The first new single, „Therapieplatz“, marks a powerful comeback for the exceptional socially critical artist
Cologne, October 2025 - After a deliberate break, Yu is back - stronger, more reflective and more creative than ever. The 22-year-old non-binary musician and songwriter has released „Therapieplatz“, his first new single after a long break. The break had become necessary for Yu to withdraw from the public eye for a while and give himself and his own mental health space. Yu has now announced a major tour entitled „To(ur) be continued“, which will take him through Germany in spring 2026.
Through the in-depth engagement with his therapy and himself during the break, Yu experiences music as a creative rebirth: „For me, therapy was not a retreat from life, but an extensive reflection on myself,“ explains Yu. „I learnt that vulnerability is not a weakness, but the source of my greatest strength. From this self-employment, from consciously looking at my own struggles, an energy emerged that I was able to channel directly into new music.“
Yu's signature blend of socially critical lyrics, satirical quips and catchy indie pop melodies with a new depth and vulnerability documents this transformative journey.
The first single, „Therapieplatz“, is more than just a comeback song. It is a statement against the stigmatisation of mental illness, a plea for self-care in a neoliberal meritocracy and an anthem for all those who have to fight for their place in therapy - and in the world. With his usual mixture of irony, poignancy and emotional honesty, Yu makes a topic audible that is still far too rarely talked about in the music scene.
Characterised by autism and ADHD diagnoses, a pronounced giftedness and complicated family circumstances, Yu found refuge in music at an early age. Inspired by Alligatoah as a teenager, Yu developed his own sound at a very young age: edgy, incongruous indie pop with unmistakable messages - socially critical, satirical, sometimes exaggerated.
The breakthrough came quickly: songs like „Unique“ and „Moshpit“ went viral, the LGBTQIA+ anthem „Zittern“ gave Yu a growing fanbase and almost 450,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Yu played at anti-Nazi rallies in the German hinterland, toured as support for Alligatoah and established himself as one of the most important progressive voices in the German pop scene.
Yu will go on tour in spring 2026. What can fans expect? A rebellious, energetic live show that Yu himself describes as „a kind of group therapy with a musical vision for change“. The concerts will not only entertain, but also inspire reflection and action - in line with Yu's artistic self-image. Following the almost completely sold-out „Yu & You & You“ tour in May 2025, the upcoming tour is also likely to meet with great demand.
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