We’re looking forward to introducing you to EBRI YAHLOE . Check out our conversation below.
Hi EBRI , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something outside of work that’s been bringing me joy lately is taking care of my plants. Being a plant parent feels like such a flex it’s really rewarding to nurture them and watch their growth. The idea of tending to life and seeing it flourish is fascinating to me
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ebri Yahloe, and I’m a musician, teaching artist, and author based in Columbus, Ohio. Through my work, I blend hip-hop, poetry, and storytelling to create art that uplifts voices and builds community. I’ve had the opportunity to perform at festivals, lead songwriting programs with students, and collaborate with organizations that use the arts as a tool for healing and connection. What makes my work unique is the way I bridge performance and education I’m just as passionate about being on stage as I am about empowering the next generation of artists. Right now, I’m developing new music and community projects that highlight creativity as a pathway to expression, growth, and belonging
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
A person who saw me clearly before I even saw myself was my pops, ‘Pooka.’ He’s not my biological father, but my brother’s dad and he raised me. Growing up as my mom’s first and only daughter, she loved dressing me up in cute, girly outfits, but I was always rough and tough. I was the kid climbing trees, finding bugs, wrestling with the boys (and winning, by the way!). One day, when I was flipping and running around in a dress, my pops turned to my mom and said, ‘Nikki, do you really want her doing all that in a dress?’ From then on, he started taking me clothes shopping himself, making sure I could move the way I wanted.
He was also the first person to take me into a real recording studio. I was about five years old supposed to be napping, but I was fidgeting. He asked if I wanted to rap, and of course I said yes. I grabbed the mic and started rhyming about my favorite color being green and having a money machine. That moment stuck with me. He really saw me for who I was before I even had the words for it, and I’ll always shout him out for that.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
To be honest, I’ve given up plenty of times. Start, stop, build, destroy repeat. It’s part of the process. I’ve never given up forever, but I’ve learned that sometimes a pause is necessary, or a redirection. Sometimes you’ve got to jump ship and swim, especially if it’s a sinking ship. I actually think the idea of ‘never giving up’ is a little overrated. Sometimes stepping back is the smartest way forward
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
I definitely lean on my mother’s and my grandmother’s ideas. As I get older, I realize more and more how much wisdom was in the things they used to say. It’s fascinating mind-blowing, really. Sometimes I catch myself chuckling, like, ‘Wow… she was right. Damn, she was right again… and again… and again.’ Their words just keep gaining weight in my life
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What pain do you resist facing directly?
The pain I resist facing directly is the idea that I may never experience true love in a romantic way. I’m such a believer in love I want to feel it, build it, grow in it. So the thought that it might not happen for me is tough to sit with… but maybe that just means I’m holding space for the right person to prove me wrong
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebri_yahloe?igsh=ajUxN215ZWNidzQ2&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebri-yahloe-572369382?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC9DMtNX2m1Un0aQEMcGQHsQ?feature=shared
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ebri-yahloe/1271841492
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2SOkRAR67uc7kZ6lTWySux?si=0Vk9xkxLRn26U1swVc03Sw
Image Credits
Prophet The Money
