Ukrainian-American singer-songwriter Yevae has done a lot of hard thinking about how to move the crowd, and she’s put those observations into practice on a series of dizzying disco-pop singles. She’s also determined to take things deeper than many artists are willing to go. Through her writing, she’s confronted issues of trust, betrayal, mental health, healing, self-determination, and autonomy, and through her videos, she’s brought those visions to life with clarity and conviction.
Yevae’s latest songs, ‘Wings’, and ‘I Run To You’ are both sleek and delightful club tracks, designed to get everyone onto the dance floor. But they’re also pieces of confessional pop with powerful, clear-eyed lyrics meant to resonate with anyone facing a personal challenge. Take away the propulsive beats and the shimmering synths, and play these songs on an acoustic guitar, and they could fit snugly into an intimate set in a coffee house or pub. This is the secret to Yevae’s success and her profound connection with her growing audience: she may encourage her listeners to dance, but she also feels their pain.
Both ‘Wings’ and ‘I Run To You’ are paired with gorgeous music videos which reinforce their serious themes and, at the same time, make the warmth and playfulness of Yevae’s personality obvious. The clip for ‘Wings’ confronts the struggle for control within a romantic relationship – but it’s also quite funny, and Yevae’s lively, fully embodied performance sweetens the darker overtones of the narrative. We see Yevae and her boyfriend on a whirlwind date, and the sudden, unexpected transitions between scenes reflect the rush of romantic love and the feeling of destabilisation that can come from a bad relationship. It takes courage for Yevae’s character to break away from a man who isn’t right for her, but once she takes wing, it’s clear she’s destined for better places. ‘I Run To You’ is a slightly older song – the single was released in 2020. But the video similarly contains messages of perseverance, suicide prevention, and attentiveness to the psychological state of those we care for are, sadly, always timely.
Watch the videos below and find out more about Yevae and her music online on Instagram.
