With a name that’s quickly becoming known for lively, soul-filled music and heartfelt stories, YUKO is back with a new single that’s perfect for the heat of summer—Pourin. It’s a track that mixes afrobeat energy with a fresh amapiano twist, inviting listeners to let go, move freely, and soak in that joyful rush of celebration. But don’t be fooled—this feel-good hit didn’t come together overnight.
Originally written and recorded in October, Pourin took time to grow. YUKO first tried writing in a traditional afrobeat style, but something didn’t feel right. So she let it rest. When she returned to the track a week later, the chorus came naturally, and the rest followed like magic. What started as a song about stardom—”flashing lights, over loving”—changed into a celebration of letting loose and floating through the night.
What makes Pourin even more impressive is that it was recorded entirely on a phone using JBL headphones and BandLab—marking the end of YUKO’s DIY era as she now steps into real studios. Get ready to meet the artist behind the music, her journey, her sound, and what’s coming next in this exclusive interview.
Listen to Pourin below
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Congratulations on the release of “Pourin”! How does it feel to have this new single out in the world?
Thanku! It’s so surreal, honestly anytime I release I sit and realise like damn I’m really doing this haha
For listeners hearing your music for the first time, how would you describe your sound and what YUKO is all about?
YUKO is all bout finding comfort in the story the music is telling, weather that be a relationship or partying or being home sick
Tell us about “Pourin” – what inspired this song and what’s the story behind it?
I really love going out and having fun plus on top of that I’m Ugandan so if you know us we will find an occasion to celebrate anything! Pourin is from the perspective of the substance beckoning listeners to let it in and let it move you. I wanted the song to feel the same way I feel when we’re under the influence, that feeling that you’re floating and everything is just so easy and fun.
The title “Pourin” is really interesting – what does it mean to you? Is it about emotions pouring out, rain, something else entirely?
It’s actually a word play on Pour In (the drink), keep the drinks coming!
What was the creative process like for this track? Did it come together quickly or did you work on it over time?
Omg I think out of my songs this was my fav to puzzle together. At first I had heard the beat & I knew I needed to make something on it, but when I tried to write in a typical afrobeat way it just wasn’t clicking so I let it sit for a week or so. When I came back to it on a random tuesday suddenly everything just aligned.
When I started with lyrics at first it was going to be about celebrity life hence the ‘flashing lights, over loving’ it was hard to continue writing cuz I didn’t really know what else to say but then ‘through the night, bodies dancing’ came to me and the rest wrote it self basically
Were there any particular sounds, instruments, or techniques you experimented with on this song?
Yessss, in the chorus you heard the ‘dayadayadaya’ right? So I had an idea to get someone to play that melody on a piano so it could be an amapiano beat in the chorus & it’s the first thing I wrote before I even had any lyrics. I ended up keeping my vocals, added 1 extra vocal layering so it would blend together and feel like you’re floating. I loved when everything just
What was the biggest challenge you faced while making this track?
Oh god, the quality of the audio. I only have my phone, some JBL headsets and bandlab. The hardest part was finding a place where my phone microphone wasn’t sounding too bad so I could mix it a bit easier.
I also followed some tutorials on youtube because yo girl wanted this to be atleast a little decent ahhaha. I recently started working in real studio’s and that means Pourin is my last song i’ll have recorded on my phone, letsgoooo!!
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and do any of them show up in “Pourin”?
Pffff I kinda wanna gatekeep her, she isn’t a small artist or anything but I had her as my lil own secret: Alex Isley. In 2021 I heard her for the first time with the song Colors and I don’t know what happened but a whole new world opened for me, I knew this is it, this is me. The way she uses her vocals to make her music sound so light and tender omdays ppl lowkey get onto her!! Someone else I fuck with is Willow Smith, she was wayyyy before her time. Honestly very underrated artist.
What do you hope listeners take away from “Pourin” when they hear it?
I want everybody to connect to it the way they want. For me it’s about the euphoric feeling of going out right but then I made an acoustic/mellow version of it & when I was performing this for the first time I felt like it could also feel like an addiction u can’t let go off and the thrill u get of doing it.
Is “Pourin” part of a larger project like an EP or album that’s coming?
Nahh It isn’t, I think it’s strong on its own & for the coming months I’m not really thinking of making an EP or album.
Any final thoughts you’d like to share with your fans about “Pourin” or what’s coming next?
My friends and I have been screaming ‘YUKO SUMMER’ because i’m releasing another afrobeat song in august!! It’s called Ba Da Da, created in April on writescamp ^^
