Chatterbox: Younique chats freestyling, working with OKUYU, and building a sonic universe

Hey Younique, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. Could you tell us a little known fact about yourself?

A little-known fact is that I wear a lot of hats. I’m a mixing engineer, producer, songwriter, artist, video editor, videographer, and photographer. I’ve always wanted to be as self-sufficient as possible, so I’ve worked hard to develop skills across all areas of my craft. That way, I have full creative control and can bring my vision to life exactly how I imagine it.

Your new single ‘Lately’ was born out of a freestyle session, can you take us back to that moment?

It started super casually. OKUYU and I were just vibing in the lounge when I turned to him and said, “Man, Play with Me was a vibe… let’s make another one.” From there, one Rhodes riff sparked the whole thing. We jumped into freestyle mode, throwing melodies back and forth for about an hour until the core of the track started to form. The structure came together fast, and honestly, a lot of what you hear, especially the hook and OKUYU’s verse, stayed true to that first take. That rawness and spontaneity is what gives “Lately” its soul.

You and OKUYU have great chemistry, what does he bring to the table that makes your collaboration so magnetic?

It’s a mix of shared values and years of friendship. We both create from a place of passion and intention. There’s no ego, just a mutual drive to make music that feels good. A signature sound we’ve developed on our last two R&B/Soul tracks is blending our falsetto vocals in the chorus. It creates this elevated, almost “super voice” that really hits with our audience. I also love that we’re not afraid to push each other creatively, and I think that’s why the final result always lands in the feels.

This track is reminiscent of Masego, so are there any influences that shaped ‘Lately’?

Definitely. Masego had an influence. His ability to fuse groove, jazz, and soul with modern production is next level. I also had artists like Tom Misch and Silk Sonic in mind while shaping the textures of Lately. But beyond musical influences, the main inspiration was emotional honesty. We weren’t trying to copy a sound, we were
chasing a feeling. That’s what drives all my music.

Thematically, ‘Lately’ explores the moment of finally asking someone out. Why was that theme important for you to express now?

Because it’s real. That moment of vulnerability, when you stop overthinking and just say how you feel, is something we all experience but rarely talk about openly. I feel like love songs often focus on heartbreak or euphoria, but there’s something powerful in that middle ground, when you’re still figuring it out. Lately is a love confession, but it’s also a leap of faith. And I think that’s a theme people are craving right now. Something raw and relatable.

Can we expect more collaborations between you and OKUYU in the near future?

Absolutely. We’re already working on new ideas. The response to Play with Me and now Lately has been mad inspiring, and we’re both excited to keep building this sound together.

What’s next for Younique?

Right now, I’m deep in building out the next chapters of the “YOUNIVERSE”, which is an immersive experience I’ve created where my music is home to 8 planets & each one represents a different genre and mood. “Lately” lives on Soultron, a space home to Soul & RnB however, due to the recent momentum from one of my electronic records, I’m now preparing to journey to Synthora, a high-energy, neon-lit world built for euphoria, movement, and getting lost in the pulse of a festival crowd. “Other Side of Me” will be dropping July 16th on all Platforms.