Yhaunai Takiyal

Emmanuel Okoli (born October 13, 1998), best known by his previous stage name Yhaunai Takiyal, Yhaunai Island, and now August Wntr, is an experimental multi-genre music producer, electronic musician, and rapper from Baltimore, Maryland.
Yhaunai has released two studio albums Gold (2015) and Nature Theory (2016). He has produced in various genres, ranging from Trap to pop. He also contributed remixes for artists such as Drake and Flying Lotus.
In 2013, Okoli began rapping under the persona Azyn Porter. Okoli kept this from his fans for several months, finally revealing his identity a few months after the release of his first freestyle rap mixtape, Anti-Adventure.

Early life

Yhanuai Takiyal was born Emmauel Okoli on October 13, 1998, in Baltimore, Maryland. Yhaunai formed several groups and collectives by the time he was 16. These collectives consist of Alphasquad, Off Center, and WTTF (Welcome To The Future) to name a few. Yhaunai has switched his name several times thought to be due to the throes of his youth.

Musical career

2012–13: Blackgang, Eliminix, and Alphasquad

While in transition from middle to High school, music classes taught Okoli to make music and soon got him into music production. His experimentation in beat-making began to produce trap type beats infused with boom bap hip-hop and cartoon network inspiration.

Around this time, he was forming his hip hop label/group Alphasquad with group mates Zae Abyss, Lvrd Blasian, Zarkito, and Project X. Days were spent in their houses recording, and nights were spent producing and working on the music that would become the makings of his first few EPs and mixtapes. Yhauani was (for a time) the only full-time producer in alphasquad, while the rest of his group consisted of rappers. This factor became the main reason for his first few mixtapes to consist of strictly freestyle rap. In 2013, group mate Lvrd Blasian released his first mixtape Road to Riches, much to local approval. This release would be Astro's final release under his old alias, Lvrd Blasian. This caused Lvrd Blasian to drop out of Alphasquad until early 2015. Following Blasian's drop out of music and Alphasquad Zae Abyss and Yhauani decided to both be the frontmen of the group.

His first release Anti-Adventure was released in the absence of former frontman Lvrd Blasian followed by Xenon Lean and Neon Blossoms in the following year.

2014–15: Neon Blossoms, Xenon Lean and Off Center

Xenon Lean Saw the rise and publication of Yhaunai's lesser known personas, Niko Phantom. This project would go on to be the last mixtape that Yhaunai would release under the name "Azyn Porter" and was given more attention to detail as it seemed that Yhaunai found his style.

Following Xenon Lean was Neon Blossoms, a project which would be Azyn Porter's last. Thus starting Yhaunai's rise as Saiybur. Neon Blossoms also debuted a lesser known moniker of Yhaunai's, known as Alpha Cat. This project is his first and last appearance in Yhaunai's public discography. Neon Blossoms contains contributions from artists other than Yhaunai himself. Blasian, Tkdwn, Kuro Silence, and Astroboy were all recruited to lend works to the project. Neon Blossoms is (in contrast to much of Yhaunai's work as Azyn) comprised completely of instrumental productions, rather than the lyrical works more closely associated to Azyn's name and style. As such Neon Blossoms is composed mostly of looping tracks with cuts of diversity.

Present: Gold and Nature Theory

Gold is Yhaunai's first instrumental studio album composed of various experimental and electronic themes. Yhaunai released several EPs following Gold's release. Yhaunai's Nature Theory is his second studio album composed of his classic experimental sounds with a nature-inspired influence.

Personality

Yhaunai's personality often reflects his name changes and musical sound. He is sporadic, odd, and genuine. He says what he means and doesn't think twice about it.

Influences and style

Yhaunai's influences include Flying Lotus, Oshi, Tyler The Creator, and Whereisalex. While his style is a mixture Hip Hop, Trap, Electronic, and Experimental music.

Discography

As Yhanuai Takiyal

• Gold (2015)
• Goodmorning (2015)
• Xeriscape (2016)
• Wildfire (2016)
• Nature Theory (2016)

As Azyn Porter

• Anti-Adventure (2013)
• Anti-Adventure deluxe (2014)
• Xenon Lean (2014)
• Neon Blossoms (2014)