kleigh balugo
Yves for Hypebae's 10th Anniversary Digital Cover
For the first digital cover relaunch in celebration of Hypebae’s 10th anniversary, I spoke to K-pop disruptor Yves about reclaiming autonomy over her career and the ever-expanding sound and visual language she’s established for herself as a solo artist.
At one point in time, every detail in Yves’ career was predetermined for her based on the carefully curated persona she was assigned, from the lyrics she sang to which hair accessories she was allowed to wear. But now, having released four EPs on her own, including collaborations with PinkPantheress and Lexie Liu, Yves’ new era values what feels right above all else. The former LOONA member and current genre-fluid artist refuses to define herself, and in doing so, hopes she can be the kind of artist “whose work and existence speaks for itself.”
At one point in time, every detail in Yves’ career was predetermined for her based on the carefully curated persona she was assigned, from the lyrics she sang to which hair accessories she was allowed to wear. But now, having released four EPs on her own, including collaborations with PinkPantheress and Lexie Liu, Yves’ new era values what feels right above all else. The former LOONA member and current genre-fluid artist refuses to define herself, and in doing so, hopes she can be the kind of artist “whose work and existence speaks for itself.”
Story: Kleigh Balugo
Photographer: Ted Min
Styling: Hyun Kukseon
Makeup: Ju Yeon
Nails: 9.Inch Nails
Hair: Yoonji Son
Production: Hypebeast Korea