• 2014-

  Theresa JarvisVocals2014-

  George EdwardsGuitar2014-

  Alex CrosbyBass, keyboards2014-

  Robert MasonDrums2014-2023
• Yonaka took their name from the Japanese word for "the dead of night," which frontwoman Theresa Jarvis says appealed to them because it suggests a darker, cinematic mood rather than a straightforward rock image. "It's a way of expressing the darkness that everyone has," she told Smoke and Echoes.
• The band formed in Brighton after Jarvis and guitarist George Edwards met at music college and began writing together, eventually recruiting bassist/keyboardist Alex Crosby and drummer Robert Mason. Yonaka felt like a fresh start, even though each member had already been involved in music. "When we sat down to write, it felt special. I never had that before," Jarvis told Focusrite.
• Brighton's compact scene made it easy for them to test out songs live and quickly build a reputation as an explosive, high‑energy band. Before they ever released an album, Yonaka spent years on the road opening for acts like Bring Me The Horizon and Don Broco, which helped them refine their sound and stagecraft. The band released their debut EP, Heavy, in 2017, establishing their blend of muscular riffs, pop hooks and Jarvis's dramatic vocals.
• In May 2019, Yonaka signed with American label Fueled by Ramen ahead of the release of their debut album, Don't Wait 'Til Tomorrow. Themes of anxiety, self‑doubt and resilience run through tracks like "Bad Company" and "Creature ," which helped them connect with listeners dealing with their own mental health struggles. That era of the band was heavily informed by Jarvis' own struggles with anxiety, and singing about it gave her, and their fans, a way to push back against those feelings.
• Yonaka gained a major profile boost when their song "F.W.T.B." appeared on the soundtrack to the 2019 film Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. Jarvis wrote it as a fantasy of taking control in situations where you usually feel powerless, which resonated with fans who discovered them through the film.
• After drummer Robert Mason left the band in 2023, Yonaka continued as a trio with Jarvis, Edwards and Crosby, using live and session drummers where needed. Rather than treating it as a setback, they leaned into the flexibility of writing and recording with different rhythm collaborators, which opened up new textures in their music. The lineup shift also reinforced Jarvis's role as the band's focal point, both visually and lyrically.

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