Soul meets hardcore on a debut that promises to explain the man behind the music, without a single trauma dump.
Some artists introduce themselves with a single. Yena Wildn is introducing himself with a statement.
Born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, the rising artist began his career as a ghostwriter while still in grade school, sharpening his pen long before anyone knew his name. At 18, he stepped out from behind the words and made his debut as an artist. Now he is preparing to release his first full body of work, the EP YOU SCARED?!, produced entirely by Benji Frank$.
A Single That Already Made Noise
Anticipation for the project has been building since “WHAT DEY WANT,” the EP’s chart-topping lead single, debuted at #3 on the UK iTunes chart and #28 on the US iTunes chart. For an artist at the start of his journey, those numbers are a clear sign that listeners on both sides of the Atlantic were ready for what he brings.
Soul and Hardcore, Without Apology
YOU SCARED?! blends two elements Yena’s core audience has always loved him for: soul and hardcore. With elevated production from Benji Frank$, the EP bends genre lines and builds toward a sound Yena intends to make his signature.
The project also introduces alter egos, each carrying a piece of who he is. Yena Pryor, inspired by the late comedian Richard Pryor, brings out his dark yet witty humor. Yena Tubman, inspired by Harriet Tubman, the woman often called the mother of the civil rights movement, channels his activism. Both appear on the EP in a unique way, and the music stays grounded in his Floridian roots.
The Story Behind the Sound
What Yena promises most is honesty. “The EP will explain why I am who I am without trauma dumping,” he says. “You will know I been through things by the soul and passion in the records. The intro alone will make people be like, ‘OH THIS IS WHY….'”
An Artist With More Than One Stage
Music is not the only thing on Yena’s radar. He is also an aspiring actor, and the way he found that path is a story of its own.
While waiting in line for what he believed was the entrance to a BET Experience event, he reached the gate and was asked for a headshot. The line was actually for auditions. Without planning to, he made it all the way to the final stage of the casting call. He walked away thinking he was not as good as the peers who had trained for a moment like that, until actress Yvette Nicole ran down the hallway to hand him his final stage pass. “Where you going?!” she asked. “I hope you can learn a script and act on the spot.”
Yena ultimately skipped that final stage to attend a music event, but the experience left its mark. It confirmed that the viral TikToks and Instagram skits he had been posting were more than content. They were a tool sharpening a hidden talent. He keeps practicing and staying prepared, using social media as his training ground.
The Countdown Begins
Songwriter, artist, comedian, activist, and actor in the making: Yena Wildn is many things, and YOU SCARED?! is where they come together. If “WHAT DEY WANT” was the introduction, the EP is the full story.
The question is simple. You scared?!
Stay tuned for the release date and follow Yena Wildn on social media for updates.