Yaeji
Birth nameKathy Yaeji Lee
Born (1993-08-06) August 6, 1993
New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • singer
  • music producer
Years active2016–present
Labels
  • Godmode
  • XL
Websiteyaeji.com

Kathy Yaeji Lee (Korean: 이예지; RR: I Ye-ji;, born August 6, 1993),[1] known professionally as Yaeji, is an American singer, DJ, and producer based in Brooklyn, New York City. Her style blends elements of house music and hip hop with mellow, quiet vocals sung in both English and Korean.[2]

Early life

Kathy Yaeji Lee was born August 6, 1993, in Flushing, Queens, as a single child in a Korean family.[3] She moved from New York to Atlanta when she was 5, and then to South Korea in the third grade.[2] While living in South Korea, Yaeji switched between different international schools on a yearly basis, leading her to find friends on the Internet, where she would first discover music.[3] She also briefly attended school in Japan before moving back to Korea.[4]

Yaeji eventually moved back to the United States to study conceptual art, East Asian studies, and graphic design at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.[5] She embraced DJing as a hobby while attending Carnegie Mellon, crediting the afterhours electronic music dance party Hot Mass with her "indoctrination into nightlife."[6][7] Yaeji learned how to use Traktor and began DJing at house parties. She DJed for two years before learning Ableton, making her own music[8] and debuting on Carnegie Mellon's college radio station WRCT.[9] Yaeji graduated from Carnegie Mellon in 2015.[4]

Career

After graduation, Yaeji moved back to New York City to get involved in the music scene and to DJ.[8] Her first single, "New York '93", referring to her year of birth, was issued on the New York City label Godmode on February 29, 2016,[10][11][12] followed by a cover of "Guap" by Australian DJ Mall Grab that May.[13] She had previously uploaded songs to SoundCloud, although they were removed; this included "Areyouami", which was released when she was at college.[3]

Her debut eponymous EP, including both prior singles, was released by Godmode on March 31, 2017.[14]

She began to gain attention following her first Boiler Room session in May 2017, which involved a remix of Drake's single "Passionfruit".[15][16][17][3] The song was later released officially on Godmode's SoundCloud page.[18] The first of several stand-alone singles, "Therapy" was issued in July 2017,[19] followed by a two-track digital single, Remixes, Vol. 1, on August 1[20] and the "Last Breath" single on August 28.[21] The music video for the single "Drink I'm Sippin On" was released on 88rising's YouTube channel in October 2017, quickly gaining over one million views in two weeks.[22] On November 3, 2017, Yaeji released her second EP, EP2, to positive reviews[23][24] and moderate commercial success.[25] The video for "Raingurl" was released on November 16.[26]

Yaeji was named to the BBC's Sound of 2018 longlist in November 2017.[27][28] She also performed at the 2018 Coachella Festival.[29]

In 2021, "Raingurl" made it into New York Times's T magazine Spotify playlist, "Right Here: Asian Women Artists in the West."[30] She also performed at BRIC's Celebrate Brooklyn! music festival, where she was rushed by fans.[31]

A year after her release of "What We Drew", and a year into the global COVID-19 pandemic, Yaeji released her first collaborative work with Korean Indie band front man Oh Hyuk of Hyukoh. The release consisted two tracks: "Year to Year" and "29". Despite being artists of different genres, both artists were able to rediscover the joy that they feel when creating music because of the collaboration.[32] Her debut album, With a Hammer, was released in April 2023.[33] The lead single, "For Granted", was released in January 2023.[34] "Done (Let's Get It)" followed in February 2023.[35] Yaeji performed at Coachella 2023.[36]

Personal life

Yaeji currently lives in Brooklyn.[1]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
World
[37]
With a Hammer 13

Mixtapes

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
World
[38]		 UK
Breakers
[39]
What We Drew 우리가 그려왔던 1215

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title EP details Peak positions
US
Elec.
Sales
[40]
Yaeji
  • Released: March 31, 2017
  • Formats: Digital download
 —
EP2
  • Released: November 3, 2017
  • Formats: Digital download
 5

Singles

List of singles
Title Year Album
"New York '93" 2016 Yaeji
"Guap"
"Noonside" 2017
"Feel It Out"
"Therapy" Non-album single
"Passionfruit" EP2
"Drink I'm Sippin On"
"Raingurl"
"One More" 2018 Non-album single
"Waking Up Down" 2020 What We Drew 우리가 그려왔던
"What We Drew 우리가 그려왔던"
"PAC-TIVE" 2021 Non-album singles
"Year to Year / 29"
"For Granted" 2023 With a Hammer
"Done (Let's Get It)"
"Passed Me By"
Title Year Album
"Swim Me"
(Ellie Herring featuring Yaeji)		 2016 What a Joy
"Drink Redux"
(DJ OG Uncle Skip featuring Yaeji)		 2018 East vs. West
"February 2017"
(Charli XCX featuring Clairo and Yaeji)		 2019 Charli

Remixes

Title Year Remixed Artist(s)
"Leave Me Alone (Yaeji Remix)" 2017 Calypso Rose feat. Manu Chao
"Betty Than I Would (Yaeji Remix)" 2017 Tomas Barfod
"With You (Yaeji Remix)" 2017 The Range & Jim-E Stack
"Focus (Yaeji Remix)"[41] 2018 Charli XCX
"Beach 2K20 (Yaeji Remix)" 2019 Robyn
"Don't Start Now (Yaeji Remix)" 2020 Dua Lipa

Videos

  • "New York '93" (2016)
  • "Guap" (2016)
  • "Noonside" (2017)
  • "Feel It Out" (2017)
  • "Therapy" (2017)
  • "Last Breath" (2017)
  • "Drink I'm Sippin On" (2017)
  • "Raingurl" (2017)
  • "One More" (2018)
  • "Waking Up Down" (2020)
  • "What We Drew 우리가 그려왔던" (2020)
  • "For Granted" (2023)
  • "Done (Let's Get It)" (2023)
  • "Passed Me By" (2023)

References

  1. 1 2 Pollard, Alexandra (December 8, 2017). "Singer/rapper Yaeji: 'I was pretty shy about using my voice'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Lozano, Kevin (October 24, 2017). "Meet Yaeji, House Music's Most Exciting New Voice". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Yaeji – A visual artist and house musician finally finds a home in New York City – Loud And Quiet". Loud And Quiet. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  4. 1 2 "School of Art | Carnegie Mellon University Kathy Lee BHA '15 (aka Yaeji) Profiled by Interview Magazine". Art.cmu.edu. November 6, 2017. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  5. ↑ Dazed (November 1, 2017). "Yaeji's contemplative club music is bringing people together". Dazed. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  6. ↑ Kim, Michelle (October 14, 2020). "How Yaeji Found Her Voice". Mixmag Asia. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  7. ↑ Posner, Nina (October 1, 2020). "Yaeji: All Together Now". Crack Magazine. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Shut Up and Listen". Shut Up and Listen. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Korean-American producer Yaeji brings whispers to the dancefloor – Interview Magazine". Interview Magazine. November 6, 2017. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Video: Yaeji – "New York 93"". +Recommended Listen. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  11. ↑ ""New York '93" by Yaeji Review – Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Yaeji – New York 93 (Single Version) [GODMODE]". Archived from the original on November 1, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Video: Yaeji – "Guap" (Mall Grab Cover)". +Recommended Listen. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Yaeji – Yaeji". Discogs. March 31, 2017. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  15. ↑ "2 Chainz shares new video for "Proud"". The FADER. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Yaeji – Passionfruit". GORILLA VS. BEAR. May 22, 2017. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Yaeji – Passionfruit | Top New Chill | We Are The Guard". October 2, 2017. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Listen: Yaeji – Passionfruit (Drake Cover)". Huhmagazine.co.uk. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  19. ↑ ""Therapy" by Yaeji Review – Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Yaeji – Remixes, Vol. 1". Discogs. August 2017. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  21. ↑ "yaeji – last breath". August 28, 2017. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Yaeji Breaks Down "Drink I'm Sippin On" For Genius' Video Series 'Verified'". Genius. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  23. ↑ Geffen, Sasha (November 7, 2017). "Yaeji: EP2". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Yaeji – EP2". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Billboard Dance Chart Upstarts: Ookay & Fox Stevenson, Lauren Taveras & Yaeji". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  26. ↑ "the video for yaeji's raingurl is a study on introspection in the club. watch it here!". I-d. November 16, 2017. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Sound of 2018: The Longlist". BBC Music. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  28. ↑ "BBC reveals its Sound of 2018 longlist". The Guardian. November 27, 2017. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  29. ↑ Tietjen, Alexa (April 12, 2018). "10 Emerging Acts to See This Weekend at Coachella". Wwd.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Right Here: Asian Women Artists in the West". Spotify. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  31. ↑ "YAEJI, San Fermin, and Broadway's Best bring in Week 5 of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival". BRIC. August 31, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Yaeji and Oh Hyuk Share New Songs "Year to Year" and "29"". Pitchfork. October 27, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  33. ↑ Torres, Eric (January 11, 2023). "Yaeji Announces Debut Album With a Hammer". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  34. ↑ Hong, Michael. "Yaeji: For Granted (Review)". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  35. ↑ Ismael Ruiz, Matthew (February 23, 2023). "Yaeji Shares Video for New Song "Done (Let's Get It)": Watch". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Coachella 2023 Weekend 2 Lineup & Schedule: All the Set Times You Need to Know". Pitchfork. April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  37. ↑ "World Albums: Week of April 22, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  38. ↑ "World Albums: Week of April 18, 2020". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Official Independent Album Breakers Chart Top 20". OfficialCharts.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  40. ↑ Murray, Gordon (November 16, 2017). "Billboard Dance Chart Upstarts: Ookay & Fox Stevenson, Lauren Taveras & Yaeji" Archived May 18, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Yaeji Remixes Charli XCX's "Focus": Her first release since last year's EP2". Pitchfork. September 21, 2018. Archived from the original on September 22, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

Further reading

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