Newly signed Atlantic Records artist, Yaelokre, returns with their new single, “To douse a scalded tongue” - Listen HERE.

If you ever feel as if music has lost its capacity for surprise, the beguiling wonder and infinite creativity of Yaelokre will respark your belief. The Filipino-Icelandic artist - real name Keath Ósk (they/it) - fuses three imaginative strands to their visionary expression: intimate, innocent folk infused with leftfield surrealism and instant pop accessibility; artwork which is intricately detailed and beautifully alluring; and storytelling which brings personal experience and poetry into rich, fable-like narratives. What’s more, all three of these elements are crafted by this one artist…a truly unique creative polymath.

The scale of the fantastical world they have created is vast, both in terms of narrative and lore. But its essence is relatively simple. The songs are set in the fictional world of Meadowlark and chart the adventures of four masked children who comprise a musical ensemble known as The Lark: Cole, Clémente, Peregrine, and Kingsley. They perform as representatives of The Harkers, mythical beings who express the fundamental principles of nature, wonder, and chaos. What’s more, Yaelokre voices all of the different characters within their universe.

Yaelokre will also be releasing a new EP this autumn called Origins.  A prologue of sorts, each song will represent one character from the musical ensemble and their background, recognizing their signature sounds and identity, and allowing the audience to become familiar with the lessons each individual hopes to portray.

On their new single, “To douse a scalded tongue,” Yaelokre delves into the character, Peregrine, evoking vivid, poetic imagery and a slow-building emotional intensity. They explain… “It’s a realization that children are raised with the expectations of being grateful to the point that it renders negative emotions; which are supposedly natural, to be a sign of dissent. This song was written as a reminder that we cannot truly combat how we react because it is within our nature to feel. Simply; we eat as we are hungry. The more I performed it live, the louder the track got; in comparison to the demo, a voice paired with a guitar, it felt easy for me to adjust to its new sound. A type of aggression, that again, felt so natural. Harmony in the chaos of it all.”

Their immersive, escapist stories are largely inspired by Yaelokre’s own life. The four Larks represent different stages of their childhood, and writing their songs felt cathartic for their creator. “This project revolves around lessons that I’ve learned from life.” Those recurring lessons vary in nature, but those wisdoms all feel like universal truths. “The main lesson is to listen, be kind, and spread compassion. Be courageous. Do not let yourself be fenced in. Chaos is natural, and it’s not always a bad thing. You have to mind the past so you can find a better future. You need to be open-minded. And most importantly, you need to live in the moment: now is more important than anything.”‍

And while on first listen there’s a childlike innocence to the project, you only need to scratch the surface of its lyrics to reveal flashes of gothic horror which reflect the savagery of the natural world.

While that’s all fascinating, you may also feel that from what we’ve revealed that Yaelokre’s artistry is for a very niche audience. This couldn’t be more wrong. Since debuting the project in January 2024, Yaelkore has released seven tracks, which have already amassed 180 million streams on Spotify. Their following is also fervently passionate, with huge engagement at TikTok from their 1.5 million followers, a vast 50-page fan-created Wiki, and a subreddit packed with theories, fan art, and cosplay.

The potential for Yaelokre is plain to see, its arresting hybrid of music, imagery, and folklore both lending itself to a wide range of artistic mediums and making for a live show quite unlike anything else - a tour is to be announced soon. For Keath, Yaelokre presents an opportunity to fulfil multiple ambitions via one artistic outlet. Welcome to the fantastical world of this 16th-century minstrel recast into the streaming age.

Yaelokre recently announced their debut global tour, “Foreword”, which sold out within days (full dates below). In the lead-up to the tour, they offered a taste of what’s to come with a surprise intimate performance at Brighton’s Folklore Rooms, where they unveiled their evocative parables in song to a room of devoted fans. More to come.

Foreword Tour 2025 – UK, Europe & US (All dates now SOLD OUT)

UK & Ireland:
September 15 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
September 16 – Manchester, UK – The Deaf Institute
September 17 – Edinburgh, UK – The Caves
September 19 – Dublin, Ireland – The Grand Social
September 21 – Bristol, UK – Thekla
September 22 – London, UK – The Tabernacle
September 23 – London, UK – The Tabernacle
September 24 – London, UK – The Tabernacle

Europe:
September 26 – Brussels, Belgium – Witloof Bar
September 28 – Paris, France – La Maroquinerie
September 30 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
October 2 – Cologne, Germany – Luxor
October 3 – Copenhagen, Denmark – DR Studie 2
October 5 – Hamburg, Germany – Kent Club
October 6 – Berlin, Germany – Theater am Delphi
October 8 – Warsaw, Poland – Niebo
October 10 – Prague, Czechia – MeetFactory

United States:
October 28 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
October 30 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis
November 1 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
November 2 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
November 3 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
November 5 – Woodstock, NY – Colony
November 7 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
November 8 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
November 13 – Seattle, WA – Barboza
November 14 – Portland, OR – Holocene
November 15 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent (Early Show)
November 15 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent (Late Show)
November 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Masonic Lodge
November 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Masonic Lodge
November 22 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’

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