Buckle up for a sonic journey that bridges centuries and continents, Korean music pioneer YAJAC is back with his latest single, 옛낫@My Flower 진달내꽃, dropping on the 7th April, 2025. This isn’t just a song; it’s a vibrant tapestry woven from the threads of Korea’s literary legacy and YAJAC’s boundless creativity, blooming like the azaleas that inspired it.
YAJAC isn’t new to breaking molds. Since his 1992 debut with Mom in Heaven, Korea’s first contemporary jazz album, he’s been a trailblazer, blending classical, jazz, and pop into a sound that’s distinctly his own. From iconic commercial jingles like Samsung’s ‘Have You Sterilized Your Laundry?’ to his Time After Time series, where he reimagined everything from Korean folk songs to Bach with jazz legends like David Benoit and Jimmy Haslip, YAJAC’s career is a kaleidoscope of innovation. Now, he’s turning the page to My Flower 진달내꽃 (Azalea), a project honoring the 100th anniversary of Kim So-worl’s beloved poetry collection, Azaleas, a cultural gem glowing brighter with Han Kang’s recent Nobel Prize win spotlighting K-literature.
옛낫@My Flower 진달내꽃 is the opening chapter of this ambitious endeavor, a track that pulses with the spirit of So-worl’s words. Think Eastern emotions wrapped in Western forms, like the poet’s own style, brought to life through YAJAC’s masterful touch. A standout moment comes with San Yoo Hwa (Mountain’s Own Flowers), which takes Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 Prelude and infuses it with the soulful resonance of Korea. It’s a collision of worlds that feels both timeless and urgent, a nod to So-worl’s azalea as a symbol of longing and resilience.
This single isn’t a one-off, it’s the first bloom in a series of releases, unfolding like a poetry book with variations like 생과사 (Life and Death) @ My Flower 진달내꽃. YAJAC, handling composition, arrangement, bass, and guitar himself, channels his signature versatility into a sound that’s as much a global call as it is a love letter to Korea. From young locals rediscovering So-worl to literature buffs worldwide, this is music that invites everyone in.
Following his Time After Time triumphs, like the Emmy-adorned Lee Jung-jae’s rare music video appearance in Tteonan Hue Ae or the UNESCO-backed Arirang recorded at Capitol Records, YAJAC’s latest chapter pushes further into uncharted territory. My Flower 진달내꽃 (Azalea) isn’t just a song; it’s a movement, a bridge between Korea’s past and its place on the world stage.
Influences
Bach, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea
Socials
Instagram
Facebook
Spotify
Apple Music
