“City in Motion” has sent Yonathan Daniel’s musical career into full motion. From his album Everywhere, But Always, the song has put the young artist’s career on a fast track that saw him move down to Los Angeles as he continues to pursue his music career. Yonny grew up in Lynnwood, and his Pacific Northwest roots paired with his new connections in L.A. allowed his music to become the anthem for the HOMETEAM x Sounders FC capsule collection release.
Maybe it’s ironic that Yonny got to work with the Sounders after he moved to LA, but either way, it’s “divine timing,” Yonny said. “City In Motion” was created in a studio with his friends back in February 2024, and he never could have imagined the success it’s brought him. The song became a theme song of sorts for the merch collaboration between HOMETEAM Seattle and the Seattle Sounders. HOMETEAM was founded by former Nike and Jordan designer Ben Kirschner, along with Marcus Lalario and Dustin Winegardner. HOMETEAM is meant to be a cultural hub for Seattle culture.
The City In Motion campaign celebrates the culture and spirit of Seattle as it prepares to host six FIFA World Cup matches next year. HOMETEAM gathered Sounder FC stars Roger Levesque, James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, along with former NBA players Detlef Schrempf and Jamal Crawford, as well as Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard to celebrate Seattle sports history.
Yonny said his conversations with Lamar Neagle meant a lot, and it was a surreal moment getting to hang out with Seattle sports legends after growing up a sports fan. Speaking of legends, Ken Griffey Jr. gave him pointers on how to climb the ladder properly on the way up to raise the Sounders flag on top of the Seattle Space Needle.
“I still haven’t fully digested that,” Yonny said. “When you grow up in a city your whole life, you just don’t think you’ll do stuff like that,” he continued. “It’s the highest amount of gratitude I can have for anything I’ve done so far in my career.”
It’s a sketchy climb to the top, but the view and moment are unforgettable. All of the successes that “City In Motion” has brought made Yonny appreciate Seattle and Washington as a whole during his time in L.A. He doesn’t take his hometown or state for granted. This year’s Capitol Hill Block Party reminded him of the first time he performed at CHBP, one of the first shows of his young career. He can’t wait to get back to the city to perform.
It’s rare for a young artist to take a year-long hiatus after his first commercial success, but he said he’s been blessed with opportunity and the team around him to focus on the next project to make sure it’s perfect. Yonny said he’s excited for the September anniversary of Everywhere, But Always, but there are more surprises on the way.
“I’m so excited to come back swinging. It’s going to be very VERY soon,” Yonny said.
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Feature Image Credit: Hometeam Seattle x Sounders FC
