CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Considering himself an occasional/hobbyist singer-songwriter, Yelayu’s musical sketches often tie into his poetry. His music leans toward a preference for physical acoustic instruments, high-fidelity spatial recordings, and a commitment to capturing a sound as natural and analog as possible even while using digital modern technology.
A self-proclaimed “coffee-house tenor”, his voice has been compared in timbre to Sade and Seal, and in delivery to Norah Jones. Meanwhile, his music finds a home somewhere in between folk, alternative, soul, and world sound.
Listen to a feature selection of his songs below:
“All Things (A Dream Away) Demo”
An affirmation about the power of hope and belief crooned over an alternative arrangement rooted in live acoustic instrumentation, world-influenced percussion, and layered sound; captured with the old-school lo-fi recording process that highlights the natural timbres of voices and instruments, and the atmosphere.
Written, arranged, performed, produced, recorded, and mixed by Umohowet Yelayu
Lyrics
Dream me a place that seems better than what we have today
Dream me a path that will carry us but won’t lead us astray I know
I know It seems impossible, I know, I know It seems impossible
But it’s only a dream away (Everything is a dream away)
But it’s only a dream away(All things are a dream away)
It’s only a dream away
Ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh, Dream away, Ooh-ooh
But it’s only a dream away (Everything is a dream away)
It’s only a dream away (All things are a dream away)
Mm-mmm
But it’s only a dream away, It’s only a dream away
Mm-mmm
Ooh-ooh, All things are a dream away
Ooh-ooh
Ooh, dream me a place
Dream me a place that seems better than what we have today
Ooh
Dream me a path, Dream me a path, Dream me a path
That will carry us
But won’t lead us astray
It’s just a dream away
It’s just a dream away
It’s just a dream away (All things)
It’s just a dream away (Are a dream away)
It’s just a dream away (All things) It’s just a dream away (Are a dream away)
The Mystery You Pose
A soft and dreamy one-verse-and-chorus love ballad featuring vocals over acoustic guitar and world percussion, set over natural Earth sounds. Sweet & resonant, it is a meditation on love as an eternal force of union, harmony, peace, contentment, and joy.
Written, arranged, performed, produced, recorded, and mixed by Umohowet Yelayu
Recorded and mixed at Sumahrumet Studios
Cover design & photography by Yelayu
INVITE YELAYU TO PERFORM
In addition to sharing music via streaming services, Yelayu is a live performer. To request a performance or appearance, please use the form below. Sumahrumet Entertainment will review requests.