Watch Jonah Yano's Moody "strawberry!" Music Video
Another single from his forthcoming debut album, ‘souvenir.’
After sharing his single “delicate” last month, Jonah Yano has returned with his latest single titled “strawberry!”. The song was co-produced by Monsune and is accompanied by a moody music video, which evokes the feelings of duality that Yano has experienced as a Toronto native with Japanese heritage.
Yano walks through the snowy streets of Toronto in the visual, letting off a series of emotions as he explores the city, all while wearing a tailored suit. “This is a song about my experience as a Japanese person in Canada and my grappling with it,” he said. “I’m dressed as a salaryman which is a stereotypical image of the Japanese man. This character represents the identity I’ve been expected to understand my whole life without ever actually understanding what being Japanese means.”
Jonah Yano
He explained that “kraut rock” (or “the era’s long droning heavy guitar riffs and static chord progressions”) influenced the track. Regarding the overall inspiration for the record, he also added:
“This video and song are meant to symbolize my rejection of the identity white people have given me my whole life. I remember looking in the mirror when I was kid and wishing I was white so that I could just fit in and be like all the other kids. As an adult I am happy with all that growing up Japanese in Canada has taught me. and that is exactly the experience I identify with, the Japanese-Canadian.”
“strawberry!” is expected to be on Yano’s upcoming debut album, souvenir, which is set to release on June 21. Watch the video above or stream the song now below.
For more in music, listen to Chronixx’s calming single “Same Prayer” featuring Kabaka Pyramid.
