Interview by Bailey Ewers-Smith

foreword by Rachel Gambling

YONAKA open their new album, Until You’re Satisfied, with vibrant electricity, fused together with a high-voltage amalgamation of masterful conduction. Taking time between their big releases, with their debut, Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow, coming out in 2019, and EP Welcome to My House in 2023, frontwoman Theresa Jarvis (A.K.A. Miss Millennial) has had a chance to breathe.

girlblog! writer Bailey Ewers-Smith had a chance to chat with Jarvis about the themes behind YONAKA’s new album, learning to live with anxiety, his personal affection for the band and how their music helped him in his self discovery.

What’s the story of this new album? What is it about?

TJ: It’s about growing up, self discovery, learning about myself, what’s good for me and what’s not. Love and loss, be that falling in love or out of it. Leaving situations that don’t serve me no more, no matter how hard. Learning who I am, and feeling comfortable in my own skin.

As a Eurovision fan, it was so cool to hear that you guys actually auditioned to represent the UK with your song 'Cruel!’ How did that come about, and what is the process of auditioning for Eurovision like?

TJ: I was so excited when they asked us! And the coolest thing is that we were only asked to audition because fans were putting our name in the forums!

For the audition, we flew to London (as we were in Belgium at the time recording the new album). There were three other acts there for it. You perform two songs; on the day we did 'Cruel' and 'Call Me A Saint.’ 'Cruel' at that point was called 'Crave' and had a completely different chorus — in a way, I’m glad it didn’t happen as I can’t imagine the song with any other chorus than the one it has now. Part of the audition is doing a rehearsal round with a camera coach, as on live TV you perform for the cameras to get it across for the TV viewers. Ultimately, I’m super grateful for the opportunity, and I was gutted when we didn’t get it.

You've been open about being someone who deals with anxiety, which is really appreciated by fans (like myself). One moment that stands out for me is a video you made a few years back, letting fans know about a coping strategy of yours.

What’s the relationship between your anxiety and being the lead singer of a massive band like YONAKA had on you over the years, and what’s your relationship with it today?

TJ: I’ve been dealing with anxiety and panic attacks for about eight years now. When it all first hit me, it kind of felt like my life was over. I couldn’t do anything. I was scared to leave the house. I constantly felt like I was suffocating and that I wasn’t real; it all felt really tough.

But from that time came ‘Don't Wait 'Til Tomorrow.’ I used music as an outlet to talk about how I feel. Quite like therapy, my lyrics were like a diary. I did a lot of work on myself and got help. I can’t say it all goes away, but I learnt a lot of techniques and practices to feel safer in my body. It’s been a lot of work, but I feel good again! I can do things independently and enjoy things in the moment.

Of course, I have days where it’s not like that, and I still struggle with panic attacks quite a lot. But I'm learning to stick with it rather than run away now. I hate my mental health issues a lot of the time! But it also made me so creative, and I think it made me change the course of my life for the better.

Meeting you guys last year during the Don Broco Tour was honestly one of the coolest and most wholesome moments I've had in the music sphere. It meant the world to me that I got to let you guys know the impact YONAKA songs have had on me, especially during my identity journey (exploring my femininity as a guy, my relationship with my bisexuality, etc.).

What is it like when you hear these kinds of stories from fans and learning about the impact of your music?

TJ: When I hear these kinds of stories from fans I feel so full of love and warmth knowing that the music has touched people in such a way — that it bought them power or strength or comfort. It means everything to me and it gives me motivation to keep going!

I really like the series of videos you guys did for the Welcome To My House EP. Back in 2023, I nominated the 'By The Time You're Reading This' video for my podcast's Music Video of the Year Award!

What was the approach behind the series of videos for that EP, and were there ever any plans for an 'I Want More' music video?

TJ: I love those videos — they were so fun!

We did a two-day shoot: we spent the whole first day making the 'Panic' video (it was -6 degrees, the coldest day of the year, and I was tied to the front of a lorry in a tiny jumpsuit!), then the next day we shot the other five videos.

Honestly, the team were incredible. The director, Samuel Douek, is incredible and pulled the insanity off. 'Give Me My Halo' was the only video we didn’t like in the end, but we got so much out of those two days that we were ultimately satisfied with everything.

'I Want More' was a last minute add on, which is why it only has a lyric video.

How did the collaboration with G2 and Jeris Johnson for 'Detonate' come about?

TJ: G2 actually reached out to me and asked me to jump on the track. I can’t take credit for the song though, as by the time I joined the project it was already fully written!

Finally, 'Seize The Power' is without question my favourite from you guys, and also sits as one of my favourite songs of all time! The 'Hey there, how you been?' part has always resonated with me — it makes me think of my own inner voice trying to reach out to me, to tell me to not be afraid or ashamed of who I truly am, but to embrace it and its power instead.

How did that song come about, and what does it mean to you guys in 2026?

TJ: That is exactly how I wrote that part, so I’m glad that’s how you heard it! Alex [bassist] showed me the beat and I was like “Wow! Let me hear that again.” We then wrote the verse lyrics and melody all at once. It just kinda came out of us!

I was actually going through a difficult time at that point and 'Seize The Power' kind of slapped me out of it. It was a message I so needed to hear for myself. I love this song so much and I never get bored of playing it. It’s a pillar of YONAKA and one of my favourites ever, too. I love the rage and energy from the fans when we play it live — it’s a real powerful energy.

Until You’re Satisified is available to purchase and stream on all good music platforms now. You can buy tickets to their upcoming shows here.

Interviewer's note: In an effort to get this transcript ready for release of Until You’re Satisfied, very slight changes to the questions and answers have been made.

YONAKA Frontwoman Theresa Jarvis on Anxiety, Self Discovery, and Connecting with Fans

Interview by Bailey Ewers-Smith

foreword by Rachel Gambling

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