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Since launching her solo career in 2024, South-Korean popstar Yves has taken ownership over what her music can, and should, sound like. Her new project NAIL is an ambitious dance-pop experience that speaks volumes, both with and without words. As someone not entirely familiar with her work in LOONA, I was recently introduced to Yves from her appearance on underscores’s “Do It (Remix)”, which was the perfect preparation for diving into this intriguing new project. 

When you’re in a group, your individual freedom is suppressed by nature. In NAIL, Yves embodies the music entirely to the point where even when she’s not singing, she’s communicating the internal message. The project has moments of both abstract and straightforward delivery, strengthening its thesis. The record opens with “it”, a track that primes listeners for a mixture of industrial beats and Yves’s tender vocal performance that works beautifully in tandem. With exquisite use of distortion and a spaced-out beat, the track is both dreamy and intense. It introduces her sound by keeping the music unpredictable but not abrasive, something that shouldn’t make sense but does. 

The following track “HALO” brings the energy up by focusing on the production, letting vocals take a backseat. But don’t be fooled, this track still has something to say. Over a deliciously subdued house beat, Yves uses repetition to enter a trance-like state. It’s clear this is an artist who knows the value of creating a vibe instead of having to explicitly say it through so many words. The transition from “HALO” to the project’s title track is essential to highlight, as it took my breath away (literally). Just as the trance feels impossible to escape, there’s the sound of a door opening to another room, leaving the music behind and creating a 4D experience for the listener. We hear exasperated heavy breathing that perfectly sets up what comes next. 

“NAIL (feat. Lolo Zouaï)” is the thesis statement of the EP, which makes sense for a title track. Over a disjointed computer beat, there’s a whispered demand: “Stop taking my picture”. This lyric changes everything. This track focuses on freeing one's mind and letting your body do the feeling instead. It’s communicated with so much confidence that you have no choice but to agree. It’s a true standout track with so many layers, which means it can be taken as deep or as simple as you want to perceive it. 

With “NAIL (feat. Lolo Zouaï)” and “Break it (feat. Lexie Liu) back to back on the tracklist, one thing is for certain: although Yves has shed her girl group past, she still works wonderfully with a female vocalist to bounce off of. The second collaboration on this project is the most traditional pop song on the record, but still strays from expectation in exciting ways. It’s only right to add a song about breaking the rules, which Yves has done consistently throughout this EP and her solo career. 

The final track on this record is also aptly named, and acts as a final release in this complex soundscape of an EP. “birth” feels like breathing, with a high pitched melody that floats above the clouds. Fans of oklou will undoubtedly connect with this one, and appreciate the personal twist Yves offers on the beloved computer-pop sound that’s become classic over the past few years. There’s a melancholy to this one, mixed with airy vocals and production that combat the sensitivity with letting go. It’s a beautiful way to close out the project. 

As an introduction to the world of Yves, NAIL is about as perfect as you can get. All of the elements come together to create something entirely her own, never comprising creativity and personal expression in any moment. The focus on bodily sensation tells us more about her artistic point of view than words can sometimes convey, which creates a closeness between the listener and artist. This record is another fabulous addition to the ever-evolving “hyper-pop” genre, and a testament to the late SOPHIE’s everlasting impact. Thankfully, Yves is making it entirely her own.

Listen to the NAIL below: