Yerin Baek has been a familiar face to the Korean scene for almost 10 years, kicking off her career as part of the JYP Entertainment duo 15&. After leaving the company in 2019, she started her own independent label Blue Vinyl. Exactly one year after the release of her double album Every letter I sent you, Yerin is back with her second full-length album, telllusaboutyourself, released on December 10.

“0415” & “Hate you

“0415” has a very chill EDM vibe, the type of track that sounds like something you would hear shopping in a high-end store. That’s not meant to be any kind of criticism—it has a driving beat that is addictive and also presents a calmer aura than you may feel in a typical K-Pop release, which often goes in many different directions at once. The song is in English and repeats a number of phrases, as if to drive home the uncertain nature of the lyrics.

The music video is a whole intensive story, the type of immersive narrative that is definitely not the main focus of many K-Pop comebacks. Yerin herself is not present in the video, instead employing a number of actors with the main focus being a younger woman who introduces herself as what appears to be a vampire at the opening of the video. The performative video definitely has a number of strong metaphors that may take a few views to begin to unravel, but it truly showcases the artistic talents of Yerin and Blue Vinyl’s production quality. The type of story in this eight-minute video definitely is not everyone’s cup of tea and has a very indie feel to it, but if you enjoy ambiguous storylines and deeper meaning within videography, you will probably have a good time trying to decipher all that goes into this video.

“Hate you” was released three days later and this time features Yerin in the video. The lyrics are particularly powerful in contrast to the indie beat. Yerin speaks angrily about a man who has wronged her and her disgust with her own lingering feelings for him, full of expletives in a way we never see from mainstream Korean singers. The bluntness of the cursing helps to drive home the authenticity of the track and makes it particularly relatable, at least from our perspective. 

The video is set in a hotel, beginning with Yerin in her room before moving into what appears to be a ballroom. About halfway through the video, she walks into an artistic offshoot room that totally contrasts the antique feel of the other set locations with a more modern black and white feel. She appears to confront a younger, more innocent version of herself, perhaps the self before meeting the man this song is directed at.

telllusaboutyourself

The album features 14 tracks total, kicking off with “Lovegame,” featuring a warm and relaxing vibe similar to “0415.” “you’re so lonely now, so you need me back by your side again” starts with a dreamier vibe, a haunting aura building toward the chorus that has a very unique sound, especially mixed with Yerin’s vocals. It quickly catches the listener’s attention, and the way the melody blends with Yerin’s unique tone is quite addicting. “I am not your ocean anymore” shifts to a more ‘80s-influenced sound, reminiscent of something retro like Toto but with a modern twist. It’s a very interesting combination that may give older listeners somewhat of a nostalgic feeling. “Hall&Oates” follows, the title likely a tribute to the ‘70s rock duo (at least that’s how we interpreted it). The song is much more subdued, with a soft melody that places heavy emphasis on Yerin’s vocals and is so light it almost feels as if no tempo exists. The song lasts less than three minutes, so it feels like a very meaningful track with a tinge of nostalgia. “Ms. Delicate” reintroduces the type of beat we hear in “Lovegame” but with a bit of a retro twist, which is followed by a more R&B sound in “Interlude,” a track with a melancholy undertone. 

“Loner” keeps with the more mellow tone but has an interesting melody that uses accidentals to present somewhat of an unsettling atmosphere for the song. “HOMESWEETHOME” goes back to a more upbeat dance track with an addictive melodic line, a fairly refreshing addition after the more mellow tracks. “Loveless” introduces more subtle R&B rhythms and a type of lofi feel that blends well with Yerin’s unique tone. “I’ll be your family!” follows the two tracks we discussed at the beginning of the article, presenting a faster tempo and more upbeat aura than the other tracks on the album, matching up to the happy feeling in “HOMESWEETHOME.” “I’m in love” is another relaxing track that has an effect of Yerin’s vocals seeming distant, which makes the rhythm a bit more prominent compared to the other tracks. And finally the album concludes with “Bubbles&Mushrooms,” the only track on the album featuring Korean lyrics in the opening and a more upbeat, jazzy type of sound with a unique melody. 

Yerin Baek definitely has a unique type of sound that may not be everyone’s favorite, but there’s no doubt that she brings a very distinct artistic talent to the Korean music scene that is very uniquely her own. If you need a good, relaxing album to vibe with after a particularly hard day, telllusaboutyourself might just be the perfect remedy.