YUNG WYLIN Talks New Album, Fashion Deal, and His Deep Love of Good Energy

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Good Energy:

Yung Wylin is a man of many talents and interests. At 25 years old, Wylin’s future is in the making. Last year, his artistic journey reached a new high when he found global success with his self-penned song ‘Good Energy’ but that’s not all. Initially released in 2022, the Afrobeats tune has become nothing short of an inspirational movement, resonating with millions of people and immersing themselves in its positive message across the globe. 

Born Isaiah Clark in Chattanooga, Tennessee, he was creating art from a young age, though most of his attention was on drawing and painting. At 14, he recorded his first song at the fabled Criteria Studios, an international hub for legendary artists. He chose the name Yung Wylin, evoking in a spiritual sense that he is young, wild, and accessible. Yung Wylin’s first forays into singing and songwriting were influenced by hip-hop and rap to some extent, and performers like Lil Wayne inspired him. He admired Lil Wayne’s clever storytelling. When writing a song, he wanted his music to deliver a purposeful, conscious message. 

A great deal of care and attention to detail was poured into the creation of his music, and the artist himself can’t even pick a distinct beat that stands out as his favorite. Wylin is moving to a new beat mixed with a rich and proud ancestry, and in his latest single and commercial directorial debut, it just so happens to be powered by a voice of a generation. 

“I take my inspiration from so many musical influences: everyone from R&B and soul singers like Al Green and Stevie Wonder, as well as reggae artists, especially Bob Marley. – he insists.  “I’ve been fortunate enough to perform alongside the Marley Brothers,” he continues. But seeing Wylin perform is only half of the surprise. as he takes his fans on a wild ride as they sing along in great spiritual harmony.

When Yung Wylin discovered Afrobeats, he recognized that those artists were on the same frequency as him. Initially developed in West Africa (mainly in Nigeria and Ghana) and then, making its way to the U.K. and the U.S. The term Afrobeats is an umbrella wrod used to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora. Afrobeats is less of a style per se, and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing majorly out of Nigeria.

Pioneers of Afrobeats like Burna Boy and Wizkid have paved the way for newer artists by influencing and collaborating with Western pop artists worldwide. When Yung Wylin first started writing ‘Good Energy’- he was using more of a Tupac-type beat, but he soon realized that it wasn’t suitable for his message. Afrobeats, on the other hand, was a perfect fit. 

Inspired by R&B, soul singers like Al Green and Stevie Wonder, and reggae artists, especially Bob Marley, Yung Wylin’s musical influences are diverse. Like many others, he speaks reverently of Marley’s music and the powerful, positive messages of love, unity, and social justice that permanently impacted young musicians such as himself. There’s some crossover with alternative rock as well; he likes to listen to bands such as Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Having been born in Tennessee and lived there for much of his childhood, he acknowledges that country music influenced him on some levels, in songwriting and his harmonies. Yung Wylin is also aware of his family’s Cherokee ancestors a few generations back – their tribal music and chanting motivates him and provides spiritual guidance. Set apart from other musicians, he visualizes himself as a warrior for good, facing not traditional but spiritual warfare – thoughts within an individual’s consciousness that seek to wreak havoc on one’s life by breaking one’s faith.

With millions of streams on Spotify and Apple Music, ‘Good Energy’ reached #11 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart and has been thriving as a social media phenomenon. It’s been featured in more than a million photos and reels on Instagram as well as inspiring creative expression among TikTok users, where it trended for months, garnering significant attention, including celebrity recognition from Snoop Dogg to actor and director Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy). In the Fall of 2023, when Yung Wylin performed at the Maestro Marley Cup (an Afro-Carib music festival combined with a soccer tournament), he met Farruko for the first time. He discussed the idea of a Good Energy remix. In November, they (along with producer Maffio) went into the studio to make it happen, and the resulting music video hit a million views on YouTube.

The singer has been busy since the release of his last album and is always down to work with selected artists. The collaboration of working with Farruko and Maffio is the driving force behind his hit song “Good Energy,” an official theme song. This unreleased gem has been a favorite amongst Wylin’s listeners since the beginning. “We enjoyed making the video, so I’d love to collaborate with them both again,” he says. 

During these high-tension times, Wylin’s positive message strikes emotion to the core with a collective rhythm that provides a spiritual experience for many. Wylin is almost ready to drop his next release — he advises fans to wait a few months for the announcement, confirming the speculation that he is working on new music that will surely be at the next level. 

I’ve been working on new music that will highlight my positive message,” he says. “It’s an extension not only my heart but the heart of a new generation.“

Wylin Stunts Style:

When we met in N.Y. for his cover shoot, Wylin was deep in his work zone, with a tight schedule, including a performance at i-heart radio and a subsequent interview with celebrity radio host Xen Sams. 

On set, keeping his phone turned off, I took it as a sign of respect for the crew. And, when I took his spot on set, surrounded by a team of stylists, every so often, I noticed a strong spirit of charisma radiate from his being. The glow is a result of his creative spirit, which is raw and uncut. It is unique, one of the rarest of any star in pop culture today. 

When the team got down to styling him, Wylin immediately fell into character, breathing life and character into the style. From the beginning, though, Wylin’s established himself as a style innovator and made fashion an inextricable part of his music His style is eclectic. Like his vocal harmonies, his fashion sense combines diverse pieces to express a positive mood on any day. 

“My style is seasonal, but I don’t follow trends. I wear certain designers, but I also support smaller brands and like to wear stuff that either needs a label or has a subtle brand insignia where it’s not highly visible. I’ll also mix pieces that are not very expensive with designer labels; it’s just whatever suits my mood.“

Athleisure, sometimes oversized or with a relaxed fit, is one of his favorite things. He appreciates the freedom of movement and personal expression these relaxed pieces allow. He will likely complete this look with sneakers, anything from Vans or Nike Athletics to Louis Vuitton LV®.
Trainers: He owns a lot of sunglasses; some of his favorites are Burberry, Prada, classic Bans®, and Cartier. – but his go-to look is small-to-medium rectangular-shaped sunglasses.

He loves crystals (the energy!), and one unique piece, in particular, features a giant tiger’s eye stone surrounded by smaller crystals hanging on a copper chain. He can be seen wearing that piece during performances and in multiple photos. He’s not a big fan of fragrance, but his current favorite cologne is from Parfums de Marly.

Yung Wylin has developed his branded ‘Good Energy’ merchandise line, including hoodies, tee shirts, and trucker hats. He soon plans on adding an expanded line for women.

Yung Wylin walked the runway for Potro during the New York Fashion Week 2024. And just his luck, the collection was inspired by the Indigenous tribes of North America referred to as Nativos Americanos.

He recognizes the strong connections between fashion and music and said the soundtrack helped keep him on pace as he strode down the runway. He enjoyed the experience enough to profess an interest in modeling, albeit runway, photo shoots, or magazine ads.

POTRO-denim jacket hand-painted (one of a kind) by artist Alvin Surreal. Afrobeats singer/songwriter Yung Wylin wearing POTRO during NYFW 24 Wylin wears a POTRO custom single denim jacket (hand painted by Artist Alvin Surreal) paired with poncho and white distressed jeans. He accessorized his look with a cowboy hat by baronesahats

Yung Wylin states that he wants “to be one with the world”, and the next step on his journey may well be embodied in his latest Afrobeats creation ‘Do It Better’, which was released in February 2024. Listeners are quick to understand that this is the natural follow-up to ‘Good Energy’, an organic segue that keeps the positivity flowing while aspiring to an even higher ground. He has another exciting new release planned in the coming months, as yet unnamed, but it promises to be a feel-good song for the hot summer season.

Finally, next year brings exciting news: Yung Wylin will be appearing at the 2025 Grammy Awards Show and Red Carpet. He’s already started thinking about what to wear, and has checked out some of the menswear looks worn at the Grammy’s (from the red carpet) in February 2024.

I recently had the privilege to speak with Yung Wylin about his desire to surround myself with higher frequencies and vibrational energy, how he was inspired by soul singers and reggae artists and why ihis best advice is to believe in yourself, follow your heart, and never ever give up!

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Joseph DeAcetis: Tell me about yourself – how would you describe what makes you unique, what motivates you and what you are passionate about?

Yung Wylin: My lyrics hold a deep meaning for me and tell my story: “All I need is good energy, I don’t need no negativity around me”. When I was growing up, I experienced times of depression. I always had the desire to surround myself with higher frequencies and vibrational energy, which led me to a healthier lifestyle, both physically and mentally. I began educating myself on how to protect my energy, by practicing mindfulness, working out, eating well, meditating, and breath-work.

What motivates me is to keep challenging myself to reach a higher level, personally and through my music, so that I can continue to share my vision of positivity and unity with others.

JD: Describe your creative process when you write new music – and what is one message you would give to your fans?

YW: I take my inspiration from so many different musical influences: everyone from R&B and soul singers like Al Green and Stevie Wonder, and reggae artists, especially Bob Marley. I’ve been fortunate enough to perform alongside the Marley Brothers. I love Marley’s music and the powerful, positive messages of love, unity, and social justice which permanently impacted young musicians like me. There’s some crossover with alternative rock as well, ‘90s bands such as Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Growing up in Nashville, I’ve also been influenced by country music to an extent. I was also somewhat influenced by hip-hop and rappers like Lil Wayne.

When I first started writing ‘Good Energy’, I was using more of a Tupac-type beat, but soon realized that it wasn’t right for my message. Afrobeats, on the other hand, just felt like the perfect fit. Whenever I write a song, I measure it’s fit for my style by asking myself if I would feel comfortable to play the song for my family. If it wasn’t pure enough, or if the message feels forced or heavy-handed, I would change it up, because I want my music to deliver a purposeful and positive message of unity.

JD: Talk to me about your country music background in Tennessee – what does the country music genre mean to you?

YW: Having been born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and growing up a couple of hours from Nashville, of course there was some country music that inspired me, mostly with my songwriting and harmonies.

JD: Are there any other surprises coming on future projects? Can fans expect to hear collaborations on some tracks on the upcoming releases?

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YW: There will definitely be some surprises! I’m in the process of recording some new music, with one single that’s already set to be released this summer. It was so good working with Farruko and Maffio on the ‘Good Energy’ remix last November, and we really enjoyed making the video; so I’d love to collaborate with them both again in the future.

I’m working on collaborating with some popular reggae artists, which will be revealed over the next couple of months. I’ve also developed my own branded line of ‘Good Energy’ merchandise, including hoodies, tee shirts, and trucker hats – and I’m creating an expanded range for women that will be available soon.

JD: What do you consider to be your greatest weaknesses? Tell us about a time when you faced a challenge and how you dealt with it. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement in music?

YW: I don’t know if it would be considered a weakness, but one of the most challenging things I’ve been dealing with is adjusting to everything that comes along with success. I see myself as a warrior for good, facing not traditional, but spiritual warfare – thoughts within my consciousness that seek to wreak havoc on my life by breaking my faith. I combat this by manifesting positivity, and it’s also about consciously avoiding negativity. Spending more time in nature, alone or with trusted friends, empowers me to evade confrontation with toxic people and things which could potentially wield negative influences.

My greatest achievement in music so far has been when ‘Good Energy’ hit a million streams on Spotify and Apple – and then the numbers kept climbing and we made it all the way to #11 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart; then seeing my song connect with so many people of all ages, and becoming a social media phenomenon among TikTok users, where it trended for months. Millions of people featured it in their photos and reels on Instagram, and it felt great when ‘Good Energy’ was acknowledged by Snoop Dogg and celebrities like the actress/director Ellen Pompeo.

JD: Where have you performed and what are your favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?

YW: I’d have to say my favorite performance so far was last September at the Maestro Marley Cup, an event that combines a music festival with a soccer tournament (annual event organized by the Marley Brothers in North Hollywood, Florida). Next up, I’ll be performing at Livity Haven, at the Virginia Key Beach Park, in Miami on June 15th , a show that was originally scheduled at the end of March, but had to be rescheduled because of severe weather. I’ve recently been asked to participate in the Annual St. Jude’s Fundraiser in New Jersey, more details to follow on that.

JD: What is the best advice you’ve been given and what advice can you give to up and coming Afrobeats musicians?

YW: The best advice I’ve been given and what I’d share with other musicians is one and the same: Believe in yourself, follow your heart, and never give up! If you have a platform, use it to spread positivity!

JD: What’s next for you?

YW: Continuing to uplift and inspire as many people as possible, by sharing the positive messages of my music. Performing and promoting my new single ‘Do It Better’, which was released in February as the follow-up to ‘Good Energy’. I have another release planned in the near future.