Closet Yi has carved a niche in the global electronic scene with her genre-hopping sets and psychedelic yet precise productions. The Seoul-based artist’s new EP, Cloudborne 888, released via Clasico Records, is her most immersive work yet — a collection of soundscapes that ebb and flow with rhythmic tension and emotional depth.
Written after a transformative Asia tour, the EP draws on experiences from neon-lit megacities to bizarre natural surroundings in places like Dali, China. “The piece is a reflection of movement – physically and mentally – and I hope it gives people space to zone out for a bit and wander and imagine,” she shares. Across four tracks, Closet Yi blends UK dance sensibilities with dub textures and ambient fluidity, all anchored by a deep pulse meant for both dark rooms and open roads. Below, she breaks down each track in her own words.
‘Haewool’
"I’d describe it as rhythmic storytelling that lies between structure and spontaneity, with a lot of spatial depth. It's introspective, loose but detailed, and kind of like a palette of different environments I’ve been in — some raw, some surreal. I’ve approached this track by starting with the synth sounds and then adding the rhythms. Usually it's the other way around, which that means I had a certain emotional feeling that I was into when I was making this track."
‘Erhigh’
"I’m getting more and more into dub techno, texture heavy, and body moving sounds these days. And ‘Erhigh’ was definitely the track where I was satisfied with that approach for the first time. I enjoyed moving and adding up the elements, rather than looking at the track as divided segments. I think that works way better when playing it outside, mixing in and out with other tracks as well."
‘Cloudborne 888’
"This one is interesting because it brings back a lot of the memories from my amazing Asia tour from last year. It’s one of the most visually triggering music pieces to me, making me think of a lot of colours and dashing movements in my head. It has the roots in my UK dance music influence, but I also interpreted it in my own way, mixing and twisting in different ways."
‘Petal Pedal’
"Actually I wasn’t happy with this track when I first made it, maybe because it’s one of the more linear tracks that I worked on throughout the months in the studio. However Eleanor (from Clasico) really gave me confidence on this one. Sometimes you just need that one friend to make you believe in yourself! (Laughs) The track itself is quite fast at 145 BPM, but also works pretty well in lower BPMs at small clubs, so now it became one of my favorite go-to tools."
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Closet Yi makes her Singapore at Headquaters on 8 August as part of Bassis Asia's 10th anniversary event. Purchase tickets here.
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