Project21 is a new collaborative network of artists creating original, provocative and genre-bending music. The group is the brainchild of German artist, composer and singer, Y’urs. The mononymous musician debuted her new endeavor in May of 2022.
Musicians from Germany, Jamaica, Ireland and Spain have joined Y’urs on this new phase of her musical journey. A lifelong creator, she has worked in various artistic disciplines including dance, theater and music. With a deep love of the natural world, the socially conscious artist formed Project21 in response to some unsettling trends in society over the past few years.
“Out of The Dark” is the debut single from Project21, released worldwide via all major streaming services on May 27, 2022. As the song opens the beat drops on a rolling funk bass line riding a laid-back boombap groove creating a cool trip-hop vibe. An electric blues guitar joins the mix with some smooth David Gilmour-style lead. Soon vocalist Jah Gatti steps to the mic with some Jamaican wisdom for our troubled times. Y’urs responds in the chorus with an ethereal vocal and a bit of measured optimism.
Check out the powerful “Out of the Dark” video below. You can also hear the song on the Deep Indie Dive playlist, or listen on your favorite streaming service. We had the opportunity to chat with Y’urs about the song and the project. Check out her answers to our 8 questions below, and follow the links at the end of this article to connect with Project21. Get on their socials and get in the loop on all of the music to come from this exciting new collective.
8 Questions with Y’urs
Where are you from?
Originally from Germany – now in Hungary, Ireland & Jamaica
How long have you been making music?
Since I was in my early 20’s – on and off ( only as a hobby)
Who are the musicians involved in your project?
Jah Gatti ( singer and author Jamaican), Mike Lindauer ( several instruments & producer germany) Nick Brine ( Producer, Guitar wales & Spain) Alex Auer ( Guitar -Germany)
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Prince – Aretha Franklin – Radiohead – r.e.m – Sting – mc solar – etc..
What is your greatest non-musical influence?
My daughter & friends – Banksy – languages – travel – politics/ geo strategies – theatre & dance ( that’s what I studied and worked at for years) – – social work projects – hospitality ( I am running a small hotel)
What inspired you to create this project?
The evolution of the world in the last three years – the lack of civil courage in society – my passion for the truth – my love to all creatures – i am deeply disturbed when injustice happens..
7. What are your plans for the future (musically)?
We are at the moment working with several musicians in Jamaica & we are writing more songs( some of them are getting recorded at the moment). Also, we are trying to defend meaningful and inspiring songs and values —we try to revive and honour Bob Marley’s messages in what we are doing…
Is there anything else you would like to say?
I originally intended to create a platform to help artist and musicians to survive in hard times ( eg. the lock down periods). For that we formed a platform – “Not Santa“ – and started to fund newcomers. I originally wanted to try and stay anonymous in the whole story. I believe everything is energy and it is about the meaning (not about the ego) and what you transport as a message and what you do to make the world a little better. Not necessary about the identity.
Project 21 was created in that lockdown period and that’s why i called it that way. I was imagining a radio or channel where the music comes from somewhere of the universe and in my mind it was not trackable . Nobody knows from who and from where… a little like Banksy in art. This was somehow not possible to realise technically- that’s why we are now doing it the way we are doing it 🙂
