Seattle’s music scene has been bubbling for years, but every once in a while, an artist comes through and makes it undeniable. In our latest Yonny interview, it’s clear that he is that artist right now. The Seattle-born rapper and songwriter — with Ethiopian roots and a sound that blends Nirvana’s rawness with Dr. Dre’s precision — is back with Everywhere But Always (Deluxe) via Free Lunch and Warner Records.
We hosted our first in-person Yonny interview at Catalyst Dispensary & Consumption Lounge in Hawthorne, California for an exclusive Respect My Region conversation, digging into the Deluxe release, his story, and so much more.
Big shoutout to our sponsors: Top Shelf Cultivation (Flower), Black Market (Beverage), Triple (Seltzer), and Catalyst Hawthorne for collaborating with us on this project.
The Deluxe Project: Everywhere But Always, Expanded
The original Everywhere But Always project racked up over 3 million streams and set Yonny apart as a voice to watch. The Deluxe, dropping September 19th, pushes his storytelling even further — raw, honest, and soaked in that Seattle spirit.
The lead single “Jumbo Jet,” produced by Sango (Drake, Frank Ocean, Smino), lands September 12th. The track is high-energy but deeply reflective.
Yonny had previously mentioned, “When I made ‘Jumbo Jet,’ I was still running around all over my city working whatever jobs I could to help support what I believe I was meant to do—make music. The song is literally all the crazy thoughts, doubts, and hopes I had in that moment, all wrapped up into 2 minutes and 19 seconds.”
Yonny’s Career Highlights
Yonny isn’t new to this — he’s been building momentum for years. His breakout single “City in Motion” has over 2.2M streams worldwide, gaining critical love from both fans and press.
- Seattle Times called Everywhere But Always “catchily swerving between classic and neo vibes, tied together with remarkably mature delivery and flow.”
- Seattle Met called him “probably the hottest Seattle hip-hop artist you’ve never heard of, at least not yet.”
Now, signed to Free Lunch / Warner Records, Yonny is set on building a national presence.
Yonny’s ability to move between music, sports, and culture is part of what makes him special.
He linked with Ken Griffey Jr. for the Sounders FC x HOMETEAM FIFA World Cup campaign. He’s been on The Ebro Show, On The Radar Radio, and rocked stages at Wonderfront Fest, Capitol Hill Block Party, and opened for Travis Thompson.
Seattle’s DNA runs through his work, but the vision is global.
Upcoming Special Moments
Yonny’s got September on lock:
- 9/12 – Release of “Jumbo Jet” + Deluxe announcement
- 9/13 – Everywhere But Always Anniversary Show w/ live jazz band (intimate 100–150 cap venue)
- 9/19 – Everywhere But Always (Deluxe) drops via Free Lunch / Warner Records
Respect My Region x Yonny Interview @ Catalyst
Our Yonny interview at Catalyst Dispensary & Consumption Lounge in Hawthorne was a moment and the official interview video will drop on the Respect My Region Youtube and Patreon on September 14th.
With Everywhere But Always (Deluxe), Seattle gets a national voice, and Warner Records gets an artist ready to shake things up with real authentic passion. From “Jumbo Jet” with Sango to his growing list of cultural collaborations, Yonny is leveling up while keeping it grounded in his city.
Stream Everywhere But Always (Deluxe) when it drops September 19th, and keep your eyes on Yonny — this is only the beginning.
