Yeule
Biography
**Yeule**
In the liminal space between dreams and digital reality, where glitchy electronics meet ethereal vocals and gender becomes fluid as mercury, exists the enigmatic artist known as Yeule. Born Nat Ćmiel in Singapore in 1997, this multidisciplinary creator has carved out a unique niche in contemporary music that defies easy categorization, blending elements of shoegaze, ambient, electronic, and experimental pop into something entirely their own.
Yeule's journey began in the online spaces where many Gen Z artists first found their voice. Growing up between Singapore and London, Ćmiel was immersed in both Eastern and Western cultural influences while navigating questions of identity, gender, and belonging. The name "Yeule" itself reflects this multiplicity – derived from the Hokkien word for "ghost" or "demon," it speaks to the artist's fascination with existing between states, neither fully here nor there, neither entirely human nor completely digital.
Their 2019 debut album "Serotonin II" emerged like a fever dream from the depths of SoundCloud culture, establishing Yeule as a singular voice in the experimental electronic scene. The album's title references both the neurotransmitter associated with happiness and the Roman numeral suggesting this is a sequel to some unheard first chapter. Tracks like "Pretty Bones" and "Cyber Meat" showcase Yeule's ability to wrap vulnerable, whispered vocals around harsh digital textures, creating an unsettling beauty that feels simultaneously intimate and alien. The album explores themes of mental health, technology's impact on human connection, and the search for authenticity in an increasingly digital world. Its lo-fi production aesthetic and genre-blending approach caught the attention of critics and underground music fans, establishing Yeule as an artist to watch in the experimental pop landscape.
The 2021 follow-up "Glitch Princess" marked a significant evolution in Yeule's sound and artistic vision. More polished than its predecessor yet retaining the experimental edge, the album delves deeper into themes of gender identity, virtual reality, and the blurring lines between organic and artificial existence. Songs like "My Name Is Nat Ćmiel" serve as both introduction and manifesto, while tracks such as "Pocky Boy" and "Pixel Affection" explore queer desire through the lens of digital culture. The album's sonic palette expanded to include more prominent guitar work alongside the signature electronic manipulations, creating a dreamier, more accessible sound without sacrificing the project's essential weirdness. "Glitch Princess" garnered significant critical acclaim, with publications like Pitchfork and The Fader praising Yeule's unique aesthetic vision and emotional honesty.
2022's "Softscars" represents perhaps Yeule's most cohesive and emotionally direct statement to date. The album strips away some of the more abrasive electronic elements in favor of lush, shoegaze-influenced arrangements that recall artists like Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, while maintaining the project's distinctive digital DNA. Tracks like "Sulky Baby" and "Dazies" showcase a more vulnerable side of Yeule's artistry, with clearer vocals and more traditional song structures serving the emotional content rather than obscuring it. The album explores themes of healing, growth, and self-acceptance, marking a maturation in both sound and perspective. "Softscars" has been praised as Yeule's most accessible work while still maintaining the experimental edge that makes them unique, potentially opening their music to a broader audience without compromising artistic integrity.
Beyond their recorded output, Yeule has become known for captivating live performances that blur the line between concert and art installation. Their visual aesthetic, often featuring androgynous styling, elaborate makeup, and cyberpunk-influenced fashion, has made them a fixture in alternative fashion circles and queer underground scenes. They've collaborated with visual artists and designers to create immersive experiences that extend their musical vision into physical space.
Yeule's influence extends beyond music into broader conversations about gender identity, digital culture, and the future of human expression in an increasingly connected world. Their work resonates particularly strongly with LGBTQ+ youth and others navigating questions of identity in the digital age. As streaming platforms and social media continue to reshape how we discover and consume music, artists like Yeule represent a new model of creative independence and genre fluidity.
Currently based between various cities and continuing to explore the boundaries between human and artificial, analog and digital, Yeule remains one of the most compelling voices in contemporary experimental
