YAELOKRE

If you've ever felt that 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 into 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. All three of these elements are crafted by this one artist alone.

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 Seymour, Clémente Dearworth, Peregrine August, and Kingsley. They perform as representatives of The Harkers, mythical beings who express the fundamental principles of nature, wonder and chaos. Yaelokre voices all of the different characters within their universe.

This immersive, escapist story is 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. As Yaelokre explains: "Their stories are a way for me to cut myself up into pieces, so I can tackle the smaller issues easily rather than going full-on into the big problems straight-up. This project revolves around lessons that I've learned from life, and each song has a lesson."

Those recurring lessons vary in nature, but 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-m..."