Get ready to dive into the world of Edie Yvonne, a 15-year-old powerhouse from Los Angeles making music for all the right reasons. In this chat, we’re peeling back the curtain on Edie‘s life—where school days and late-night recording sessions collide, from dreamy tunes to navigating high school drama. We unpack the stories behind her tracks, dig into her musical inspirations, and find out just how she balances being a teenager, an actress and a rising artist.
Let’s dive right in:
Cougar Microbes: What time did you wake up today? Was it out of choice or necessity?
Edie Yvonne: I woke up at 11 am. I slept in after a long recording session yesterday and a late night out seeing Mean Girls!
CM: Who are you and what do you “do”?
EY: I’m an actress and singer-songwriter based in LA and just started high school. I recently turned 15.
CM: Describe your music to someone who has yet to hear it….
EY: Indie teen pop/dream pop.
CM: Out of your own tracks, which is your current favourite and why?
EY: I love “Stain” because it’s the most personal to date and I love love love my newest track Delusion which is coming out 2/14!
CM: Can you share a bit about your musical background? How did you first get into music, and when did you realise it was your passion?
EY: I have been singing since I was little. I was in the Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts for several years starting when I was 3. During the pandemic their shows pivoted online. Once I found myself performing Les Miserables from my bedroom I shifted gears and started writing and recording music from home. My abuela is a Nicaraguan opera singer and we always sang together since I was small. Before the pandemic I was a small part of this music festival called Girl School at what was once the Bootleg theater. Kristin Kontrol was invited by Anna Bulbrook who produced the festival. She put a group of kids together to perform and I sang “Fade Into You“. That night was a moment and I was hooked. I’m now recording “Fade Into You” now my third cover – coming full circle.
CM: As a Los Angeles-based artist, are there specific aspects of the city’s music scene that have influenced your sound or artistic identity?
EY: Just history. And being able to roll down the hill in Hollywood and see artists that I love. It’s a dream. I just saw SkyeChristy and Haiden at a small venue and they were incredible. I listen to them all the time but to hear them play live in an intimate setting is so inspiring.
CM: Juggling acting and music at such a young age is truly impressive. How do you find the synergy between your acting and singer-songwriter roles? Are there aspects of one discipline that influence your approach to the other?
EY: The first song I wrote was for the credits of a short film I made called At Ease and it was written through the lens of my character Jade. Queen Bee I also wrote it for a short film I am working on about mean girls and their minions.
CM: Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process? Do you have a specific routine or approach?
EY: It’s different every time. Sometimes the lyrics come first, sometimes the melody, and sometimes both. A lot of times I’ll journal and write a poem then convert that poem into a song. Every now and then an idea will come to me in the middle of class and I will have to sneak out and record a voice memo. I try to write a song a week at least if I can.
CM: How do you find inspiration for your lyrics and melodies? Are there any specific sources or experiences that influence your songwriting?
EY: Dreams, poetry, things that happen in my personal life – relationships with friends and family. It’s very diaristic.
CM: Back in September, we featured “In The Rain” which showcased a deeply emotional and introspective side of you. How has your songwriting evolved from that release to your recent work on “Girl Code,” especially in terms of expressing vulnerability and authenticity?
EY: Well I have been experimenting and there seem to be a couple of different threads. I’ve been told that it’s a good time to focus on one sound or direction. One is more teen pop anthem vibes and the other is more indie dream pop. So I have been working with a few different producers and I’m learning various approaches by doing so. I feel like I am so young and just starting out. People seem to want to know if I’m just finding my voice because I’m so young before I commit to one sound or approach over the other. I’m thinking through those choices in real time.
CM: You’ve described the recent single “Girl Code” as a response to the challenges of becoming a teenager. Can you share a specific moment or experience during this transitional phase that directly inspired the song’s creation?
EY: I have had hands on experience when close friendships deteriorate and its painful. So I write stories about those moments and theatricalize them. Also I have had mean girls in my life forever. And I have been writing stories about them since I was in kindergarten.
CM: Do you often make significant changes to songs during the recording process, or do you try to capture the essence of your original demos as much as possible?
EY: Sometimes Nicky and Cormac who are my producers that I work the most consistently and closely with will surprise me. Like “On Your Mind” had an unexpected country twang to it. I was surprised but liked it. After some dialogue back and forth we balanced it out. I trust them and they listen to me. It is an amazing process and I’m so lucky to have the opportunity to collaborate with them.
CM: How do you know when a studio session is completed?
EY: after capturing tens and tens and tens of takes. My mom usually wants me to eat or rest and calls it.
CM: What unique or unconventional recording techniques have you experimented with in the studio?
EY: A lot of times we have a huge bag of instruments and bring them out and play and layer which is super fun. We have been capturing and layering harmonies a lot too.
CM: Collaborating with producer Rio Root and songwriter Maddy Simmen for “Girl Code,” what dynamics did they bring to the creative process, and how did their influence shape the narrative of the song?
EY: It was a very different experience having a song writer in the room. She was lovely. I think that process was about depersonalizing some of the storytelling experimenting with a more popular approach. Simplifying. Maybe with a more commercial bent. Which I am not opposed to. But I do think the voices I’m hearing are right. About making a choice at a certain point and leaning in. Rio is incredible. It was very spontaneous and organic. He is a magician actually. It was a gift to work with both of them and I hope to do it again soon.
CM: Aside from personal experiences, have you ever drawn inspiration from something unexpected or quirky that found its way into your songwriting?
EY: One time I was in an MRI machine and wrote a song based on the sounds of the machine.
CM: How would you describe the energy and atmosphere of your live performances? What do you hope audiences take away from your shows?
EY: I’m just starting to do live performances with my own songs! I am going to perform live for the first time at the Whiskey for a benefit concert supporting the organization HEART VIP supporting individuals and families affected in Los Angeles by domestic violence and abuse. So I’m rehearsing now. The show is on 2/10 and tickets are available and all proceeds go to HEART VIP. I’ll be performing the new track “Delusion” and two covers – I’m recording “Sometimes” by “No Doubt” and “Fade Into You“. I’m so excited because it will be an intimate crowd of my peers.
CM: Are there specific acting techniques or approaches that you find beneficial when expressing the emotional nuances of your songs in a live setting?
EY: I try to focus on the lyrics and the storytelling. And try to not be inhibited emotionally.
CM: Do you have any pre-show rituals or superstitions that you follow?
EY: Listening to Britney Spears.
CM: How do you approach incorporating technology or digital tools into your live show?
EY: I want to work with an artist/artistic director to incorporate projection into my shows when it comes to that. It’s in early stages of development.
CM: How do you kill time when you are on the road? Any new hobbies you have picked up along the way?
EY: I have been working from home mainly. But when I travel I’m mainly writing in my journal.
CM: Do you have a favourite venue or a venue that has left a particular impression on you? What makes it special to you?
EY: I love the Greek Theater. I saw Beebadoobee perform there this summer and it was amazing!
CM: What was the first record/tape/CD you ever bought?
EY: Bjork.
CM: First concert you attended?
EY: Florence and the Machine at the Hollywood Bowl.
CM: Can you recall the first song you ever wrote, and what inspired it?
EY: My first released song I ever wrote was “With the Light” for the short film At Ease. I re-recorded an acoustic version of it last year with Douglas Boehm.
CM: What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
EY: Limerence by Ava Maybee… and the Mean Girls soundtrack.
CM: What was the last show you paid and queued up for?
EY: Jesse and Joy at the Wiltern theater. Joy Huerta is a dear friend and she has the voice of an angel. I love to watch her perform!
CM: What’s the most memorable or bizarre fan encounter you’ve ever had?
EY: When I was 7 and I was at a restaurant I was approached by someone who recognized me from a short film which was super exciting.
CM: Are there other artists from your local scene we should know about?
EY: SkyeChristy and Haiden. I also adore Jack Xander’s music. I think he is crazy talented.
CM: Outside of the musical realm, are there any authors, visual artists, or other art forms that inspire your creativity?
EY: My mother is a curator and producer so I’m around artists all of the time. I’m surrounded by art in our home and in our office – Glenn Kaino, Dave Sitek, Mary Weatherford. These are some of the visionaries I get to be a fly on the wall in their studios or shows sometimes. I grew up in the LA art world which is such a gift. I love the work of Seffa Klein. I have a new painting in my room by an artist Matthew Kirk. I have amazing visual information all around me and the incredible imagery surrounding me especially inspires me while writing.
CM: If you could record any cover in the world, what would it be?
EY: I want to cover Lola Young’s “Conceited” if I dare. I’m obsessed.
CM: If you could have any fictional character as a band member, who would it be and what instrument would they play?
EY: Omg I need a drummer and definitely Yelena Belova.
CM: If you could bring any artist back from the dead, but in exchange you would have to send a living artist down, which artists would you choose and why?
EY: Prince. And omg I would never throw anyone under the bus let alone send them to hell.
CM: Dreaming big, if you had the opportunity to perform on any iconic Los Angeles stage, which one would it be, and why does it hold significance for you?
EY: I think the Greek or the Bowl. It would be mind blowing to perform on the stage that you went to since when you were a little kid!
CM: Please share a sneak peek or hint about any upcoming projects or surprises that we can anticipate.
EY: I recorded a No Doubt cover “Sometimes” yesterday and am currently working on the “Girl Code” EP.
And that’s a wrap! We hope you enjoyed the genuine answers as much as we did. From her honest takes on songwriting to the quirks of recording sessions, Edie brought us into her world. Keep your ears perked for the upcoming No Doubt cover and more. Edie Yvonne is just getting started, and we’re here for the long run.
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