Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I grew up in Seattle with an older brother who played music all of the time in our house, and my mom turned me on to some favorite artists early on in my childhood. We got a piano in the living room when I was young and I felt inspired to learn how to write songs like some of my favorite musical heroes. And I loved singing harmonies with my brother while he played, too. One of the few things that bonded everyone in my family was music in the home.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Yaki Margulies in three words?
A: Eclectic mercurial rock.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: I honestly don’t think I have enough of a fanbase to answer this question, but if anyone reaches out to me, I’m usually very friendly. I would love for more people to hear my songs and feel a connection to them like I do. I’ve become accustomed to making music for me, but I would love to share this journey with fans more and have a bit of a dialogue with them about how they experience my (and any kind of) music.
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘The Disappearing Man’. Is there a story behind it?
A: It’s not a concept album or anything, but I think this new EP still has some through-lines of repeating thematic motifs. Even when the music is a little more upbeat, I usually tend to pair my songs with somewhat sad lyrics. This EP features songs about change, loss, broken hearts, growing older, and picking yourself up and trying again. Change is scary and a form of loss in itself, but change is also creation, the door to the next chapter in life, and this EP’s collection of songs focuses on how I (or anyone really) might always be driven away by fear but also drawn back to it, craving that new change.
Q: What is your favorite track from the EP and why?
A: I think “I Want To Love You But” is the most straightforward rock song on here and I really love it — that’s why I made it the single. It has great, earnest lyrics, a catchy riff, and melodic lines that scratch an itch for me. But the surprise favorite for me might be, “I Used To Garden.” I thought it would be an odd album track, but it ended up being maybe my favorite song for it’s lyrics (both simple and honest, but poetic) and for it’s blending of jazz-influenced verses and Beatles/Beach Boys-inspired choruses with group harmonies. I was just really pleased with how that song turned out and I think it’s quite pretty.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the EP, “The Disappearing Man”?
A: This is my sixth EP (fifth of original songs) and I think it’s just a meditative thing that I create on my own in my apartment at this point. I write the music first (usually just on an acoustic guitar or piano), lyrics come later, then I put a set of songs together that I think would make for a good collection. But even if no one ever listened, I think I would still make music and release it, if only for myself. I feel compelled to make music and there’s something very rewarding about having an idea in my head, and then being able to fully realize it into existence. I always feel better after making a new song. I write them, play and record everything myself (except the drums), mix and master the tracks, all at home for free. There are so many things in life that are out of your control, but it’s very satisfying to have this kind of project that I don’t really need anyone else to help me create. Sometimes I can be a real team player, or go audition for gigs out in the real world, but it’s also nice to be able to do this on my own at home, from start to finish.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for you so far?
A: That I’ve been to or in which I’ve performed? I felt very moved seeing Paul McCartney in concert (among many other great artists), and also The Mountain Goats. That’s who I want to emulate live. As for my own performances, I once played a concert in a backyard (I love the vibe of intimate backyard shows) where I got an encore from the audience and then asked them if they wanted to hear one more original song, or a cover. They asked what cover I would do and I spontaneously said, “Purple Rain,” by Prince. So I tried my best to do that song, even though I didn’t have a lot of the lyrics memorized, and everyone sang along with me and it was probably one of my favorite live music moments.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: “The Songwriter” from my first EP, Paying In Prophecies, comes to mind. I love artists like Harry Chapin and Randy Newman, who create story-songs with characters, and I felt inspired to write my own story-based song about a small singer-songwriter in North Dakota who struggles to find a following and eventually settles into family life. My mom often told me that I wasn’t a great singer or musician growing up, so I wrote this song to say, ‘I know I’m not technically the best musician, but I can write a good song.’ And I think it’s still one of my favorite songs that I’ve written.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into your approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: Like I mentioned earlier, I usually start just on a single guitar, strumming various chords until I come up with a progression I like, and a vocal melody that goes over it. I’m big on melody and harmonies, so I try to find a melodic line that I really find satisfying before proceeding, and then interesting chord harmonies that I can play under it. Then I write the lyrics later. Sometimes the words fit the music, sometimes they don’t exactly. It’s hard to come up with words that fit the meter of the preexisting music, but I need that melody to be good before I can write any lyrics, so I just have to figure out later how to make lyrical intentions that can fit the rhythm of the music. Then in my head I’ll envision a full band arrangement, what I want the song to sound like once it’s fully fleshed out and not just me and a single instrument. Finally, I record it all track by track (I often start with drums before anything else), and build that arrangement to fit what I heard in my head as best as I can. Then some editing, mixing, and mastering, and I’ve got a completed song for people to hopefully listen to and enjoy.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have, and what message would you like to share on your musical journey?
A: I’d love to just build up more listenership and get to a point where I can perform live more regularly in cool venues where people are actually paying to come see me because they simply connect with me and my music and are excited to see me play live. That’s the dream. I’m always going to be on this musical journey regardless because I can’t stop making songs, but it can be a lonely path and I look forward to a time when I can share this voyage with lots of people who join together through these songs. A give and take that leaves everyone feeling more than they were feeling before. What a wonderful job to have.
