In the realm of modern music, where the fusion of genres and personal stories shape the industry’s landscape, Yung Kriss emerges as a distinctive voice. Hailing from the small town of Terre Haute in Southern Indiana, this biracial artist’s journey is a testament to resilience, faith, and unyielding creativity. Growing up amidst the challenges of racial diversity, Yung Kriss, born Logan but creatively known as Kriss, found solace and identity in music.
His artist name, a nod to the era of Lil’ Wayne and the trend of ‘Lil’ or ‘Young’ monikers, reflects his desire for uniqueness, combining a youthful flair with his middle name. In this exclusive interview, Yung Kriss opens up about his inspirations, his commitment to infusing his music with the love of God, and the drive to create a distinct path in the R&B genre with a Christian alternative.
Where are you from and how was life growing up? I’m originally from a small town in Southern Indiana known as Terre Haute, particularly in the northern side of the city. As a biracial kid in a small midwest town, I faced my fair share of racial challenges, but overall I grew up in an incredible family that loved me, & developed friendships that still last to this day.
How did the artist name come to be? I remember when I first started making music in high school and I so badly wanted to be a rapper like Lil’ Wayne, haha. That’s back when all the rap names had Lil or Young in front of a rapper’s name. I really liked how “young” sounded but decided to spell it a little different to be unique, so I went with “Yung”. What a lot of people don’t know is that my first name is actually Logan, but that didn’t sounded lame to me, so I went with my middle name “Chris” and spelled it “Kriss”. Over time I’ve been tempted to change it but always had this feeling that it would one day be a name recognized among many people, so I stuck with it.
Where does the inspiration come from for creating music? My main motivation in making music is to create something that points people back to the love of God. I get inspired by what God has done for me in my life, and I want to share my story so that people can see how God is working in their lives as well. When it comes to the inspiration to make the music, I feel like it just naturally comes from within. I believe it’s something that God has gifted me to do my whole life. Ever since I was a little kid I remember making melodies & singing songs randomly. Being creative is so natural to me that if I don’t allow time for creative thinking it almost makes me sad. Every day I’m inspired to sing a song, to write a lyric, & to impact a life.
What artists inspired you the most and who do you currently listen to? Before I came to the faith, some of my biggest inspirations were Chris Brown, Usher, Justin Bieber, & many other R&B artists. When I gave my life to Christ I was introduced to artists like KB, Bizzle, & Lecrae. Even though they were Christian rappers, I loved the way they told stories in their music. Now, I find myself primarily listening to worship music by Elevation Worship, Maverick City. Outside of that, I listen to artists like Giveon, Chris Brown for sonic inspiration. I also really love artists like Madison Ryann Ward, Stevie Rizo, & Sam Rivera.
What kind of support do you get from your home town/state? Not a whole lot if I’m honest.
If you wasn’t making music, what would you be doing right now? If I didn’t make music, I would be a filmmaker. Many people don’t know this about me, but I’m actually really gifted at cinematography & editing.
What really makes you stand out and different from other artists? I think the thing that makes me unique as an artist is the fact that I don’t sound like any other artist. Most artists you can say “Oh they sound like so & so…”. I don’t think you can really say that about me. Aside from that I think my ability to create high quality music as well as high quality content for marketing really sets me apart from most independent artists.
Tell us your craziest life story: Too many crazy stories to really pick one.
What’s your biggest goal in the music industry? Make an impact & reach mainstream R&B with a Christian alternative that reaches people for Christ.
If you could collaborate with one single artist who would it be and why? You know, I’m not really sure. There are so many artists that I want to work with one day. I have a bucket list of some artists that I absolutely respect & adore, but not just one. Some of the artists on my list are Tori Kelly, Justin Bieber, PJ Morton, HER, Luke Combs, KB. That’s just to name a few.
Favorite Artists of all time and why? Chris Brown, easy. If we are talking christian, KB.
What advice would you give to inspiring music artists? Do not look to anyone for validation. Just put the work in & reach the world.
Instagram & Threads @yungkriss
TikTok – @itsyungkriss
Website – yungkriss.com
Music Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFvyX5IdzTQ
