The crisp outside air shifted into a rush of agreeable warmth as the crowd started walking briskly into the small venue for the night. The Belasco greeted attendees with its florid decorations inspired by 16th Century artistic styles, embellishing the theater with a euphony of ancient aesthetics and contemporary acoustics that mark The Belasco as an ideal landmark venue. 

Waiting for the show to start was not wearisome, but rather translated into nervous anticipation. This seemed to be the consensus, as the attendees filing in contributed to the low buzz of excitement filling the atmosphere. 

The pre-concert music by singer-songwriter Baek Yerin herself created a blissful ambiance, and the digital tracks were followed by a brief, yet flamboyant, instrumental performance by the artist’s talented concomitant band. With each minute ticking by, energetic murmurs gradually filled the site. The dimming of the purple lights brought darkness, and cheers filled the room, growing louder as Baek Yerin––the star of the night––moved to center stage and into the audience’s view.

The unique blend of genres, styles, and tones in Baek Yerin’s music is utterly one of a kind. Instantly captivating the audience with “Lovegame” from her 2020 album tellusaboutyourself, Baek Yerin took over the house. The opening track soon transitioned into “You’re so lonely now, so you need me back by your side again,” a groovy track exuding mystical vibes. The deep house and R&B-influenced track “Hate you” was amplified by the artist’s exquisitely rich vocals, fostering a captivating stage presence. This was followed by impeccable live performances of tracks from tellusaboutyourself, such as “Ms. Delicate,” “I am not your ocean anymore,” and “HOMESWEETHOME,” to name a few.

With an acoustic guitar, Yerin then made her way to sit down on the left side of the stage, greeting fans with a lovely smile. Performing “can i b u” from her album Every letter I sent you, the track spread a sense of deep comfort to the audience with its stripped-down sound due to minimal instrumentation.

Heading into the latter half of the show, the star consecutively sang her more prominent tracks––“Bye bye my blue,” “Maybe It’s Not Our Fault,” and “Popo (How deep is our love?).” 

The following succinct track “Amy” (a tribute to Amy Winehouse) launched a wave of sorrowful emotions as Yerin proceeded to express a more mellow sound through “True lover.”

Yerin’s ethereal voice accompanied by her lovely dance amplified the performer’s dainty charms, especially in the rhythmic stage of “Our love is great.” Meanwhile, “Pisces” became the turning point in brightening the mood, as the upbeat sound of this modern rock track evoked a refreshing sense of soothing peacefulness. 

Yerin’s angelic voice whispered the weight of expectations as she performed “0310,” a slightly gloomy track that settled the lifting mood in the house with its light ballad sound. Continuing to carry the calm atmosphere, the artist’s dreamy voice stood out even more in the subdued melody of the track “Hall&Oates,” and “0415” showcased its dual quality of a sorrow-inducing-yet-upbeat rhythm that brought fans to vibe with the captivating performance of the band on stage.  

Not ready to end the night without hearing more of the singer’s iconic tracks, fans one by one found themselves slipping into the encore ritual as they began shouting “Square (2017).” Returning to the stage, Yerin blessed attendees with her beloved track “Bubbles&Mushrooms” and the grand finale, “Square (2017).”

Experimenting with soft rock sounds while taking R&B in various directions, Yerin’s creative capacity to make stories of memories and vulnerability into her strengths as an artist is simply stunning. The solo artist’s wonderful harmony with her talented band truly touched the hearts of everyone present, enveloping the audience in a warm embrace. This show was one that left stirrings of subtle exuberance lasting for the rest of the night, and it was all encapsulated in a two-hour daydream. 

Kicking off the grand beginning in Atlanta’s Center Stage venue, Baek Yerin is heading toward her last few stops on her first North American tour.

On behalf of The Kraze, thank you to KOHAI for having us at The Belasco in Los Angeles. We hope to see Baek Yerin back in the States soon!