Yerin Baek Meets PEEJAY: A Two-Track Spell You Can’t Shake
Photo: Blue Vinyl
Yerin Baek (백예린) is back at her smoothest: she released her first single as a solo artist after over two years, I MET PEEJAY, which is exactly that—the result of a jazzy collaboration with the infamous producer PEEJAY.
Published on May 7, the double-track single marks the return of her signature soulful vocals, blended with PEEJAY’s slick, jazz-infused production. Prepared to be obsessed, because it’s a powerful combo—and it might be worth noting that only last year, that same producer regaled us with another infectious single, Lee Youngji’s “Small Girl” (feat. D.O. from EXO).
But let’s dig a bit more into this Surprise Of The Week. The first track, “1-4-3”, as in “I love you”, is sung completely in English, performed with the soft, silky smooth vocal style that made Yerin Baek famous. It’s a song about the wonder of finding someone who loves you back, someone who thinks the world of you and encourages you to see yourself through their eyes. The melody is simple, lingering in your mind from the very first verse.
Then we have the other track, “Seeking happy in the crowd.” Also sung in English, it carries a slightly bitter tone. While maintaining a laid-back atmosphere, it leans into groovier textures. Baek’s music has always been introspective, and this song is no exception. She voices the questions people ask her, the questions she asks the crowd, and those she asks herself. It's a fragmented meditation on identity and the weight of societal expectations, clocking in at less than a minute and a half.
On May 7, Yerin Baek wrote a lengthy post on her Instagram page, commenting on the release of the single: “Hello! It’s been a while since I’ve greeted you not as the front person of a band, but as solo artist Yerin Baek.” The singer had released her previous single, “New Year” in 2023 and mostly spent the time in between with the rock band she co-founded in 2018, The Volunteers (with other two musicians, Jonny -곽민혁; and Kim Chiheon- 김치헌).
In the same post, she added: “After running down joyful roads with my band members, and even though it was tough, it was rewarding. Before I knew it, it’s already been two years and four months since I last did solo activities… haha”. She then thanked her fans for allowing her to keep making music and for waiting patiently.
Lastly she wrote about overcoming personal struggles and insecurities thanks to the people in her personal and professional life: “Also, thanks to the many conversations and music shared with producer PEEJAY, the many friends who are helping by my side, and everyone at our company, I think I was able to find courage again. I believe all the changes during that time have become good winds, guiding all of us toward a better path”. She concluded with a message of gratitude and love for her fans: “Thank you once again for waiting for me! I ask for your continued support. My fans, I love you as always”.
Yerin Baek, born in Daejeon in 1997, debuted in 2012 as one half of the duo 15& (with Park Jimin, 박지민), under JYP Entertainment, and kept making music with her colleague until 2019. In 2015, however, she started her solo career with the EP Frank, produced by Gooreum (구름) from the indie band Bye Bye Badman (바이 바이 배드맨), that was featured in the previous #SotW. She gained popularity with songs such as “Bye Bye My Blue” and the album Our Love Is Great, which won Album of the Year and Best Pop Album at the 2020 Korean Music Awards. She is also well-known thanks to super famous K-drama OSTs, such as “Here I Am” from Crash Landing On You (2019).
Her music is a unique blend of R&B and jazz, spiced up by indie rock elements. It’s a very distinctive mix that serves as the context for candid lyricism, delivered with her signature soulful, sensually soft, and alluring vocals. Now, Yerin Baek has brought it all back onto the scene, refined by PEEJAY’s intuitive production, which elevates without overpowering. Are you ready to fall under her spell?
Edited by Sandy Ou