In a year that has seen her headline dates across Australia, tour through the US withPLAYLUNCH, perform at Los Angeles’ iconic Viper Room and earn a slot on the Vans Warped Tour, Sydney-born, LA-based artist YAGKI now reveals her long-awaited sophomore EP, ‘Sleepwalking’.
A collection of songs plucked from the depths of her psyche, ‘Sleepwalking’ moves chronologically through six defining periods of YAGKI’s life – confronting each moment with unflinching honesty. Infusing searing alternative rock with industrial instrumentation and yearning, stadium sized vocals, the EP pieces together broken memories of childhood trauma, self-destruction, addiction and survival.
“The EP is filled with memories my body remembers, but my mind only has in fragments,” says YAGKI. “It’s sleepwalking through life with fragmented memories, not understanding what’s real and what’s not. It’s trusting your body to guide your safety, but never feeling completely whole because there’s a part your mind is shutting out to protect”.
Opening with March single Charcoal, the EP begins at one of the most harrowing points of YAGKI’s life: the overdose that left her in a coma at just three years old. A tale of survival, guilt and innocence, it immediately sets the tone – blending YAGKI’s exploration of dark, emo-fuelled alt. rock with the confessional and courageous lyricism that bleeds through ‘Sleepwalking’.
“Before I had language for it or I could form a memory that would stay, my body already knew what survival felt like,” says YAGKI. “’Charcoal’ is the beginning of this record because it’s the beginning of everything – not because I remember it, but because my body does”.
It faces trauma without exploitation, much like the slow burning Broken Chair – a devastating reflection on surviving multiple attempts at taking her own life – and Chasing, a track that confronts self-sabotage and no longer recognising oneself. While the former is more emotional in its delivery and the latter filled with intense, racing instrumentation, both are laced with such visceral imagery that listening to it almost feels like an invasion of privacy.
It’s in this world however that YAGKI connects with the listener in the most intimately unique way, continuing to build a tight community (affectionately named The Yappers) centered around uplifting one another through shared struggles and daring to be honest, even if it means removing a layer of enigma.
Closing with April single Morphine – a release that effortlessly proves how good YAGKI is at writing infectious, emo-pop hooks – ‘Sleepwalking’ stands as more than just a cathartic, confrontational body of work. It’s the personal diary entry of an artist still healing, growing and trying to make sense of her survival, all while reclaiming her own identity and allowing others to experience her haunting journey.
To celebrate the EP release, YAGKI is heading back to Australia for a series of East Coast shows, including her very own curated YAPPERFEST in Melbourne and Sydney – a fan driven event showcasing old favourites and unreleased tracks. Merch and tickets available from https://yagki.com/
YAGKI
UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS
Friday October 30 – Dissent, Canberra
Saturday October 31 – Emo Never Sleeps, Melbourne
Sunday November 1 – Wax Vintage, Melbourne
Wednesday November 4 – Casablanca, Sydney
Sunday November 8 – Secret Location, Gold Coast
With thanks to Habit Music
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