WATCH: Yahto releases his second single

It has been three months since the release of his heartfelt debut single Ugly, which did very well, with a high volume of streams, downloads and views of his lyric video.

The talented artist, Yahto Kraft (19), from Alberton, released another new single, Washed Away, on all digital platforms on July 31. He shared his thoughts behind the song with the RECORD.

All about Washed Away

The single was written especially for Yahto by Ruth Rozanne Kahts in 2016. It is a James Bond-inspired introspective ballad that emphasises moving on from your past and leaving the hurt behind.

It deals with themes of loss and love in the present, as well as the past.

With its powerful, soul-searching lyrics, it was a song that instantly resonated with Yahto, especially with various issues he was dealing with at the time and has been on the back burner for him to record since then.

“In 2016 when this song was written, I had just written my first single and was heavily leaning on my friends and family to help me get out of that funk. “They were the rain that washed away all the pain I had gone through in the year, and I was feeling like a new and refreshed person. They took this pain and hurt I had in me and just drained it out of me, only leaving the good behind,” Yatho said.

He believes Washed Away is the ideal follow-up single to Ugly, as he feels he has grown as a person since then.
According to him, the meaning of the song has evolved since it was written a while ago.

A heart coming home

“The song still reminds me of friends and family who healed me out of that dark time, but it has become even more personal.

“It has become a song of resilience, of overcoming what society expects me to be. Society has often forced me to choose between the traditionally masculine and feminine aspects of myself, but this song has become a reminder that I don’t have to choose.

“I must let all that negativity wash over me, leaving behind a fresh and true version of myself, who embraces both sides of me. All that mud I have been treading, all the wars I have been fighting in my mind about who I am are gone and I can carry on being unapologetic in how I identify.”

Yatho said the James Bond-inspired feel to the single was important.

“Since I was little, I’ve always wanted to be the youngest person to ever sing the theme song to a James Bond film – the glamour and elegance of the production and the music videos had me hooked.

“From Shirley Bassey to Tina Turner to Sam Smith, I have always wanted to follow in their fabulous footsteps. Unfortunately, the incredibly talented Billie Eilish beat me to being the youngest, but I still feel a pang of pride when I think of baby Yahto wrapping a tablecloth and a cheap feather boa prancing around his bedroom, imagining he’s a Bond girl.

“What would he think about this song? I like to think I’ve made him proud.”

Yatho said all of his hurt has been washed away.

“I am that little kid with a tablecloth around me, lip-syncing to Diamonds Are Forever in the mirror, feeling such incredible joy in being who he was, not thinking it was wrong or sinful because, to him, it wasn’t. Society made him think that for a split second, but not anymore,” he said.

Music runs through his veins

This Alberante resident completed his degree in musical theatre last year at the age of 18 from Stageworx School of Performing Arts.

He sings, dances and creates and makes his own outfits for his performances. He said he has been singing before he could talk.

“I loved music since I was a child. Being in training since I was six years old, it’s always been part of my life.”
Yatho said his mother even sang him to sleep with musical theatre songs. When it came to deciding what he wanted to study, it was a no-brainer.

“Musical theatre was the only choice. I’m so incredibly lucky to have my degree at such a young age. I never thought I’d go into pop music, but I just absolutely fell in love with it and the culture around it. “My vision for my music going forward is to be a light in the darkness for plus-size people, for anyone who has ever felt let down or unsure of themselves,” he said.

For him, the best part of being a performer is seeing people’s faces when he sings or seeing people’s reactions when they see what he is wearing.

“It also brings me immense joy to hear how my music has helped people and how it has shaped their lives. It is life-affirming to hear how much it means to people. “The most satisfying part of my job is hearing people praise little details I added into my music or in music videos or outfits.”

Yatho also talked about lockdown. “We can’t go for auditions or perform live onstage. The performing arts industry is really suffering.”

A little bit of this and that

Yatho was born in Vereeniging and grew up in Alberton.  He attended Leeuwenhof Akademie and then moved to Helpmekaar Kollege for high school, but dropped out in Grade Nine to pursue his music career.

“I obtained my matric online and my degree in musical theatre in the same year,” he added.
According to him, he had an incredible childhood and was lucky enough to have an amazing family who loved and accepted him from a young age.

“They basically let me do what I wanted, within reason.”

Yatho’s father died when he was seven years old, so from a young age it was just him, his brother and his mother against the world. “My father’s death affected my life in ways I could never have pictured. I miss him every day and I feel like a part of me is missing.”

In his spare time, he loves to read and likes to listen to podcasts and audiobooks.

“I also host a radio show called Kraft Corner on Impuls Radio every Wednesday at 3pm. I just like to stay busy.”
Something people do not know about him is that he is very insecure and shy.

“I put on a cool, confident facade. Acting with confidence makes me more confident. When I look good, I feel good,” he said.