Yaelokre brings their theatrical folk-pop fantasy to Chicago

Yaelokre Credit: Romarni Brytz Two years ago, Keath Ósk (born Christopher Kristjansson) began spreading folkloric magic online as Yaelokre, charming social-media audiences with an evocative style of theatrical folk pop that draws on their Filipino and Icelandic heritage. The most compelling aspect was that Ósk’s songs were consistently set in a fantasy world of their own creation called Meadowlark—which to me feels to me like part Redwall and part Watership Down. Ósk is a dramatic storyteller who enchants with wit, costumes, and charisma. They’re also an illustrator who creates artwork for their releases. After four EPs that revealed a fire in the belly, Yaelokre dropped a riveting debut full-length, Foreword (Atlantic), in September. The album includes reworked versions of earlier material, including their first viral hits, “Hartebeest” and “Harpy Hare.” They fit into a powerful folk-rock narrative but also dance around in the grass, unwilling to be pinned down by genre.

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