Baek Ye-rin (Korean:백예린; born June 26, 1997), also credited as Yerin Baek, is a South Korean singer-songwriter. A former member of duo 15&, she debuted as a solo artist with the mini album Frank, in 2015. Known for her delicate and sweet vocals,[1] since 2015, she has had eight singles peak in the top ten on Gaon Digital Chart. A singer-songwriter, Baek is credited with composing and writing the lyrics for the majority of her songs, often touching on personal topics and writing from real-life experiences. In addition to her solo career, she is also the front person for Korean rock band The Volunteers and has been performing with them from 2018 onwards.
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Baek Ye-rin | |
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![]() Baek performing in 2014 | |
Born | (1997-06-26) June 26, 1997 (age 25) Daejeon, South Korea |
Education | Hanlim Multi Art School |
Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
Musical career | |
Genres |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 2012–present |
Labels |
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Member of | The Volunteers |
Formerly of |
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Musical artist
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Korean name | |
Hangul | 백예린 |
Hanja | 白藝潾 |
Revised Romanization | Baek Ye-rin |
McCune–Reischauer | Paek Yerin |
Baek was born on June 26, 1997, in Jung District, Daejeon. While a trainee under JYP Entertainment, she spent two years living in New York where her family now lives.[2] She graduated from Hanlim Multi Art School in February 2016 alongside 15& member Park Ji-min and Kim Yu-gyeom of Got7.
In a 2007 episode of the SBS variety show Amazing Contest Star King, Baek performed "Listen" by Beyoncé[3] and was labeled a "contemporary R&B genius".[4][unreliable source?] Baek Ye-rin, who appeared on the stage as a "10-year-old ballad genius", surprised the cast and viewers.[5] After her Star King appearance, Baek decided to audition for JYP Entertainment. She performed "Listen" on the audition day,[citation needed] and later won the second place, behind only 2PM's Jang Woo-young.[6] She spent five years (2007–2012) training in South Korea and the United States, and was called a "genius girl" for her vocal talent, skills in using the piano and fluency in the English language.[4][unreliable source?]
On September 27, 2012, JYP revealed Baek would debut as part of a duo along with Park Ji-min called 15&.[7] October 5 marked as Yerin Baek debut date and On October 7, 15& debuted with their first single, "I Dream", on SBS Inkigayo. The duo began a four-year hiatus in February 2015 and disbanded following Park's departure from JYP Entertainment.[8]
In 2015, she planned a solo album for the music style she pursued and met Cloud, a producer of CHEEZE. At the first meeting, Baek Yerin did not know Cloud, but he said that he was a fan of Baek Yerin, and later he was able to meet her with the introduction of his agency.[9] In November 2015, Baek debuted as a solo artist with her first extended play, Frank, with the lead single titled "Across the Universe".[10] The lead song's lyrics were inspired by the film The Martian.
Baek released her first digital single titled Bye Bye My Blue on June 20, 2016.[11] Her follow-up digital single titled Love You on Christmas was released on December 7.[12][13]
As Baek continued to feature on songs by popular artists, she also began performing covers and her own unreleased songs at festivals.[14][15] In 2018, she formed The Volunteers with members of the independent rock band Bye Bye Badman, and released their first EP, the post-grunge rock "Vanity & People". The Seoul-based rock band consists of vocalist and guitarist Baek, bassist Hyungseok Koh, guitarist Jonny, and drummer Chiheon Kim. Like the majority of Baek's post-JYP solo work, The Volunteer's lyrics are written entirely in English.
Baek released her second mini-album, Our Love Is Great, on March 18, 2019. The following day, her title track "Maybe It's Not Our Fault" went to the top of all eight domestic music sites' realtime charts.[16][17][unreliable source?] Our Love is Great and lead track "Maybe It's Not Our Fault" won Album of the Year, Best Pop Album, and Best Pop Song respectively at the 2020 Korean Music Awards.[18]
Baek also contributed to the soundtrack of the popular 2019 K-drama Crash Landing on You, with an original ballad, "Here I am Again." The song peaked at #6 on Billboard's K-pop Hot 100 chart, her highest position on the chart yet.[19]
On September 13, 2019, Baek announced her contract with JYP Entertainment had finished, and that she was leaving to create her own independent record label, Blue Vinyl.[20][21][22] [unreliable source?]
Baek officially launched her own label, Blue Vinyl, on November 6,[23][24][unreliable source?] and on November 22 she released her first single through the label, "Popo (How Deep Is Your Love)".[25] In the build up to Baek's new album, it was revealed that songs which had previously been released on her SoundCloud would feature on the new release, as well as new, never-heard-before tracks.[26][unreliable source?]
On December 10, 2019, Baek released the first studio album and first double album Every letter I sent you. with 17 out of the 18 songs being written in English. Her next single "Square (2017)" also made Baek the first South Korean artist to top charts with a song in English.[27] The track went on to score an 'all kill', where an artist tops the daily and realtime charts of Melon, Genie, Bugs, and Soribada; and the realtime charts of Flo and iChart.[28] As well as "Square (2017)" finding success, the album also topped charts in South Korea.[29] Baek was awarded Top 10 artist and Best R&B/Soul for her track "Square (2017)" at the 12th Melon Music Awards in 2020, as well as Best Pop Album for Every letter I sent you. at the 2021 Korean Music Awards.[30][31]
In February 2020, her first solo concert, "Turn on that Blue Vinyl", was a success. As tickets for about 4,400 seats were sold out in 30 seconds, it is an example of how Baek Yerin's reputation is clearly different from before.[32]
On December 10, 2020, exactly one year after her previous album, Baek Yerin released her second studio album tellusboutyourself, consisting of 14 tracks. The first single "0415" also came with a music video on the same day. Overall 5 music videos ("0415", "Hate You", "I'll be your family!", "I'm in love", and "You're so lonely now, so you need me back by your side again") were released along with the album. The album features a both a wider range of musical genres and lyrical themes than her previous work.[1]
On February 16, 2021, Baek released tellusboutyourself (remixes), a digital EP featuring 6 remixed tracks.
Her band The Volunteers launched their self-titled debut album under Blue Vinyl on May 27, 2021, after previously making their music solely available through SoundCloud and YouTube.[33] The album draws influence from rock acts such as Oasis, Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Beatles, while sonically channelling "a sense of rebellion".[34]
On September 10, 2021, Baek released the cover album Love, Yerin, featuring 6 remake tracks.[35]
On May 24, 2022, Baek released the digital single "Pisces".[36]
Baek has cited Amy Winehouse, Oasis, Avril Lavigne, Rage Against the Machine, as well as Korean artists BoA, Light & Salt, and Yoo Jae Ha among her many varied influences.[37][unreliable source?] She named her first album as a solo artist, Frank, as a tribute to Amy Winehouse, whose debut album shared the same name.
On her decision to write most of her recent songs in English, Baek explains her intentions as wanting to make her music accessible to international fans, plans for an international tour, and the influence English-language artists have had on her style and music. In a 2021 interview she mentioned that it is her dream to perform in the home countries of the many western artists that inspired her.[38]
Whether in English or Korean, Baek is known for her candid and straightforward lyrics. On her lyrical inspiration for her most recent album, Baek cites the poetic metaphors of Blossom Dearie and the straightforward style of Amy Winehouse as influences.[37]
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
Sales |
---|---|---|---|
KOR [39] | |||
Every Letter I Sent You |
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2 |
|
Tellusboutyourself |
|
7 |
|
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
Sales |
---|---|---|---|
KOR [42] | |||
Frank |
Track listing
|
— | — |
Our Love Is Great |
Track listing
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17 |
|
Love, Yerin |
Track list
|
15 |
|
Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Sales (DL)[upper-alpha 1] |
Certifications [upper-roman 1] |
Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KOR [46] |
KOR Hot [47] | ||||||
"Across the Universe" (우주를 건너) | 2015 | 7 | — |
|
— | Frank | |
"Bye Bye My Blue" | 2016 | 3 |
|
Non album-singles | |||
"Love You on Christmas" | 22 | 42 |
| ||||
"Maybe It's Not Our Fault" (그건 아마 우리의 잘못은 아닐 거야) |
2019 | 1 | 3 | — | Our Love Is Great | ||
"Suddenly" (어느 새) (Digging Club Seoul version) | — | — | Non album-single | ||||
"Popo (How Deep Is Our Love?)" | 24 | 25 | Every Letter I Sent You | ||||
"0310" | 37 | 28 | |||||
"Square (2017)" | 1 | 1 | * KMCA: Platinum[lower-alpha 1] | ||||
"Hate You" | 2020 | 56 | 53 | — | Tellusboutyourself | ||
"0415" | 108 | 72 | |||||
"Why Me?" (왜? 날) | 2021 | 78 | — | Love, Yerin | |||
"A Walk" (산책) | 26 | — | |||||
"The Other Side" (너머) (with Monika and Lip J) | 2022 | 148 | — | Non album-singles | |||
"Pisces" (물고기) | 91 | — | |||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Sales (DL) |
Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KOR [52] | |||||||
"It's Only You" (Taecyeon of 2PM featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
2014 | — | — | Genesis of 2PM | |||
"Suddenly" (문득) (with Jun. K of 2PM & Jo Kwon) |
— | JYP Nation Korea 2014 – One Mic | |||||
"Excited" (Olltii featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
2015 | — | Graduation | ||||
"On & On" (Yuk Ji-dam featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
20 |
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Unpretty Rapstar Semi-final 2 | ||||
"Chocolate" (チョコレート) (Taecyeon of 2PM featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
— | — | 2PM of 2PM | ||||
"Me You" (San E featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
2 |
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The Boy Who Cried Wolf | ||||
"Come Over" (넘어와) (Dean featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
2017 | 6 |
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Limbo | |||
"Light" (The Quiett featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
— | — | Millionaire Poetry | ||||
"How Did You?" (너는 어떻게) (Ku One Chan featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
2018 | — | Non album-singles | ||||
"Doodle" (낙서) (Punchnello featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
2019 | 84 | |||||
"Nerdy Love" (PH-1 featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
2020 | 38 | |||||
"KnoCK" (Code Kunst featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
— | People | |||||
"Neo Seoul Love" (Loopy featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
— | No Fear | |||||
"Gae Na Ri" (개나리) (Samuel Seo featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
— | D I A L | |||||
"We Are All Muse" (The Blank Shop featuring Baek Ye-rin) |
— | Tailor | |||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Sales (DL) |
Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KOR [56] |
KOR Hot [57] | ||||||
"As I Am" | 2015 | 48 | — |
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Frank | ||
"Blue" | 49 |
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"Don't Leave Me Alone" (혼자 두지 마) | 54 |
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"Zz" (잠들고 싶어) | 61 |
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"That's Why" | 67 |
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"His Ocean" (그의 바다) | 2016 | 25 |
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Bye Bye My Blue | |||
"Zero" | 35 |
| |||||
"Merry and the Witch's Flower" (야간비행 (魔女の花)) | 2019 | 10 | 14 | — | Our Love Is Great | ||
"I Don't Know" (내가 날 모르는 것처럼) (featuring Car, the Garden) |
21 | 25 | |||||
"See You Again" (지켜줄게) | 38 | 40 | |||||
"Dear My Blue" | 42 | 44 | |||||
"Our Love Is Great" | 46 | 48 | |||||
"I Don't Know" (내가 날 모르는 것처럼) (2019 version) | 64 | 68 | |||||
"Intro" | 158 | — | Every Letter I Sent You | ||||
"Rest" | 68 | 40 | |||||
"Can I B U" | 94 | 69 | |||||
"Meant to Be" | 90 | 64 | |||||
"Mr.Gloomy" | 89 | 65 | |||||
"Lovelovelove" | 85 | 60 | |||||
"Bunny" | 78 | 52 | |||||
"Berlin" | 126 | 75 | |||||
"Datoom" | 101 | 71 | |||||
"Not a Girl" | 110 | 74 | |||||
"Newsong2" | 140 | 92 | |||||
"Amy" | 147 | — | |||||
"True Lover" | 131 | 82 | |||||
"Point" (featuring Loopy) |
115 | 84 | |||||
"London" | 104 | 73 | |||||
"Lovegame" | 2020 | 102 | 8 | Tellusboutyourself | |||
"You're So Lonely Now, So You Need Me Back by Your Side Again" | 144 | 38 | |||||
"I Am Not Your Ocean Anymore" | 150 | 73 | |||||
"Hall&Oates" | 178 | 96 | |||||
"Ms. Delicate" | 189 | 100 | |||||
"Interlude" | —[upper-alpha 2] | — | |||||
"Loner" | —[upper-alpha 2] | — | |||||
"Homesweethome" | —[upper-alpha 2] | — | |||||
"Loveless" | —[upper-alpha 2] | — | |||||
"I'll Be Your Family!" | —[upper-alpha 2] | — | |||||
"I'm in Love" | —[upper-alpha 2] | — | |||||
"Bubbles&Mushrooms" | —[upper-alpha 2] | — | |||||
"Whenever" (그럴때마다) | 2021 | 92 | — | Love, Yerin | |||
"Antifreeze" | 73 | — | |||||
"Go Back" (돌아가자) | 123 | — | |||||
"Limit" (한계) | 98 | — | |||||
"It Was Me" (그게 나였네) | 2022 | 149 | — | "Pisces" | |||
"The Loved One" (막내) | 193 | — | |||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Sales (DL) |
Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KOR [66] |
KOR Hot [67] |
US World [68] | |||||
"Blooming Memories" (아주 오래된 기억) | 2017 | 93 | — | — |
|
Chicago Typewriter OST | |
"Lean On Me" (스며들기 좋은 오늘) | 2019 | 73 | — | — | — | A-Teen 2 OST | |
"Here I Am Again" (다시 난, 여기) | 2020 | 4 | 6 | 21 | Crash Landing on You OST | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
Title | Artist | Year | Album | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Before I Knew It" (나도 모르게) | Yeonsoo | 2017 | Non album-single | Lyricist[70] |
"Still the One" (좋은 사람) | Soyou | Re:Born | Lyricist[71] | |
"From Now On" | Chungha | 2018 | Blooming Blue | Songwriter[72] |
"Smile" (미소) | Yeonsoo | Non album-single | Lyricist[73] | |
"Young in Love" (우리가 즐거워) | Chungha | 2019 | Flourishing | Songwriter[74] |
"All Night Long" | 2021 | Querencia | Songwriter[75] |
Title | Year | Director(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
"Across the universe" (우주를 건너) | 2015 | Unknown | — |
"That's why" | 2016 | L5M. | [76] |
"Bye bye my blue" | Kyle | [77] | |
"Maybe It's Not Our Fault" (그건 아마 우리의 잘못은 아닐 거야) | 2019 | INSP (KOINRUSH) | [78] |
"Popo (How deep is our love?)" | a HOBIN film | [79] | |
"0310" | [80] | ||
"0415" | 2020 | [81] | |
"Hate you" | [82] | ||
"I'll be your family!" | Tezo Don Lee (Tjoff Koong Studios London) |
[83] | |
"I'm in love" | a HOBIN film | [84] | |
"You’re so lonely now, so you need me back by your side again" | mareykrap | [85] | |
"Pisces" (물고기) | 2022 | Ga (KEEPUSWEIRD) | [86] |
Yerin Baek 1st Concert "Turn on that Blue Vinyl" (2020) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date[87] | City | Country | Venue |
February 8, 2020 | Seoul | South Korea | Yes24 Live Hall |
February 9, 2020 |
Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee(s)/work(s) | Result | Ref. |
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Asia Artist Awards | 2021 | Female Solo Singer Popularity Award | Baek Ye-rin | Nominated | [89] |
Brand Customer Loyalty Awards | 2021 | Best Female Vocalist | Nominated | [90] | |
Gaon Chart Music Awards | 2017 | Artist of the Year – Digital Music (June 2016) | "Bye Bye My Blue" | Nominated | |
2020 | Artist of the Year – Digital Music (March 2019) | "Maybe It's Not Our Fault" | Nominated | ||
2021 | Artist of the Year – Digital Music (December 2019) | "Square (2017)" | Nominated | ||
Genie Music Awards | 2019 | Best Female Artist | Baek Ye-rin | Nominated | |
Golden Disc Awards | 2021 | Digital Bonsang | "Square (2017)" | Nominated | |
Korean Hip-hop Awards | 2020 | R&B Album of the Year | Every letter I sent you. | Nominated | |
2021 | tellusboutyourself | Nominated | |||
Korean Music Awards | 2020 | Musician of the Year | Baek Ye-rin | Nominated | |
Album of the Year | Our Love is Great | Won | |||
Best Pop Album | Won | ||||
Song of the Year | "Maybe It's Not Our Fault" | Nominated | |||
Best Pop Song | Won | ||||
2021 | Musician of the Year | Baek Ye-rin | Nominated | [91][unreliable source?] | |
Album of the Year | Every letter I sent you. | Nominated | |||
Best Pop Album | Won | ||||
Song of the Year | "Square (2017)" | Nominated | |||
Best Pop Song | Nominated | ||||
Melon Music Awards | 2019 | Top 10 Artists | Baek Ye-rin | Nominated | |
Best R&B/Soul | "Maybe It's Not Our Fault" | Nominated | |||
2020 | Artist of the Year | Baek Ye-rin | Nominated | ||
Album of the Year | Every letter I sent you. | Nominated | |||
Top 10 Artists | Baek Ye-rin | Won | |||
Best R&B/Soul | "Square (2017)" | Won | |||
2021 | Album of the Year | Tellusboutyourself | Nominated | ||
Top 10 Artists | Baek Ye-rin | Nominated | |||
Mnet Asian Music Awards | 2016 | Best Vocal Performance – Female Solo | "Across the Universe" | Nominated | |
2020 | Best Vocal Performance – Solo | "Square (2017)" | Nominated | ||
Best OST | "Here I Am Again" | Nominated | |||
Seoul Music Awards | 2016 | Bonsang Award | Frank | Nominated | |
2017 | Bye Bye My Blue | Nominated | |||
2020 | Our Love is Great | Nominated | |||
Ballad Award | "Maybe It's Not Our Fault" | Nominated | |||
2021 | OST Award | "Here I Am Again" | Nominated |
JYP Entertainment | |||||
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