A
A hammer has the power to both destroy and repair. On the front of her first album, With a Hammer, Yaeji confidently holds her own mallet. Despite her calm expression, the cheeky smirk drawn on the tool suggests a mischievous intent. Will she use it to build or demolish? Her inviting glance over the shoulder beckons us to join her and see for ourselves.
Yaeji’s first complete album, With a Hammer, marks the beginning of her musical career. Despite being 30 years old, she gained recognition in New York’s underground club scene during her 20s as a singer, producer, and DJ. She also made a few appearances in the mainstream with hits like “Raingurl” and her cover of Drake’s “Passionfruit.” With the release of With a Hammer, Yaeji showcases a new and improved musical style.
Yaeji, who grew up in the US and South Korea, has expressed feeling alienated in both countries due to not fully fitting into their cultures. She created her album With a Hammer during the pandemic, a time when there was a 77% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in the US. Yaeji has shared that this period allowed her to confront her painful past. While producing the album, she kept a real hammer close by in the studio, which is reflected in the album’s themes of defense and attack. With a combination of 13 songs in both English and Korean, Yaeji reflects on a lifetime of emotional pain, confusion, and resentment. In her Korean rap on “Fever”, she questions why Asian individuals are constantly expected to apologize and shrink themselves, referencing the sexual fetishization of Asian people by non-Asian individuals. She also uses her music as a platform for advocating social change, as seen in the catchy chorus of “Done (Let’s Get It)”, where she chants for action and freedom.
Yaeji’s songs are emotionally charged, but her production is restrained and often minimalistic. The album opens with Submerge FM, featuring a flute that resembles the sound of birds singing, followed by a steady drum beat and Yaeji’s soft whispers as if she is confessing secrets. In With a Hammer, Yaeji draws more influence from pop structures compared to her previous EPs, incorporating synths, woodwind instruments, and polished vocal melodies. The lyrics are sung like mantras, but there are moments of vulnerability, such as in I’ll Remember for Me, I’ll Remember for You, where Yaeji sings in a whisper about the bond between two people who don’t share the same language. The song is delicately cradled by the sound of brass instruments.
Ignore the advertisement for the newsletter.
after newsletter promotion
However, there are times when words fail to fully convey a feeling. This is evident in Passed Me By, where the artist sings a chorus that transcends language and consists solely of wordless sound. In the latter half of the album, Yaeji collaborates with other musicians, such as Baltimore-born Nourished by Time on Happy and British electronic artist Loraine James on 1 Thing to Smash, expanding her musical world and embracing community. With With a Hammer, Yaeji turns a painful history into a source of creativity, and on the titular track, she releases the built-up tension. “There were days when I gave up and hid behind a mask,” she sings in a quiet tone. But now, she declares that it’s time to wake up from her dream. Yaeji acknowledges that healing takes time and recognizes the healing power of music. And finally, she is prepared to move forward once again.
Source: theguardian.com
