Vancouver’s Yafania Captures the Heartache of the ‘Situationship’ in Dreamy New Single “Don’t You Wanna Be With Me?”
We’ve all been there before: the dreaded “situationship,” that frustrating limbo zone that isn’t quite friendship but isn’t quite romance either. Yafania, Vancouver’s newly minted queen of dream romance pop, takes us on a guided tour of that misbegotten territory on “Don’t You Wanna Be With Me?,” a poignant exploration of unspoken love that perfectly captures the frustration and longing that come from being caught between what you have and what you want.
Through striking visuals, the song’s frustration and longing comes to life with Yafania embodying both the intensity and fragility of her emotions as an angelic figure. The track finds our narrator wanting more than the agonizing uncertainty of waiting for her guarded, hesitating crush to make the first move. Yafania, dressed as an angel, represents the intensity and fragility of her emotions. Reaching her breaking point, she finally addresses the unspoken tension: “Am I really just another friend, or am I the girl you’d call your own?”
The track’s dramatic urgency is driven by Yafania’s bold vision, seamlessly blending rock influences with rich, layered instrumentation. Backed by the dynamic sounds of Eddie Lam (electric guitar and keys), Flavio Cirillo (drums), and Darren Parris (bass), the song evokes the nostalgic feel of a late-2000s romcom while providing the perfect backdrop for her soaring, emotionally charged and complex lyrics.
It’s a project of remarkable depth and maturity, especially when you consider that this songstress hasn’t yet hit 20.
“When I first wrote the song, I was a teenager. I was full of dreams of that ideal love, with the youthful hope of “Could this be the beginning of something real?” she recalls. “But the reality, when it came to relationships, was often much more complicated. I was frustrated with the silence, the waiting game, and finally decided to confront it head-on. That frustration and uncertainty are vividly captured in the music video, where the tension between longing and hesitation takes center stage. It’s part of a larger story that I’m telling across my music in chapters.”
Returning to the screen with Disney’s Pearce Joza (ZOMBIES, Mech-X4, Lab Rats), “Don’t You Want to Be With Me?” places viewers in the middle of the love story, into Yafania’s world of longing and frustration as the pair struggle to leap from friends to lovers. With cinematic flair, Yafania delivers the next chapter of the narrative introduced in “The Right Guy,” which has already amassed 500k YouTube views and 160k Spotify streams, following the success of “Don’t You,” which has garnered 200k YouTube views and 90k Spotify streams. Blending surreal and real elements, the video weaves a tale where memories and desires collide. Unlike standalone music videos, Yafania’s music video saga unfolds as a connected narrative, offering fans a serialized experience.
The first chapter, “The Right Guy,” introduced audiences to the highs and lows of high-school love. Directed by Said Khallaf and Yafania, “Don’t You Want to Be With Me?” carries the same striking aesthetic as “The Right Guy”, weaving emotion and stunning cinematography into a thoughtfully crafted sequel. With more chapters to unfold, fans eagerly await to discover if the pair will ever recognize the spark of romance between them, or if the chance for love will slip away once again.
Taken together, the two songs and their companion videos show why Yafania is already such a trailblazer in her chosen genre, one who uses her signature gift for storytelling to craft unforgettably immersive musical experiences. Her ferocious drive and unrelenting passion may convey romantic idealism, but they also portray an emotional depth that sets her apart from her peers.
Those qualities are evident in her latest work, with the new double single offering a tantalizing preview of her records to come “Don’t You Want to Be with Me” stands out, setting the stage with its themes of longing and self-discovery that will continue to resonate throughout her music.
“Ultimately, everything I do is about making people feel seen,” she says. “I want listeners to connect with the emotions in my songs and feel empowered to speak their truth.”
Hi! Great to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers?
Hi, I’m Yafania! I’m a dream romance musical artist, where my songs are pop and pop-rock music with a touch of nostalgia. I also make cinematic music videos that bring those heightened emotions to life in a conceptual, film-like way.
Your new single captures the frustration and longing of a “situationship.” What inspired you to write this song, and how does it reflect your own experiences?
I wrote “Don’t You Want To Be With Me?” about someone I really loved during a moment of hesitation between us. I kept directing questions at myself until I realized I had a question of my own to ask them, which was, “Don’t you want to be with me?” I capture moments in my lyrics, focusing on the events that surround them. I’m an emotional person, and that comes through whenever I approach a song. I truly feel every word I sing and the emotion behind it as the artist who wrote it. The frustration, the longing for answers, and the vulnerability of putting your heart out there are all things I’ve experienced.
The track blends rock influences with layered instrumentation, evoking a late-2000s romcom feel. What were some of your biggest musical or cinematic inspirations while working on this song?
I love that you caught the late-2000s romcom vibe! I’m obsessed with layering instrumentation and it is very important to me. I hear my compositions in layers when I write them so I know what I’m aiming for when I go to the studio. Love, in all its forms from romance to heartbreak and longing, drives most of my writing, and it’s something my listeners really connect with. The song is emotional and dramatic, but also a little playful, like a pivotal moment from a romcom where the lead finally asks, “Are we doing this or not?”
You’ve collaborated with Disney’s Pearce Joza in the video. What was it like working with him again, and how does his presence contribute to the story you’re telling?
Pearce is amazing to work with because he’s not only a great actor but also someone who fully understands the emotions behind the music. In this video, he helps bring that tension to life. Don’t You Want to Be With Me is the second chapter to an evolving love story being told to my audience about two friends who know they’re meant to be more. The first cinematic chapter, “The Right Guy”, captures the moment they first sense a spark of romance. In the second chapter, “Don’t You Want To Be With Me?,” the focus shifts to their struggle to confront and admit their feelings. Since Pearce and I have worked together on the first chapter of this music video saga, there’s already that touch of chemistry that makes the storytelling feel natural and authentic.
Your previous singles have gained impressive traction on YouTube and Spotify. How does fan engagement shape your creative process, and what has been the most rewarding response to your music so far?
Hearing from listeners means everything to me. Every comment, edit, DM, or shared story reminds me why I do this. When people say my songs feel like they were “written about their life,” that’s the biggest compliment. Music has always been my way of expressing things I couldn’t always say out loud, so knowing that my songs are helping others feel understood will forever be the most rewarding part.