Yumi Dishes on What It's Really Like Working with Uncle Steve Aoki as She Releases Debut EP, 'Ego Boost'

Twenty-two year old Yumi just released her debut EP -- "Ego Boost" -- and by her rich, soulful sounds, you'd never know she was the niece of international DJ and electro-house musician Steve Aoki.

And despite his busy schedule and extensive résumé (Aoki's a DJ, record producer and music executive who became the highest grossing dance artist in North America from tours in 2012, according to Pollstar), Yumi's uncle has made it a point to be "so involved" in helping her pursue her passion for music and navigate the entertainment industry.

"I showed him a few of my songs from this EP two years ago, and I was asking him for advice on what label I should submit to, and he was like, 'Oh, you should put it out though Dim Mak,'" Yumi, TooFab's TooGood Artist of the Month, explained. "I didn't think that he would put me on his label, and I wasn't expecting that from him. Every song that I've wanted to put out, he's put it out through Dim Mak, and they've been so great and supportive. He shares all my stuff on social media and listens to all my songs. He's the best."

Children of famous parents or relatives often say they find it difficult to "make it" in the entertainment industry, and while Yumi admits she feels she has to "work harder" to prove herself, she's been well-received by Aoki's "die-hard" fans.

"I think that because he's so big in the industry, I feel like sometimes I have to work harder to prove myself, which can be difficult," Yumi explained. "But I feel like so far it's been really great, and everyone's been very supportive. I haven't had much hate about that yet. His fans are really loyal, and so they're die-hard for me, too."

"Ego Boost" is comprised of five songs, "80 percent" of which Yumi wrote herself. She told TooFab she drew her inspiration mostly from observing her friends' love lives.

"I think that there's something for everyone in this EP because it goes through all stages of a relationship," she said. "Having a crush on someone, going through the relationship with them, unconditional love, the breakup, them coming back and you don't want them to, and then finding fulfillment in yourself."

In addition to being a singer and a songwriter, Yumi is also signed to Wilhelmina International curve division. And although she believes society has come a long way in terms of accepting beauty of different standards, she thinks we still "have a long way to go."

"I'm so happy with the progress that's been made because when I was in high school, I didn't have anyone to look up to," Yumi told TooFab. "I was just never satisfied with my body because no one told me that I could be. So I'm so happy that girls have role models to look up to that aren't a size 2. I mean, all women are beautiful -- I love size 2, I love size 14, I love everyone in between -- but we didn't have representation of that size when I was growing up, so to have more body representation now means so much to me."

"But also, being someone that's half Asian, I see a long way to go for other cultures," she added. "America's killin' it, Europe's killin' it, but I would love to see representation in Japan and Asia because their beauty standards are very specific and small."

"That's something I'm hoping to change," Yumi said.

Watch the video above to see Yumi slay an acoustic rendition of "Ego Boost" off her brand-new EP, and click here to stream it.

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