From NME · · 1m 30s
Keath Ósk’s New Sound
Keath Ósk shifts from Yaelokre’s folk-pop to a bolder sound with 'Foreword'.
In brief
Keath Ósk shifts from Yaelokre’s folk-pop to a bolder sound with 'Foreword'. Keath Ósk releases 'Foreword' to bridge their Yaelokre and Keath Ósk projects, emphasizing creative freedom. Originally reported by NME.
Keath Ósk’s passion
Keath Ósk says they’re so passionate about their music that they clap and rock their hands to their chest.
“I’m so passionate about this!”
Yaelokre’s chair video
Yaelokre’s music video 'And The Hound' shows two characters with conflicting feelings about a chair.
“One sits coolly and sings, while the other dances and resists the furniture, at one point terrified and crying when they find themself seated.”
Yaelokre’s origin
Yaelokre began in 2024 with Keath Ósk’s Filipino-Icelandic music, gaining TikTok success within months.
“They began to release music as Yaelokre in 2024 and, within months, had broken out on TikTok”
Meadowlark world
Meadowlark is an intricate fantasy world created by Keath Ósk in childhood journals, featuring masked children and folklore.
“The songs follow four masked children, each voiced differently by Ósk, through tales of fleeing antelopes (‘Hartebeest’), plucky baby hares and goats (‘Kid & Leveret’), and half-human, half-hare mothers burying their infants (‘Harpy Hare’).”
Yaelokre’s impact
Yaelokre has 242 million Spotify streams and fans create their own stories in Meadowlark costumes.
“‘Harpy Hare’, their most-streamed track on Spotify with 242million plays”
Keath Ósk’s background
Keath Ósk was born in Cavite, Philippines, to a single mother, and adopted an Icelandic father at age 10.
“Ósk was born and raised the only child of a single mum in the Philippine province of Cavite”
Yaelokre’s evolution
Keath Ósk transformed Meadowlark stories into folk-pop songs under Yaelokre, starting with school performances.
“They recall performing songs at school assemblies during Linggo ng Wika (Filipino language week) as early as age three.”
Foreword album
‘Foreword’ features re-recordings of 11 Yaelokre songs and a Bonnie Tyler cover, released under Atlantic Records.
“‘Foreword’, which features re-recordings of 11 Yaelokre songs and a Bonnie Tyler cover track”
Keath Ósk’s new sound
Keath Ósk shifts to a bolder sound with brass, jazz, and hip-hop arrangements for ‘Foreword’.
“They enlist south London producer Jack Hardman, aka Good Dog, to add trumpets, trombones and soft keys”
Creative identity
Keath Ósk says their music as Yaelokre was for them alone, but as Keath Ósk it’s an escape from that control.
“The reason I didn’t want to sit in the video is because it represents this controlled image of who I am. But I proved myself wrong because I’m actually not held in the chair. I have the control and freedom.”
Tour plans
Keath Ósk’s Yaelokre tour starts tonight in Belgium with three months of European and North American dates.
“True to form, Ósk kicks off the current Yaelokre tour in Belgium tonight (October 7), with three months of dates across Europe and North America planned.”
The big picture
Keath Ósk releases 'Foreword' to bridge their Yaelokre and Keath Ósk projects, emphasizing creative freedom.
