Youstee is operating on a frequency that feels rare in the current landscape — somewhere between cinematic ambition and headphone intimacy. There’s a real sense that he’s building something with weight, with intention, with patience.

Based in LA but drawing on a wide palette of sounds — R&B structure, Latin rhythm, pop polish — everything about his rollouts feels like it went through a filter labeled “does this actually reflect what I’m trying to say?” He’s setting up a body of work — slow burn, clean lines, sharp edits. And while his sound carries that luxury aesthetic — think brushed gold, soft-focus city nights — it never comes off as distant or manufactured. There’s a grounded core in there, a sense that the stories in these songs were lived, not outsourced to a songwriting camp.

photo by Jaime Radical

And let’s talk control — because Youstee clearly has it. Sonically, visually, narratively. He’s not trying to do everything all at once, but what he does put out feels refined and intentional. There’s a level of discipline here that stands out in a space flooded with half-formed aesthetics and disposable content. Sleek, custom-tuned, emotionally responsive. He’s building a catalog that feels cohesive without being boxed in, personal without being cryptic.

And what’s more — we had the chance to talk with him. To dig deeper into how all of this comes together — not just on stage or in the studio, but in his mindset, his process, and the person behind it all. What drives him, what shapes the sound, and what’s waiting around the next corner.

“Saying ‘this is done’ might be the hardest part of the process.” – Youstee

Hey Youstee — hope you’re doing great and soaking in all the love these new tracks are getting. Let’s start with the new heat. ‘Where the Time Go’ and ‘All I Need’ both carry that velvet-smooth energy you’ve been perfecting — but they feel sharper, more focused, like you’re zeroing in on something. Was there a shift in your mindset, sonically or emotionally, between your earlier tracks and these new singles?

I think I tapped more into my emotional, soulful side this time. I’ve started realizing that I want every sonic detail to reflect a piece of who I am — not just sound cool, but feel true. I’m constantly evolving, and so is my music. That means sometimes the songs hit hard in the club, and other times they tug at your emotions. These new tracks reflect that sharper focus and deeper connection with myself.

There’s a duality in your sound — luxury and longing, high-gloss visuals with bare, personal lyrics. That tension gives your music real texture. When you’re producing or writing, do you lead with image or emotion? What tends to come first when building a track?

I always start from emotion — it’s what drives everything. The mood I’m in, the phase I’m going through in life, it all ends up in the music. But when it comes to expressing the luxury side of my brand, the visuals definitely come first. I’ll imagine a feeling, a scene, a fragrance even — and then try to translate that world into sound. It’s like balancing the heart and the lens.

You’re building this from the ground up — writing, producing, recording — every part of the process carries your signature. That kind of creative ownership demands focus, discipline, and a real sense of direction. At the same time, music thrives on collaboration and evolution. How do you keep your vision sharp while still allowing space for growth, feedback, and unexpected influences?

Creating my own music from scratch gives me a crazy amount of freedom — I can capture my ideas exactly how I feel them. But I’ve grown to really love collaboration. I think when someone from the outside reflects something back at you, it reveals parts of you that you can’t see alone. That’s where the depth comes in. I’m always open to feedback, always trying to grow. I believe in being a forever student — but I also trust my taste and my vision.

In that full-stack approach, which part tests you the most — shaping the sound, refining the lyrics, engineering the vibe, or stepping back and saying, “This is done”?

Saying “this is done” might be the hardest part of the process. There’s always something more you could tweak or explore. But I’ve learned to see that pressure as a gift — it pushes me, challenges me, forces me to make decisions. I love being in those uncomfortable moments where you’re searching for the right answer — that’s where the breakthroughs happen.

The LA scene is loud, fast, and full of talent — but you’ve carved out something distinctive. How has your environment shaped the Youstee sound? Has the city ever pushed you in directions you didn’t expect?

LA has absolutely shaped me. It’s wild, loud, and full of contrast — and I’m out in it a lot. Being outdoors, seeing people, catching the energy of the city… it all feeds how I feel and what I create. The city constantly shifts, and that’s made me stay open, adaptive, and bolder in my sound.

There’s an undeniable Latin influence woven into your catalog. Where does that come from for you? Is it cultural, musical, spiritual — or all of it?

It’s a mix of everything — culture, spirit, and heritage. Romania’s a Latin-language country, and I grew up around that influence without even realizing how deep it went. My mom’s a dancer — she moved to bachata and Latin rhythms all the time. My brother introduced me to urban Latino sounds, and my dad lived in Spain for a while and picked up that vibe too. All that blended into me. And beyond that, I’m drawn to music from all over — I truly believe that old classics and different cultures hold the sounds of the future.

When people scroll through the music pages, they see artists. But you’re a songwriter, a producer, a full creative operator. What’s one part of your process you wish more listeners actually noticed or appreciated?

I wish people saw more of the behind-the-scenes discipline. Being an artist today is so much more than posting pictures — it’s about living inside the creative process, every day. Writing, producing, shaping a vision from scratch — it’s intense, but it’s what I love. I think listeners are starting to appreciate that more now, and that’s really dope.

Let’s stretch the timeline a bit. It’s five years from now. You’ve grown past the early breakthroughs, and now you’re operating at full capacity. What stage are you stepping onto — is it a sold-out venue in your hometown, a festival overseas, something more intimate and curated?

Wherever this journey takes me, I want to give it everything. Definitely sold-out shows, both here and overseas. I dream big — but I’m also grounded. I trust in God’s plan and timing, and I know if I keep showing up and giving my best, the right doors will open.

Everyone’s got that one record they go back to when they need to recharge. What’s yours — the album that reminds you why you started making music in the first place?

Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake. I used to play it over and over on my MP3 player before I even knew English. I couldn’t understand the lyrics, but I felt everything through the melody and the energy. That’s when I knew music was a language of its own — and that’s why I do this.

You’ve already navigated a lot — building a sound, putting yourself out there, shaping a vision while the industry keeps shifting around you. Looking back at everything you’ve experienced so far, what’s been the most valuable lesson you’ve taken from the process? And if someone younger came up to you just starting out, trying to find their voice in all this noise, what would you tell them first?

The biggest lesson? Fall in love with the process. This industry is always shifting, and it can be a lot — but if you stay true to your voice and move smart, you’ll find your space. Build it honestly, and the rest will follow.

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