Today’s a happy day for those who’re into alternative K-pop and electronic music because Balming Tiger and Yaeji have joined forces in a double single, wo ai ni and break it even. The two Korean powerhouses team up for a joyful, feel-good result, spreading love through music and an incredibly wholesome music video directed by Balming Tiger’s member Jan’ Qui.
For those who aren’t fans of K-drama (yet), ‘wo ai ni’ means ‘I love you’. And that’s precisely the message behind the track and music video: to capture the feeling of “pure, unfiltered love — a message that crosses linguistic and national boundaries.” In the track, you may notice how Yaeji and Balming Tiger say that expression in your language since they’ve included several. As the press release says, “They wanted to gift this song to fans with the same refreshing and pleasant feeling of autumn’s breeze.” For that reason, they also used, for the first time, video footage sent directly by their fans through an open call, bringing collaboration to new heartwarming heights.
Meanwhile, break it even also carries a sense of nostalgia related to this time of the year. While days get visibly shorter, temperatures drop and our longing for connection increases, music can be a powerful tool to overcome the very known seasonal depression. Influenced by NYC’s grey skies, the track tries to capture the moments Balming Tiger lived in the city when they visited Yaeji in their Brooklyn studio.
This double single is the result of a year-long collaboration between the six-piece band and the American-Korean DJ and producer. Prioritising in-person conversations rather than working remotely, wo ai ni and break it even share a sense of wholesomeness because they were truly conceived through a deep understanding of each other, shared moments of joy, and friendship.
