Meet Yelpy | Irish singer/songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yelpy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yelpy, what’s your definition for success?
Success is not about fame or fortune, but about following your passion and making a positive impact in the world. Success is about being true to yourself and your values, and expressing yourself through your art. Success is about connecting with your audience and touching their hearts with your music. Success is about being grateful for every opportunity and every challenge, and learning from them. Success is about enjoying the journey and not just the destination.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is a reflection of my life experiences, my emotions, and my dreams. When I write songs I try to be as honest and real as possible. I want to touch people emotionally with my music and maybe inspire in some little way.

It’s hard to say what sets me apart from others but it would probably be my style of blending pop, rock, and folk influences with Irish elements. I’m proud of my heritage and I want to share it with the world. I’m also proud of my independence and my “I’ll do it myself” approach to making music. I produce, record, and distribute my own songs, (with a little help from the amazing TheRealJonSmith along the way) and I’m always looking for new ways to connect with people.

I’m very excited about my two upcoming singles. I think they are my best songs yet, though I’m pretty sure every artist says that about their latest work. But yea writing and performing these two new singles is a very personal and intimate project of mine, and I can’t wait to share them with everyone. I’m also excited about the possibility of touring and performing live so more with a new set.

I guess I would say I got to where I am today by just doing what I love and never giving up, sprinkle a lot of help from amazing people and a bit of luck on top and here I am. It wasn’t/isn’t easy, but then nothing really is these days, and I faced many challenges along the way. I had to overcome self-doubt, rejection, criticism, and financial difficulties. I also had to balance my music career with my personal life and my mental health. But I learned a lot from these challenges, and they made me stronger and more resilient.

Some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way are:

– If you are fortunate enough to find something you love then do it, no matter what.
– Be yourself and don’t let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t do.
– Be open to feedback and constructive criticism, but don’t let it define you or discourage you.
– Be flexible and adaptable, and embrace change and innovation.
– Be humble and grateful, and appreciate every opportunity and every supporter.
– Remember the people who are there for you, stay away from negative people and people who try to bring you down.

What I want the world to know about me? I’m a singer-songwriter who loves music and loves people. I’m a dreamer who believes in the power of art and creativity. I’m a fighter who overcomes obstacles and challenges. I’m a human being who has flaws and struggles, but also hopes and joys. I’m Yelpy, and this is my art.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
LA is a beautiful and diverse place to visit, with so much to offer for for a wide rang of people. If my best friend was visiting the area for a week (which often happens ha), I would take them to some of my favorite spots and as well as some of the obvious tourist attractions sprinkled in.

Here is a sample itinerary for a week-long trip:

Day 1: Relax in the sand at Zuma Beach and Point Dume, two of the most popular and scenic beaches in Malibu. Enjoy the California sun and the views of the ocean and the cliffs.

Day 2: Walk the boardwalk from Santa Monica pier to Venice and visit/see all the cool spots along the way.

Day 3: Visit the Getty Center. The views are amazing. Love that place.

Day 4: Go wine tasting at Malibu Wines, with its variety of wines (although I don’t drink myself), live music, and outdoor chilling. They also show outdoor movies there, which is very fun.

Day 5: Do the M.A.S.H. hike. I love this spot, I used to run this every morning when I loved my Malibu Lake. It’s the spot in the Santa Monica Mountains where they filmed M.A.S.H. back in the day and bits of the set still remain.

Day 6: Do the Hollywood sign, Walk Of Fame, basically the usual tourist stuff there at Highland and Hollywood. Maybe go to the Magic Castle that evening.

Day 7: Go for a long drive along the PCH with the top down and the music playing, stopping at random sites/spots along the way. One of my favorite things to do.

These are some of, what I think, the most fun, interesting, and exciting things to do in here, but there’s so much more like snowboarding in Big Bear for example. I guess it would depend on who’s visiting really.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are quite a few people, without whom, I’d still be alone, at home, in my bedroom quietly playing guitar to myself. First and foremost my family, my brother and sisters, my mother and father. They are the most supportive family anyone could ask for. Always interested in what’s going on in the world of Yelpy, always willing to help in any way they can, always willing to give they, honest, blunt, constructive feedback on my latest song (mother I’m looking at you) and ALWAYS there for me no matter what. And a special mention to my dad who started me down this road by buying me my first guitar.

Also my friends, the support and encourage me every way they can. They show up at my shows always, they put up with me when I endlessly sing another silly song around them. They are just always there for me. A special mention to Ieva Georges, she goes above and beyond and looks out for me, networks for me. I’d be lost without these people! ♥️

Website: https://www.yelpy.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yelpy/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yelpy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Yelpy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YelpyPage

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Yelpy

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yelpy1/

Image Credits
Photo credit for one of the photos: Earl E. Gibson III