- The 23-year-old producer and vocalist Yaeji splits her time between Seoul and New York City. She makes hazy house music that's all about tidy arrangements and simple, unfussy songwriting. Her gentle cooing is always the centerpiece of her tracks. Her debut EP mostly sticks to a formula: two-note chord changes built on three-note basslines and spoken-word hooks that are poetic, silly and strangely hypnotic. It's irresistible and potent enough to stretch across a 20-minute EP without feeling stale.
Yaeji's vocal style—sometimes little more than a whisper—nods to Galcher Lustwerk's weed-headed hip-house, while also recalling the deadpan delivery of Marie Davidson's late-night confessions. She sings and speaks in English and Korean, moving between oblique little chants that are more musical than linguistic ("New York 93") and whimsical lyrics that loop until you can't get them out of your head ("Feel It Out"). In a genre where vocals can feel shiny and overproduced, it's refreshing to hear such a raw, unpretentious delivery. Yaeji isn't trying to be anyone but herself.
There are also plenty of charming details peppered throughout the EP. "Noonside" oozes personality despite being stripped-back, with a layer of rain sounds and tasteful reverb creating an evocative atmosphere. The harmonies Yaeji creates by doubling her vocals are also a nice touch. It's one of a few stylish vocal production techniques we hear across the EP. Her ear for exciting drums and charismatic synth textures allows her to get away with minimalist arrangements like "Guap," a cover of a Mall Grab tune from 2015. "New York 93" is so sparse that it's barely there, with long stretches where the beat drops out, letting her weightless voice do the heavy lifting. With the exception of the slightly dissonant closer, "Full Of It," every track here is a stone-cold stunner.
Tracklist01. Noonside
02. New York 93 (Single Version)
03. Feel It Out
04. Guap
05. Full Of It