Fresh off a performance at Dodger Stadium and a run of three new singles, latin jazz group YOCOYA, is making waves by refusing to sand down the rough edges. “You can always hear the raw emotion, intentionality, and even the beautiful imperfections within our music,” says Angelo Velasquez, the band’s drummer and leader.
For new listeners, the group’s sound lands somewhere between Kamasi Washington, Weather Report, and Santana. All three members grew up listening to, playing, and studying, and their fingerprints are all over the band’s DNA. But YOCOYA isn’t an exercise in genre-hopping for its own sake.
The blend comes from a simple philosophy: “I’m a big believer that the best way to have fun making music is to mix your favorite elements from your favorite artists together, regardless of genre.”
In other words, the music is built the way a fan builds a playlist, and then played with the discipline of a band that studied the craft. That sense of fun runs through the band’s name.
YOCOYA is a Nahuatl word, from the language spoken in Mexico before colonization, that translates to “joy of creation.” For the members of the band the word, is more than a label.
It’s a daily reminder to “reflect, appreciate and enjoy the process of writing music” while staying grounded and present. In a genre that can sometimes feel more preoccupied with technique than feeling, it’s a refreshing mission statement.
YOCOYA Represents The Diversity of Los Angeles and Jazz
If there’s one thing that defines the band’s connection to its home city, it’s the people. Every member of YOCOYA was born and raised in Los Angeles and received their entire music education here, with each going through a local jazz program.
Some members met in music school, others while playing shows with different artists around town.
When Angelo set out to form the group, he had a clear set of criteria: great players, great people, musicians who had the time to commit and a genuine interest in being part of a band.
“When I used this criteria, all the members of my band were at the top of the list,” he says. “It honestly feels like the city itself handed me these band members almost like a gift or offering.”
How the city shapes the sound itself is harder to pin down, and Angelo is the first to admit it.
He describes LA’s approach to jazz as uniquely its own, and a bit more ambiguous and flexible than, say, New York’s. Beyond that, he’s careful not to over-define it.
“I know it definitely does influence us, but I try not to think about it too much. If I’m able to properly define it, then I run the risk of trying to overemphasize that sound rather than having it come out naturally within our music.” It’s a telling answer from someone who prizes instinct over formula.
That same instinct guides how he thinks about the word “cinematic,” a term often used to describe the band’s music. With the band, it means writing music that either reflects life or sounds larger than life.
“I want all of YOCOYA’s music to draw out people’s emotions and inspire the listeners to do something,” he says.
What that something is, he leaves to the listener, calling it a totally subjective experience. What he does know is that he wants the music to feel like an event. “Our music is definitely not something I would just want in the background. I really want people to intentionally sit down and listen to it with an open spirit.”
That ambition took on a new scale at Dodger Stadium. The band was asked to perform only a week before the show, so everything moved fast, and the reality didn’t fully register until the dust settled.
“We got lost in the energy of the baseball stadium and the game,” Angelo explains. “It wasn’t until after getting home and watching the video back that it really started to hit.” Even now, the band is still processing it. “The whole experience was incredibly fun and we were so thankful to the Dodgers organization for having us.”
The band’s recent singles show a group growing while staying true to its roots. Each marks a milestone in its own way. “Ojos” is the first YOCOYA song to feature strings. “Embargo” is the first release written by a member other than, a shift that opens the band’s songwriting to more voices. “Return to You” brings a chiller vibe that contrasts with most of the catalog, proof that the band’s range goes beyond its high-energy side.
As for what comes next, there’s no set agenda, but the members have plenty of experiments in mind.
Playing with new ways to blend different types of Latin music with elements of jazz. Looking for ways to bring in the emo and metalcore energy of 2000s acts like Paramore. Exploring avant-garde electronic sound design. It’s a long way from where the band started, they seem perfectly aware of that. “So we’ll see how all this research develops,” Angleo says, laughing.
If the past is any indication, wherever YOCOYA lands next will be made with intention, imperfection, and a whole lot of joy.
For more updates on YOCOYA and their incredible latin jazz, follow the official Respect My Region Instagram here.
