Listen to audio here: https://soundcloud.com/bethany-porter-102263506/insight-from-the-yellow-master (WARNING: It’s my first time doing an interview like this and I talked too much haha)

Donrico and I arrived at the same time to the bubble tea joint I suggested to him. We arrived at the same time, and as always when I encounter him, am taken aback by the almost disturbing calm that Donrico exudes. It makes me feel as if I fumbling about with pleasantries unnecessarily. Overall, he exudes positivity, optimism, and holds no air of expectation – my oft pessimistic, cynical side gets short-circuited by people like that and is almost jealous of their carefree attitude. This is my impression of him, of course, people are often never what they appear to be.

We sat down with each of our drinks. I tried something new, and Donrico took my suggestion to try the cheese foam that I said was the best around. I had prepared some questions in advance for him so he could think of some answers. I am going to frame this post with those questions.

Please tell us your name, where you are from, and a little about yourself.

Donrico DeCastro, a.k.a. The Yellow Master, lives in Sacramento and has accepted his brand as one who writes sad ukulele songs. Even in my own experience listening to his music, his positive and happy face often contrasts against his introspective, weighty lyrics.

When did you first discover music? 

Having grown up in a Filipino family, music was all around him. Filipino children were expected to sing at family parties, and the family was always up for a karaoke session at most gatherings. He was sort of expected to entertain his aunties and uncles. Therefore, performance and learning of various karaoke standards was very formative of his upbringing and formation as an artist. It wasn’t truly until his senior year of high school that he started to take an ownership of music for himself, and even began writing his own music.

What has music meant to you over the course of your life?

For Donrico, music to him has been an opportunity to tell people his story. In addition to that, it is a way he expresses what is going on inside. Knowing that Donrico comes across as a reserved individual, and as an introvert myself, I can identify with this – we need an outlet that is safe, and singing music – covers or his own – and writing has meant that to him. He also sees it as a way to share other’s stories. Donrico enjoys writing music based upon favorite movies and TV shows as a way to bring out other stories.

Why did you start writing and making your own music?

As previously mentioned, he didn’t really get started on that until his senior year of high school. The first song he wrote was actually a confession to a girl he liked. I am not even sure why I should bat an eye at this because men, for centuries, have never been more motivated to write with the intent to bear their feelings than when attempting to woo women. Singing his confession was a way to put it out into the air. He actually picked up an instrument as well because of this girl who was the bassist in the school band.

How has living with mental health issues affected the way you write music, perform, etc.?

Anxiety has been the toughest grapple for Donrico with performing. He is not anxious during performances, but it is the days leading up to that can become unbearable. He as even taken the day off of work the day of his performances due to the anxiety so that he can have time to relax beforehand.

Anxiety has not really affected his songwriting progress, but rather his experiences with broken relationships has driven him to write. After his divorce, he didn’t want to linger on those emotions but get them out on the page. We both agreed that it was these low points that propelled us to write, possibly out of necessity – if we remain there in that low place we can keep descending; but, not lingering too much on it and throwing it out on a page has proved very useful to processing that experience.

The current challenge Donrico faces is moving on from writing out the various nuances of this past experience. He desires to write about the present, what is happening in his life now. This has proven to be difficult, and we discussed it is possibly because of the vulnerability required to face one’s current state-of-being. Writing about the present has been more difficult, even for the Yellow Master – someone I perceive to be steeped in optimism – because it is a place of unknowing, and it is raw, and he is still learning what it means.

Next, we talked about his preshow ritual.

For Donrico, is includes donning his special arm band, his eye patch he jokingly says “blocks out half the people”, and by reminding himself that he is only responsible for the next step. All he needs to do is move up to the microphone and not thinking too much of what comes after. He has realized he has to make a plan, and strategize, in order to rise to the occasion. He consistently tells himself the old saying “every journey begins with a step”.

What I personally appreciated about hearing Donrico’s process of rising up to the stage is that although it was structured, or ritualistic, it operated from a place of complete self-awareness. I think often, I believe that I have to prepare for my shows, amp myself up, in ways that I have been modeled by others. Contrarily, as Donrico has shown to me, you must know yourself – your weaknesses, tendencies – so that you can then, in a way, hack yourself to rise above these weaknesses to do things that you really want to do. I think as performers, even those that don’t suffer crippling anxiety, we try to tell ourselves that we shouldn’t be anxious and try to shake it off… this is not helpful, but tries to avoid rather than to face and find a solution.

Donrico is facing the fact that he gets really anxious before shows by applying actionable solutions: he is kind to himself by taking the day off not to sit at home twiddling his thumbs but to get to work; next, he applies meaning, mantra, and motive to each action, making for himself a ritual; he dons his special band, which for him means it is time to move forward; he secures his eye patch over his eye because he knows that it helps him. In this, he is presenting someone who is completely Donrico, not bandaging over his problems, not projecting a self that pretends they don’t exist; but, rather coming with them represented in the state of being overcome, and not domineering his whole person. He is the Yellow Master. I appreciate this holistic and authentic approach.

What specific song of yours reflects a little bit of your own struggle? 

As mentioned before, most of his music has revolved around relationships. After his divorce, he wrote the song “From We to Me”, which was based on the memory of him and his ex-wife. He gave a little insight into the story behind this song. I am just going to transcribe what he said:

“That was the right-after-the-divorce song…One thing that me and my ex-wife used to do is we talked about our five-year goal – where we are gonna be in five years. And, everyday we would work on it. Then, one day she said she wasn’t going to be a part of those five years. And that’s the title of the song “From We to Me”: trying to figure out how to go from that “we” back to “me”. Just being lost and trying to figure that out.”

Listen to that song here:

If you are a Christian, how has living with this issue impacted the way you relate to God? Live your faith out into the world? Relate to others?

When I asked this question, Donrico did not hesitate but the first thing he mentions is that “everything we have we owe to Him”. He also went on to speak of the relationship of God and music. Donrico sees the existence of music as the constant evidence of God’s existence and presence in the world.

I was really intrigued when I reiterated the question to him about the impact of anxiety in his relation to God and living out his faith in the world. Full of faith and trust, he began to relate the trials of this life to the trial Jesus went through spending forty days in the desert – things we have to go through in this life are usually necessary, often as a test. He sees these tests as indicators of God preparing him to do that things ahead of him – the outcome will indicate if he is ready yet. I was impressed by his simple trust in God to redeem things and situations that are pressing.

I am often problem-oriented. I see focusing on the problem as paramount to growth, but I have been often learning that living solution-oriented is more productive as well as hopeful. Donrico communicated this to me. He sees these “tests” not as a time to configure all the problems, but a time to make the most out of and devise solutions to move forward. I feel like I can convince myself that because I am trying to discover the holes and problems to fix, I am being productive. This, in fact, aids in stagnating the process because then no matter how accurate I have described the problem, there still needs to be actionable solutions which requires moving on from talk of the problem.

Focusing on my problems, in a sense, sets up camp in that proverbial desert God may have prepared for me to weather, rather than devising solutions and using my resources to move to a more sustainable environment. As Christians, those resources are available to us at any moment – God’s word, wise counsel from and refreshing communion with our brothers and sisters-in-christ, lifting our requests to God through prayer as he commands, and rejoicing in the Lord at all times.

How has it (mental health struggles) affected to way you have related to others?

When he was younger in high school, he tended to be loud, needy, and trying really hard to fit into a mold. All of his problems just resulted from his desire to be accepted by others… This sounds like the normal process of growing up. However, I remember being the same way – I cared way too. much about what people thought of me, thus I tried to do things that we amazing for the sole reason of feeling validated by my peers, whoever they were. Donrico mentions doing something like that, a vlog series that lasted three years, that he feels was not done because he enjoyed it, but done in a specific way to feel validated by his peers. He has mellowed with age as he have learned from others around him. He has stopped trying to impress others and instead has been more selective about who he lets close, not because he is afraid of anyone, but because he wants to be able to completely be himself.

What do you hope to accomplish by writing and putting your music out in the world?

Donrico just wants to tell stories. If he tells his story, and another person hears it, this is really how he lives on after he is gone. It’s his legacy. He recalls books such as Alice in Wonderland, where although the creators pass away, the story lives on. Specifically he recalls artists such as the Beatles, and Elton John, whose stories have lived on such that there are movies being made about their lives and their influence. He wishes to make music that resound with people and leaves a similar legacy.

In what ways has music helped you to manage your issues, or even find more wholeness and healing? Share a specific moment that you felt this.

Being a part of the community of Songwriters (Sacramento Songwriter Circles), has really helped him. When he was all alone, he was quite discouraged. However, when he is with a group, he begins to see how everyone else is doing and that he is not alone. This group has also caused him to rethink the process by considering multiple perspectives when writing his music – what is he thinking/feeling, how will the listener hear this, etc.

I added a question: Do you have any experiences that we have written a song for a specific person to process, and then performed it for them?

There is a song he wrote called “Victim” for a friend who was going through depression as a way to ensure them that he would always be there. He realized that there was nothing he could really do to help them except to tell them they were there to help. It helped deepen the friendship.

The fact that it was a song makes it different. Donrico says that anyone can tell you they will be there for you, but it’s not everyday they go out of their way to write a song about you. It creates something that is memorable for them, turns a negative moment into a positive and healing one.

Why do you think art and music are essential practices, forms, or tools for humans?

Music is a way of expression and a way to bring people together. Donrico mentioned the movie Bohemian Rhapsody when Queen performed their last concert as a benefit for AIDS irradiation in Africa. Their music brought the world together for this good cause. Some music has been used as negative propoganda, but there are moments like this that show of its power for good.

Music has been around since the beginning, and Donrico cannot imagine a world without music – even the animals have their song. He sees music as a more diverse tool for communication, more than simple language. Music ties into emotion, which is why music is often used in movies to add to the meaning, such as in scary movies. Certain movies would not be as scary, or as inspiring without that music in the background. The meaning reaches deeper into you when a message is delivered through or with music.

What is some advice you can give to people dealing with mental health issues similar to yours, or artists/musicians in a similar boat?

For anxiety, especially performance-oriented, find a ritual that works for you. Realize that small steps in the direction you want, really do count. Moving slowly should not be discouraging… you will eventually reach that goal. Be patient with yourself.

WILD CARD: I know you are into anime and comic culture, right? To the not-yet-weeaboo out there, what anime would you recommend they watch first that has notably good music and why?

Without hesitation, the Yellow Master states: Cowboy Bebop. for a phenomenal soundtrack. Another one that he recommends for people interested in music and great stories is: Mongolian Chop Squad. The character is actually someone who joins a band and learns guitar for the first time. In addition, he also mentions One Punch Man – one I always hear my boyfriend going on about – but says it is one to watch later, not as a beginner.

Thank you Donrico for the interview! I was encouraged and I am sure others will be, too.

Follow Donrico, The Yellow Master, on a variety of platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonricoDeCastro/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theyellowmaster/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/YellowMasterDonrico (subscribe so we can help him reach 100!!)

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/donrico-de-castro/tracks

Find his music to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, or support him by purchasing “From We to Me” and “For You” on iTunes.