YALANA is a Los Angeles-based pop-rock singer-songwriter who returned to music after a 15-year break. After spending more than a decade building a career behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, in music production, artist management, and PR, she has decided to step back into the spotlight and launch her own artistic project.

Inspired by artists like Evanescence, Avril Lavigne, Billie Eilish, and Halsey, YALANA creates emotionally honest music about transformation, healing, and reconnecting with oneself.

Over the past year, she has released original songs, appeared on podcasts, received radio support, and will perform her first show in Los Angeles exactly one year after writing “Good Girl.” Today, YALANA’s mission is simple: To remind people that it’s never too late to return to themselves and follow the dreams they’ve put on hold.

YALANA weighed in on some questions

YALANA, what does this concert mean to you?

This concert became much more than just my first show in Los Angeles. Exactly one year ago, I wrote “Good Girl,” the song that marked my return to music after a 15-year break. I never could have imagined that one year later I’d be standing on stage performing my own songs with a full band.

It feels symbolic, almost like the universe had its own plan all along.

Did you expect to perform this soon after returning to music?

Not at all. I spent the past year writing songs, working in the studio, taking vocal lessons and slowly building my artistic routine. I was going to concerts, getting inspired by other artists, but I wasn’t actively looking for a performance opportunity.

Then, one day, I received a direct message inviting me to perform. It felt like a sign that I simply couldn’t ignore. I realized there would never be a perfect moment to feel completely ready. Sometimes you just have to say yes and grow through the experience itself.

I’ve always learned this way. I’m self-taught on guitar. I built my career in the entertainment industry by learning on the job. Music is no different.

What was the most emotional moment during the preparation?

The first full-band rehearsal. I walked into the room, and suddenly my songs weren’t living inside my laptop anymore. They became real. There was live guitar, live drums, backing vocals and all these talented people bringing my ideas to life. I just stood there smiling with butterflies all over my body.

That was one of the happiest moments I’ve experienced in a very long time.

Were you nervous before stepping on stage after 15 years?

Honestly, I expected to be terrified. I thought my hands would shake and my voice would tremble. But something magical happened. As soon as I stepped onto the stage, it felt like I had never left it. I immediately started connecting with the audience, enjoying the moment and simply being present.

Of course, technical things were happening as every musician knows, monitors never cooperate perfectly, but overall I felt incredibly comfortable and grateful to be there.

How did the audience react?

We performed five original songs. The audience was incredibly supportive. They were waving their hands, singing along and even chanting my name, which honestly felt surreal. I had never experienced that before because years ago I was part of a band, not the frontwoman.

Hearing people shout “YALANA” was both beautiful and slightly embarrassing in the sweetest possible way. At the end, it felt like nobody wanted the show to end—not the audience and not the band either.

Who helped make this night possible?

This concert reminded me that building an artistic project is never a solo journey. I’m incredibly grateful to my musicians, who helped bring this vision to life in such a short period of time.

Our guitarist, Igor Shekunov (CAMBEL), helped with arrangements, playback preparation and technical details. Our backing vocalist, Evgeniia Sharifullina (Rita Red), not only performed beautifully but also helped me with vocal preparation for the show. Our drummer, Joseph Quintana, quickly learned the material, worked with the playback system and helped everything run smoothly. The level of professionalism was incredible. We put everything together in just a couple of rehearsals, and suddenly it all came alive.

I’m also deeply grateful to my friends who helped run the merch table, supported the project and were simply there for me. This show was built by a community.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Harvard & Stone and the event organizers, Royal Sound Productions, for providing independent artists with a platform to perform, connect and grow. This invitation came unexpectedly and became a beautiful reminder that sometimes opportunities arrive exactly when we need them most.

I’m incredibly thankful to everyone who believed in this project from the very beginning.

We also saw photographers and a content creator capturing the entire night. Why was that important to you?

Because memories fade, but stories remain. We had two photographers, Olga Pankova and Anna Riazanova, and a reel creator, Ekaterina Altufeva, documenting every moment of the evening. They captured the performance, the audience, backstage moments, the merch table, our band photos outside the venue and even the moment when my friends surprised me with flowers.

I’m incredibly grateful because they preserved every important second of this milestone.

One day, as YALANA continues to grow into something much bigger, these will be the photos that remind me where it all started.

What’s next for YALANA?

This part of the journey is only beginning. My next show is already scheduled for July 24 at The Viper Room, and we’re preparing a nine-song set. I’m currently talking to other venues and festivals because, after this experience, I realized something very simple: I don’t want to stop. I want to keep creating, keep performing, and keep building this world around YALANA.

What message would you like people to take away from your story?

Your dreams don’t disappear. Sometimes they simply wait for you to become ready. If there is something you’ve wanted to do for years, don’t wait for permission.

Start now.

Because one day, you’ll realize that the scariest thing isn’t trying and failing.

The scariest thing is never trying at all.

Special Thanks from YALANA

This show would not have been possible without an incredible team that helped bring YALANA’s first Los Angeles performance to life.

Artist: YALANA @yalana_music

Guitarist:  Igor Shekunov @cambel_music

Drummer: Joseph Quintana @jbqdrum

Backing Vocalist: Evgeniia Sharifullina (Rita Red) @ritared_music

Photographer: Olga Pankova @olga.pankova.ph

Photographer: Anna Riazanova @annriazanova

Reel Creator: Ekaterina Altufeva @katalina__koroleva

Merch: Benjamin Meister @mrbenmeister 

Venue: Harvard & Stone @harvardandstone

Event Organizer: Royal Sound Productions @royalsoundproductions

Find upcoming shows and new music on https://yalana.com/ 

The post YALANA: One Year After Writing “Good Girl,” I Performed My First Show in Los Angeles appeared first on The Hype Magazine.