dressed in a red two-piece, Ylona beamed on stage serving the crowds with her signature voice, engaging lyrics and overall positive energy. When she’s not performing, the young musician can be found in the studio, pouring out her lived experiences in heartfelt tracks. “I fall in love with music every time I do something,” she explains.

With every song she writes, she creates a unique story, a story that draws you in and begs you to listen. It’s what makes the young singer one of the last emerging artists defining the sound of the next generation. Weaving contemporary pop and 80s R&B into a harmonious sound, Ylona creates her own voice. She is obsessed with her craft and it is clear that she is determined to push herself to new heights. At just 20 years old, Ylona is already poised to dominate the global music scene – and clearly nothing can stop her.

This feature appears in V137, now available for purchase