Artists on the Rise
From singing in the shower to being featured on a studio album, we spoke to rising artist Yilin Manfredi about the future of her career.
Expected to release in 2024, Atlanta-based artist Overpade, known for his hit song “Makima!” with nearly 5.5 million Spotify plays, is putting together his first studio album in collaboration with New York’s own Yilin Manfredi. The two have released a teaser track entitled “Heartless,” receiving universal acclaim from fans.
While the song showcases Overpade’s unique style, Manfredi’s chorus is the star of the show. Her angelic voice sounds experienced and soulful; uninformed listeners would be surprised to learn that Manfredi is just a novice — a college sophomore performing at bars and venues for free.
Born and raised in Manhattan, Manfredi has been singing since before she can remember. “I was just doing it for fun,” she explained. “It started off as a little joke, singing in my room and whatnot.” It was only when she arrived at Cornell University that she realized the extent of her passion.
One of the first people she met at Cornell was Joseph Wolff, a fellow student and music producer. The two quickly struck up a friendship, and at Wolff’s request, began creating music in the university studio.
“I never really had anybody tell me that I was talented before,” laughed Manfredi. Wolff’s recognition intensified her interest in singing, turning what was once a hobby into an obsession.
She began writing her own material, as Wolff assisted with the recording and production. “I would go to the studio all the time,” she said. “We’d spend hours in there, all night until 6 AM.” Slowly but surely, the pastime became a passion.
Treating the studio like a second home, she experimented with different styles all the while learning about herself as an artist. She eventually became interested in performing for a crowd, but was uncertain if her talents behind closed doors could translate to the stage.
“The very first open mic was kind of like a test,” she explained. “Am I actually good? How will these people respond?”
By the time it was over, the crowd was stunned by her performance; the support for her act was overwhelming. Her performances at small venues soon became a regular occurrence.
“What I enjoy the most about it is performing with a band,” said Manfredi. “I’m creating something with other people. It’s everybody’s talents. We’re all working together in a community, and the audience is a part of that community.”
With Ryan Goldsmith on guitar and Miles Dhalwala on the drums, the backdrop of music to accompany her singing makes the moment all the more enjoyable for her.
She continued to find her confidence in singing as the fear of putting herself out there for an audience of both peers and strangers slowly dissipated. “There’s a thrill that comes with performing, an adrenaline rush,” she said. “The only way to deal with stage fright is to just keep performing. I had to just force myself to do it, and with every performance, it gets a little easier.”
While Manfredi focused on her live performances, Wolff was making connections with other creators. Overpade was hosting a concert in Ithaca, New York when he and Wolff met. It was not long before the two began producing music with one another. Overpade later invited Wolff to help develop the tracks for his soon-to-be-released debut album, and suggested that Manfredi join him.
Collaborating with an established artist, one with nearly 150,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, was a gigantic leap from performing at the local bar. And it was a leap that she took without any hesitation.
“It meant showcasing a part of my mind that I wouldn’t be able to present to this wide of an audience on my own,” said Manfredi. “It’s one thing to just sing a song, but getting to be involved in the project through writing and composition was a really cool opportunity.”
Manfredi is featured on several songs throughout the currently unnamed album, an impressive sneak peek of which has been revealed through “Heartless.”
As her contributions to the album are being finalized, she is uncertain about her plans for the future. Other than releasing her own music, she plans on pursuing a career in entertainment law.
“I don’t have much of a plan,” she said. “As long as I’m still putting music out and spending as much time as I can on it, I’m happy.”
Regardless of the uncertainty in her future, Manfredi is grateful for having made it this far; it has provided her with an accessible outlet for self-expression, which may have never existed had it not been for the encouragement of a friend.
Talent is often suppressed by self-doubt, or the tendency to abandon passions for more reliable career paths. Without the assurance that they are creating anything significant, generational talents may be stuck performing in front of the mirror.
There is power in acknowledging an artist’s brilliance in their field; it may be the driving force that encourages them to pursue their passion, as it was for Manfredi. To be able to enter the spotlight, one must know that their efforts to reach that point are worthwhile, which only requires one person’s support.
Do not hesitate to be that person. There is incessant talent among us, so do not let it be squandered.
