Yaeji reflects on With A Hammer, healing trauma through music, and her favorite video games

Yaeji is a Korean American electronic music producer, DJ, and vocalist who has carved out a uniquely intimate space in the world of dance music.

Born in Flushing, Queens and raised between New York, Atlanta, and Seoul, she’s known for her genre-defying sound that weaves together house, hip hop, and ambient textures, often paired with her vocals that float between English and Korean.

Emerging in 2016 with tracks like “Guap” and “Drink I’m Sippin On,” Yaeji’s breakout EPs quickly established her signature style: bass-heavy beats paired with hushed vocals that feel like sharing secrets on a packed dance floor. Her long-awaited debut album, With A Hammer, released in 2023, further expanding her sonic palette while maintaining the vulnerability and cultural fluidity that have made her one of the most compelling voices in contemporary electronic music.

In the above installment of Ctrl+B, we had the opportunity to sit down with Yaeji in her eclectic studio for an exclusive interview and unfiltered dialogue on everything from her creative process behind With A Hammer to her philosophical approach to her live shows, favorite video games, and more.

For an even deeper look into her creative workflow, be sure to also check out Yaeji’s studio tour below:

And there you have it! What was your favorite moment from the conversation? Who would you like to see featured on our next episode? Start a dialogue with us and an ever-growing community of music creators via the Splice Discord, and subscribe to the Splice YouTube channel for more installments of Ctrl+B.

February 26, 2026

ctrl+bpopyoutube

Harrison Shimazu

Harrison Shimazu is a composer, content strategist, and writer who’s passionate about democratizing music creation and education. He leads the Splice blog and produces vocaloid music as Namaboku.