Dominican-Italian artist YEИDRY joins us for a powerful conversation about her debut album, Como Agua, her Afro-Latina identity and the experiences that shaped her life and music.

Raised in a small town in Italy, YEИDRY opens up about staying connected to her Dominican roots while navigating life in Italy’s countryside as a brown girl experiencing racism and colorism. She shares how feeling different influenced her identity, artistry and decision to create music in Spanish, Italian and English.

YEИDRY also reveals that she has felt like an adult since she was only 9 years old. Because her Italian was stronger than her mother’s, she often helped her mom communicate and navigate life in their new country. Her family’s immigrant experience shared many similarities with the stories we often hear in the United States, except theirs unfolded in Italy.

That responsibility helped shape the fearless woman she is today. As YEИDRY says during the interview, “I’m not afraid of anything.”

Music also became one of her greatest teachers. YEИDRY learned English by translating songs from Jay-Z, Rihanna, Beyoncé and Nelly Furtado. Before having internet access at home, she would visit an internet café, print out the lyrics and study them. After building her life and career across Europe, YEИDRY moved to the United States in 2023 and now lives in Los Angeles.

The conversation gets deeply personal as YEИDRY discusses reconnecting with her father after he moved to New York when she was young. That experience inspired “Espejo,” meaning “mirror” in Spanish, a song about seeing herself reflected in her father and rebuilding their relationship.

Plus, YEИDRY reveals how COLORS unexpectedly reached out to her ad blew her up, reflects on how she landed NPR Tiny Desk and talks about her growing presence in music and fashion.

This episode is a heartfelt and fun conversation between two Dominicanas connecting through culture, family, identity and their shared love for the Dominican Republic.

'Como Agua' by YEИDRY is available now on all major streaming platforms. Her NPR Tiny Desk performance is also available to watch now.