Catching Up with Aly Youranday - New Music and a New Phase in Life
It’s been almost a year since I last met with singer-songwriter, Aly Youranday, whose latest single “Falling for You” was released last Monday.
We met up at Starbucks to talk about her new music, the new phase she’s entering and how things have changed for her musically in this season.
“The inspiration behind falling for you was my experience with falling for somebody that you had a crush on or falling for somebody you didn’t think you would fall for,” said Youranday.
It’s something that starts as a casual hangout and pretty soon a day turns into a weekend, which turns into weeks and months. You find yourself falling for this person and what they’re about - dreams, character, goals and so on.
Before sharing with the world, she sent it to a few close family members and friends. Like a good catchy pop song, it was stuck in their heads constantly.
“That’s ultimately what I want - them to go listen to it, and go throughout the day, singing the lyrics,” she said.
Youranday loved that it was a summer vibe. She’s wanted to produce something like this for awhile and she loved how this one came about.
As most artists do, they change and evolve with time.
After her last EP and performing the songs in front of audiences, she knew she wanted to change her sound.
“I wanted to connect with my audience on a deeper level,” said Youranday.
Since the release of her last EP, she experienced some things that she felt the audience would be able to connect with and relate to more.
“Every time you go to a new level, you start getting other struggles, other conflicts,” she said. “You end up going through a transition in your life and sometimes it just hits harder than others.”
Having gone through a tougher season, she entered the Nashville recording studio sad, and the doubt set in of whether she could go through with it or not. She explained to her songwriter and producer that she’d been struggling with some things and life had hit hard within the last month, so she might need to take a few breaks.
Her producer and songwriter were understanding, prayed with her and then got to work.
Youranday was in the studio at least five hours each day, Monday through Thursday. Then, it was back to the hotel to rest her vocals. It gave her a chance to rest and reflect, as well as update her followers about her process in the studio and how each day turned out.
She explained that once she was in the studio, it was like she was releasing the negativity and the emotions - putting it all out there. She left feeling very proud of herself and was excited about the growth of the songs.
This next set of songs is more alternative indie pop, which is a bit of a change from the electronica pop flavors of Youranday’s older music.
“It’s very intentional,” she adds about this next phase of music.
She said it’s not that she’s trying to be someone she isn’t, but it’s a growth process - it’s trial and error, and will continue to be that way.
Youranday recorded all of the songs at once, but will release them sporadically over the next year. She wanted to allow the songs to breathe with other people.
Loss, heartache, joy, breakups...It’s all there.
Her advice to others going through those challenging moments
“Relax and dwell in that moment. In those moments whether you’re alone or thinking to yourself, or you have those thoughts, that’s where you’re finding yourself, your strength, what you’re made of, what you’re going to come back with,” she said. “Everybody goes through those seasons, but to embrace it, go through it. Don’t go around it or fill it with other stuff. ‘Cause it’s going to come back ten times harder. Embrace it and surround yourself with positive people who will keep encouraging you to keep going.”
The next song, to be released in January, was a very emotional time for her recording it. She came out on the other side proud of herself for committing to it and not letting emotions hold her back from doing her best.
As for the future?
She’s excited to evolve, gain new members through her music and she’s happy with the music right now.
“It’s a powerful tool to get connected with somebody,” said Youranday.
Music has a way of doing that, and Youranday is on the right track.
A few more questions with Aly:
Aly’s Top Songs:
Khalid - “On the Way”
Lizzo - "Good as Hell"
Her own song - “Falling for You”
Go-to Drink at Starbucks:
Tall hot peppermint mocha, even during the summer!
Last Movie You Saw:
Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw. “That was so good. I was actually surprised at how funny it was and how good it was.”
What’s in your Netflix queue?
All American and Gossip Girl
That's all for now,
Shelby