An incredible frontwoman. A very honest, open conversation about making a living doing what you love. This week we speak to Yonaka's Theresa.

She shares a lot of direct big sister energy about what it takes to turn this whole music thing into a career, touching on some of the big questions. Do you have to leave your hometown? How do you stop other people ruining your songs? How do you build a world for your fans.

YONAKA INSTA - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/weareyonaka/

OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Features:

- Theresa drops the one “gut rule” she lives by when writing and it’ll either free you up instantly… or make you realise you’ve been letting other people ruin your songs.

- The most honest “enjoy the journey” reality check you’ll hear.

- A simple mindset shift that makes you play harder in a room of 10 than most people do in a room of 1,000.

- The wild early Yonaka graft stories (proper chaos) that’ll make you feel way better about where you’re at right now.

- She explains why they don’t write to briefs and how that approach keeps the music feeling real in 2026.

- How the “world” of Yonaka actually forms and why most artists accidentally confuse new fans without realising it.

- The Brighton “scene” conversation: what was organic, what was luck, and what you can copy even if you’re not in a cool city.

- A sneaky real-life networking hack Theresa used through normal jobs that literally changed the band’s path.

- The personal vs band socials balance: why she keeps hers normal, and what that does for fans without overthinking it.

- The straight-talking hometown show advice that every new band needs but nobody wants to hear.

- The “move away or stay put?” big sister answer for anyone stuck in a dead town trying to make music work.

- How she learned to be a proper frontperson and the exact moment touring with huge bands flipped a switch for her.

New episodes every Monday x