What does Yae sound like?

Sumptuous, warm Japanese folk with a Latin twist this time around.

The review of Yae – 8 Billion Prayers

There are a few musicians and artists that I absolutely cherish every release from and Yae is one of those. Over the decades, the Japanese singer-songwriter has crafted a warm and nurturing musical home. Rustic, motherly, comforting and embracing of the world, Yae stands out in the folk world for regal wisdom. For her latest album ‘8 Billion Prayers’, she is mixing up four original tracks with four covers. It also allows her to lean into some more Latin flavours.

The album opens with the tour de force of ‘Soranoiro’ (the colour of the sky). Opening with a gentle and calm acoustic guitar lead melody, we are invited into a celebration of life from Yae’s music. Wind shakers rustle, long gliding vocals seep in and out… and then in come the acoustic drums for a huge jamboree. Barrelling along like a bobsleigh through cascading chords and rolling drums, it is an exhilarating opening. ‘Naturity’ follows as a sweet and pure bluesy ballad. Yae is duetting with a children’s choir across most of the lyrics. The piano, guitar and thin bass allow this track to float airily around with its melancholic melody. Its restrained yet slightly unrefined children’s choir gives that cute nativity play vibe and sells the mood perfectly.

‘Kakehashi’ means bridge in Japanese this gorgeous symphonic piece is another standout. Its haunting four-chord progression allows the strings, wind, piano and brass to roll in and out with gravitas and the song reminds me of her ‘Blue Line’ album but now backed with orchestration. It’s an anime or game outro anthem in waiting, especially with Yae’s dramatic traditional Shima-Uta-esque outro vocals. The vocal style is like a warbling cry. Breaking away from Japanese, ‘Beautiful That Way’ is a European-centric folk track. Out come the reeds, harmonica and Yae’s multilingual talents as she flips languages multiple times. The Greek tavern style of performance is boisterous and glowing with warmth. The message is life is beautiful and it carries the same energy as a country barn jig.

We move into three covers although I must admit I am not aware of the original tracks. ‘For You’ is a heartfelt piano, string and vocal ballad. The delicate and timeless quality of the performance shines through, reminding me of just how powerful a simple arrangement can be when the emotion is rinsed out of every word. ‘Afterglow’ follows as we move into a mixture of Japanese folk and South American influences. The solemn acoustic guitar is surrounded by sympathetic wind instruments that evoke Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, which is how I discovered Yae’s talents. The track also has an unusual offbeat shuffle to it which took a couple of listens to sync up with. It’s a uniquely broody piece on the album.

The final cover is ‘Los Parajos Peredidos’, a bombastic and chameleon track. With Yae singing in Spanish, she veers from a jazzy ballad to a full-on tango. The piano smashes the low notes, the bandoneóns are jamming along and towards the end, the song picks up momentum for a grandstand finale. It is unlike anything else in Yae’s catalogue to date and neither is the closing track. ‘8 Billion Prayers’ is a jaunty, pacey track sitting somewhere between a Pirate shanty and a Madness track – seen through the lens of J-folk. The waltzing piano, full band drums, dramatic string fills and playful verses give way to anthemic siren choruses. The violins ad-libbing around Yae’s voice give the whole thing an elegance but this is as close to adult sophistipop that Yae has made to date. On this evidence, she could move gracefully into that genre without problems.

No one else makes music quite as serene and as nurturing as Yae. Why she isn’t a global superstar is one of music’s many mysteries but with ‘8 Billion Prayers’ she continues to cement herself as a unique and important voice in Japanese contemporary folk music. In many ways, she reminds me of how Bic Runga is known as a sensation in her country but barely known outside of it outside of a single song. If you enjoy contemporary folk music, dive into Yae’s catalogue. You won’t be disappointed.

Recommended track: Soranoiro

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