Youn Sun Nah

Lost Pieces, the new album by the South Korean singer, songwriter and composer Youn Sun Nah, is a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Even though the album’s overarching theme may initially appear melancholic, it ultimately becomes a message of self-empowerment. The eleven songs of the album explore, in diverse ways, themes such as doubts about love, about other people, and even about oneself. They also deal with loss, separation, and the complexity of relationships.

The emotional state of Youn Sun Nah guided the album’s concept as she conceived it. As with her 2022 album Waking World, Lost Pieces was written and composed entirely by herself. The recording reflects her interest in a variety of musical styles. She intuitively blends seemingly incompatible indie-pop sensibilities with free jazz vocabulary and delicate folk-song hints. At the same time, the new compositions follow her own individual approach.

For example, the title track was originally conceived as a homage to Steve Reich’s minimalist approach and stood out for its sparing instrumentation. Ultimately, however, it became the densely arranged piece of the album, in which brass, marimba and strings give each other space to jointly set the stage for some of Youn Sun Nah’s vocal performances.

In 2019 the artist was named an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture. Her singing style has remained versatile, spanning from subtle to explosive guttural sounds. On Lost Pieces she displays a wide vocal range, as the album’s overarching theme requires different vocal approaches.

The industrial-sounding guitar tone of the opening track Shell of Me initially demands contemplative singing, before the two timbres transition into a call-and-response exchange. Where’d You Hide calls for a less playful, unpolished performance, while Youn Sun Nah articulates the words ‘Oh, love, where’d you hide? You said you would be right here, standing by my side, but now I’m frozen in the dark’ with resolve.

Ultimately, the album centers on catharsis and the inner ability to draw strength from pain. The subtly swinging ‘WTH is Love!’ at the end of the album finally overcomes tormenting self-doubt. The accompanying guitar chords sound like beacons of hope after an exploration of the contrasts within the human soul.