Just over a year has elapsed since Yaeji, the Korean dance artist, issued her collaboration with underscores/Aliyah’s Interlude titled “booboo2” and linked up with Balming Tiger on two additional tracks. She now returns with a new solo piece, “ddr,” a title that references Dance Dance Revolution—evoking both the retro Y2K-era arcade game and the idea of a genuine dance revolution in practice.
“ddr” lands as a groovy, brisk club cut, propelled by Yaeji’s trademark deadpan delivery. She co-produced the track alongside New York’s underground scene veterans Enayet and K Wata, drawing a drumline that clearly nods to the Chicago footwork lineage. In the video directed by Giseong Jun, Yaeji trails a stylish stranger from a subway ride into an underground Dance Dance Revolution gathering. In the song’s YouTube description, she shares this reflection:
During a night out in NYC, I started wondering: if the world around us feels stifling, what would the reality we want to inhabit actually look like? perhaps we’re witnessing a real Dance Dance Revolution. the miracle of all of us moving together on the floor in the same moment and place. we’re keeping each other safe, staying hydrated, and choosing to protect one another so no one is harassed, all while on our personal journeys, scored by the music. this piece is for you. and it’s for me too.
Watch it below.
“ddr” is now available via XL. Additionally, Yaeji will mark the release with a Dance Dance Revolution–themed party this Friday, running from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., at Brooklyn’s Paragon venue. Beyond the video game motif, the night will feature DJ sets from Yaeji, DJ Swisha, OSSX, Lil C, and DJ Noir. Tickets can be reserved here.
