With support from Ouri

By: Sun Noor

Nearly five years since her first club show in Montreal, Yaeji returned to the Corona Theater, this time in support of her debut album, With a Hammer. In many ways the record captures the New-York based artist’s transformation over the past few years. The multi-faceted body of work undoubtedly plays as an ode to self-expression and Yaeji’s let her imagination run free on this tour.

Montreal-based composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist Ouri supported the tour, playing solo this time around. The multi-disciplinarian gradually build up momentum during her set. She took center-stage under a fluorescent blue light, opening her set with a warm and alluring cello-assisted composition. From her atmospheric cuts to her more up-tempo songs, Ouri delivered an emotive and beautiful performance.

Yaeji’s music has always found salvation on the dancefloor. However, choreography was at the forefront this time around. Alongside dancer’s Iliana Penichet-Ramirez and Madison Wada, the musician treated her audience to a different kind of live show. Each track was assisted with a unique interpretive dance number, reminiscent of ’90s-era pop stars.

With A Hammer refuses to harbour negative energy, embracing rage in such a raw manner. The record dances around various themes regarding transformation. Yaeji alternates between Korean and English-language lyrics, as a way to express herself more clearly. She also departs from her notable house-influenced sound, exploring a more experimental palette through harsher tones. Presenting this body of work on stage in all its glory, Yaeji fully immersed herself in the music, delivering a captivating performance. Some of the most notable moments of the show featured the artist swirling around the stage with an office chair and wielding around out an inflatable hammer.

Towards the end of her set, Yaeji took the time to thank her attentive audience with a heartfelt speech, reminiscing of her first tour and earliest Montreal appearance in the same theatre. From appearing timid behind her DJ booth to incorporating more choreography into the mix, she’s definitely grown significantly as an artist. One thing that’s for sure is that Yaeji has definitely entered her pop star era.

Set List:

• “Submerge FM”
• “For Granted”
• “29”
• “With A Hammer”
• “WAKING UP DOWN”
• “Fever”
• “Ready or Not”
• “Passed Me By”
• “Michin”
• “THE TH1NG”
• “IN THE MIRROR”
• “Raingurl”
• “Happy”
• “Done (Let’s Get It)”

Encore:

• “One More”
• “Drink I’m Sippin On”

Check out the rest of Yaeji’s tour dates here.

Here are more photos from the show: