“Hayfields,” the first album written, performed and produced by Yaelokre, an independent artist based in the Philippines, released on Mar. 4, 2024. The music is in an acoustic folk style, which gives it a unique sound, distinct from mainstream music; which is complemented by a thought-provoking story, earning a place in my playlist.
The first song on the album, titled “Hartebeest,” depicts the experiences that prey animals live within the wilderness. The song is told from the perspective of a rabbit or other small animal, with the sound of the Hartebeest’s hooves described as a warning of hungry predators approaching. The animals express fear and confusion as to where they will go when “the cats kill one by one,” and all they can do in the end is run.
The second and most popular song on the album “Harpy Hare” tells the story of a mother who held her children back. There is push back against what the mother had done, demonstrated in the lyric, “You can’t keep them all caged; they will fight and run away.” The mother is described as hiding from her feelings and telling herself stories to rationalize her actions.
The third, and my personal favorite song of the album “And the Hound” deviates from the storytelling used in the previous songs, as it is vaguer and may take multiple listens to fully appreciate. The song depicts a lying “Hound” that hums lullabies, leading people to ignore problems all around them and to fear and punish the weak and defenseless. “The Hound” also makes people unwilling to hear others talk about their actions.
The fourth and final song, “Neath the Grove Is a Heart” is a song about home, what it is, and what it means to be home. The song uses multiple metaphors to refer to people that are constantly searching for a home but are blind to the fact that it was there all along. It continues by asking if the search for a new or better home will damage what you already have.
I found my imagination running wild as I listened to the album over and over. It has also given me inspiration for other creative projects, such as for a DnD campaign. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes folk music, acoustic beats, or creative storytelling.
