Venezuelan artist Yari swung by to chat about how he first developed a passion for electronic music, his latest single on Neotrance, and more.
Yari‘s life changed years ago when he flipped on his TV while living in Venezuela and heard Daft Punk‘s music for the first time. Since then, his passion for electronic music has grown with each passing year, yet it wasn’t until he found a home in Orlando that his career took a huge step forward.
Recent years have seen Yari continue his exploration in the realms of progressive house, melodic techno, and trance, all while evolving his sound along the way. This has led to releases landing on a global range of labels that include SNRG, Underzone, Never B Alone, and more, while he’s also been seen taking the stage at venues up and down the East Coast.
This month, Yari dropped off his biggest release yet, a track called “Kit Kat” that’s landed on Rave Alert’s sub-label Neotrance. Featuring his signature blend of energetic grooves with melodic moments, it’s a tune that is sure to keep your body moving deep into the night. And after its release, he swung by to dive into his roots in the scene and so much more. Give his exclusive guest mix a spin and read on for the whole conversation!
Stream EDMID Guest Mix 465 || Yari (VE) on SoundCloud:
Hi Yari, thanks so much for chatting with us today. Let’s explore your roots to kick this one off. I saw that, like many other artists, Daft Punk helped you fall in love with electronic music. Can you share what it felt like and how that impacted your drive to dig deeper into this realm of music?
Thank you so much for having me! I’m really excited to share this moment with you all!
Like many other artists, Daft Punk was a key moment in my introduction to electronic music. Back in Venezuela, there was a Disney channel that sometimes played music videos late at night. One night, by pure chance, I happened to be awake at the exact moment they aired one.
I didn’t catch the name in time, so I had to stay up for several nights trying to catch it again. [Laughs] I remember the video for “Around the World / Harder Better Faster Stronger (Official Live Video 2007).” It was such a wild feeling! Robots performing on a pyramid was like seeing the future! And the music was unlike anything I had ever heard before.
After that moment, I had to learn everything about the duo, exploring their music more deeply, where they came from, and how their songs are made using samples. That moment opened the door to so many other artists for me and to the realization that there was actually a profession called DJ. That’s when I used Virtual DJ for the first time, but with no controller or anything, just a keyboard and mouse! [Laughs]
As an artist, you’ve primarily found a home in the more melodic-driven styles like progressive house, trance, and techno. How did you develop a passion for these genres specifically?
I can tell you exactly when it happened. During the COVID pandemic, we all had a lot of free time to listen to music. Fortunately, I came across a set by Tinlicker from Anjunadeep Open Air: Prague during #ABGT350.
I had it on repeat for a long time, every song conveyed a different emotion, a sense of euphoria. I could feel the sounds speaking to the soul. [Laughs] From that moment on, I left behind the kind of music I was making then and began to immerse myself in melodic genres, with the mission of reaching people the same way I felt moved by that set.
You live in Orlando now, but you’re originally from Venezuela. Were you exposed to electronic music while you were growing up there? Has that influenced your style at all?
Not really. Back then, electronic music wasn’t as normalized as it is today, it was seen as something strange. My family didn’t listen to it, and very few people in my close circle of friends did either, so I didn’t go out much. The few “raves” I managed to attend would usually get shut down by the police, or they’d switch to reggaeton shortly after starting because no one wanted to hear electronic music. I always had this feeling that I didn’t quite belong there, or that maybe I had to be older to discover and understand the scene truly.
What I can say is that this actually motivated me even more to keep working and made me realize that maybe I just wasn’t in the right place and that if the music is good, it will reach the right people one way or another. Ever since I moved, I’ve felt like I’m really building something meaningful, and I owe a lot of that to my friends and to the people who support this project.
You have a fresh tune “Kit Kat,” which just dropped on Rave Alert. Is there anything you can tell us about the track?
Absolutely! “Kit Kat” is my biggest release so far, and I have the opportunity to release it through Rave Alert’s sub-label, Neotrance, which is a huge step for me. I’m really excited, especially to be sharing a label with major names like Odymel, Niotech, Giorgia Angiuli, DJ Traytex, and more! You can expect an energetic, melodic track with a hot vocal, perfect for club or festival play. I definitely see it as a summer track.
While your tunes have graced labels like SNRG, Red Trail Music, Never B Alone, and Underzone, you’ve also self-released along the way. Do you prefer releasing with an established label, or have you preferred to have more control over your releases?
I really value the control, flexibility, and creative freedom that come with self-releasing. However, the support, structure, and opportunities that come with being on an established label are incredibly important when it comes to leveling up as an artist. It helps your music reach a much broader audience and opens doors that are often hard to access on your own.
You brought techno to Tampa this month while playing in support of Zorza and have previously supported Tinlicker, Weska, and more. Is there anything specific you do to prepare for club sets like these? Is it any different from your festival appearances?
Opening for an artist is very different from playing at a festival! For club sets like these, I think it’s really important to do your homework and study the headliner, understand their musical selection and what BPM they usually play at so you can give them enough space to shine. It’s about putting your ego aside and realizing that you’re not the focus of the night. A good warm-up set doesn’t mean playing all the current hits or mimicking the headliner’s sound, it’s about setting the stage, reading the dancefloor, dropping the right tracks, building tension, controlling the energy, and keeping a low profile so that when the main act steps up, the crowd is fully ready to go all in.
On the other hand, when I’m playing at festivals, the energy is completely different. The music selection changes depending on the time slot, but it must always reflect 100% of who you are and what you want to communicate to the audience. It’s the moment to showcase your releases and unreleased tracks, to show exactly why you’re there.
Having played in cities all over the country, what makes you love the local scene in Orlando? Is there anything you hope will happen in the future there?
Orlando feels like it’s at a moment where the techno scene is emerging underground. Several groups are doing interesting things here. Ethereal Sound, created by my manager Jessica, is building opportunities for new talent to take their first steps performing in front of a crowd and bringing in artists from other states so the community can discover something fresh.
I still feel there’s a long road ahead before it becomes a true capital for techno or electronic music, but it’s growing step by step. Ever since I moved here and found out this is the only city on this side of the country that hosts EDC, it gave me the idea that if they saw potential here, it’s for a reason. Orlando is still a hidden gem, but that’s going to change.
Finally, do you have any goals for the rest of the year that you’d like to share with us?
Yes! To improve my English more, just kidding. [Laughs] But of course, one of my main goals is to continue expanding and bringing my sound to more festivals and other states in the country. Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, Miami, and Atlanta have been on my radar for a while. They’re doing amazing things, and I’d love to contribute in my own way! If God wills it, everything will come together, this year has truly shown me that. With God, everything is always possible!
Thank you! and We Rise!
