We caught up with the pop ballad powerhouse YAZZY ahead of her performance at BOARDMASTERS FESTIVAL....
With the recent announcement from the team at BOARDMASTERS FESTIVAL advising who the final headliner is going to be for the August festival, I thought I’d best get my backside in gear and chat to a few bands and artists who were fortunate enough to see their names appear on the famous lineup poster. We’ve been following a North Devon based young chanteuse who has amazed us with her vocal skills over the past couple of years and to see her being recognised and awarded with a slot at THE biggest festival in Devon and Cornwall is amazing, ladies and gentlemen, I give you YAZZY
Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your style of music
Hello! I'm Yazzy, a singer/songwriter based in North Devon. If you love power ballads and a bit of girl power then my music is for you!
Tell me how you felt when you heard that you’d be playing at Boardmasters Festival this year?
When I was first offered a slot at Boardmasters, I genuinely did cry a few happy tears! Boardmasters is a festival I've wanted to play at for years and I didn't expect to get a slot so 'early' on in my career, and to be on the official line up next to so many well established artists really amazes me!
Do you know which stage you’re playing yet?
I know what stage I'm playing, but for now that's a secret... keep an eye on my social media & I'll be sharing soon.…
Have you been there as a festival goer before or played their before?
No!! I've never been to Boardmasters! I've always had gigs over the festival dates, so have never been able to make it, but a lot of my friends go every year.. so before I'd even been given a slot I'd written out these dates in my diary so I could as a festival goer, but now I'm a performer! woohoo!
The lineup this year is OFF THE SCALE, which bands or artists are YOU really excited about?
Sunday for me is the highlight day! Jorja Smith, Gabrielle Aplin and Lewis Capaldi are some of my top artists that I love. I'm also looking forward to watching Sam Tompkins on the Friday.. I met his dad a few years ago in a little pub in Appledore at one of my gigs and it's been very inspiring watching him develop and grow as an artist. I'm looking forward to seeing him live!
Any heroes that you’d like to meet? If so, what would you say to them if you did get to meet them?
I met Gabrielle Aplin back in November at a BBC introducing event in London and got a little picture. I'd love to see her again and have a chat, as we were both in a rush previously! I'd actually really like to meet Lewis Capaldi and his manager, I follow them on social media and think they have such a nice relationship from what I can see!!
Will you be sticking around for the whole weekend or heading off after your set?
I'm definitely gonna make the most of being part of Boardmasters this year, so am going to be staying down in Cornwall for the whole festival and a few days after with my family and bestie!! I've just booked an air b&b...camping isn't for me!
Please give me your top three tips to surviving a weekend music festival
My top tips for a festival are to have a portable charger, stay hydrated and to pre plan which acts you wanna go watch, so you don't miss any!!
What do you think it is about Boardmasters that attracts such a large audience year on year?
I think what attracts so many people to come to Boardmasters is that there's something for everyone. I'm obviously really looking forward to the music, but I'm excited to be on the beach, spending the days in the sun getting tanned.. I've also seen they do yoga classes, which I'm definitely going to be going along to!
Will you be catching any of the surfing or BMX action?
I'm bringing my little brother who's 9, so I know he will for sure want to check out the BMX action.. and definitely, I live very near to Croyde and Saunton which are very big on surfing.. so though I can't surf myself I'll be trying to get involved!
Why should people come and watch you perform at Boardmasters?
I'd love for people to come and watch me perform at Boardmasters, as I've spent a lot of time developing as an artist over the years. I've got lots of new music, which I'm really excited to release and perform live. I'm ready for people to hear Yazzy! I feel like I'm the definition of a DIY musician, I don't have any management or anyone helping me get these opportunities so I'd love for people to come along & support me as an unsigned artist doing it for myself! woo!
Tell me what 2019 has in store for you (apart from appearing at BM!) (releases, tours, gigs, etc….)
2019 is the year for living in the studio, making music, releasing music and sharing it with all of you. I plan to have a big headline show at some point during this year... and in my personal life I've said I want to write a few weeks off, to volunteer abroad with children in poverty. It's something I've wanted to do for years and hopefully this year, is the year! I'm very excited to develop as an artist and meet new people along on the way to join this crazy journey!
And finally, please provide the weather forecast for the Boardmasters weekend….
My prediction for the Boardmasters weather is that it's going to be baking!!! SO DAMN HOT!
We’d like to thank Yazzy for sparing the time to chat to us and we wish her all the very best for her set at Boardmasters Festival and the ton of other shows that she’ll no doubt be playing over the summer!
Keep up to date with Yazzy’s whereabouts at the sites below;
Social Media
http://www.yazzymusicofficial.com
https://www.facebook.com/YazzyMusicOfficial/
https://twitter.com/Yazzy_Music