Folk singer-songwriter Keath Ósk, better known under the moniker Yaelokre, is about to embark on their first-ever world tour, revealing multiple dates across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom. The tour reveal came in a character-driven trailer featuring two of Yaelokre’s most recognizable personas, Clementine and Cooper. In the clip, Clementine reads a flyer with the words “Super Amazing Tour,” while Cooper gestures at the Yaelokre figure. The video ends with a straightforward announcement: more details will be released May 27, 3 p.m. UK time.
This international push isn’t coming out of nowhere. Ósk has spent the last year steadily building a loyal local audience, selling out headlining shows at Mow’s Bar, Quezon City, thrice on separate occasions. They opened for Norwegian pop artist Aurora at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City in January, sharing the bill with ena mori. The performance marked one of the first major instances of a Filipino narrative folk artist holding their own on a bigger stage. The official “Foreword Tour” flyer reveals Ósk’s venues in select places such as Denmark, Copenhagen, London, Ireland, Philadelphia, Washington, New York and many more.
Ósk rose to prominence following the release of their 2024 debut EP Hayfields, a homespun yet ambitious record featuring “Harpy Hare,” the breakout single that showcased their signature blend of voice-shifting character play and acoustic instrumentation. Onstage, the performance becomes a kind of worldbuilding exercise, with Ósk switching voices mid-song while playing their self-styled instrument, the “Meadowlark.” They have also released newer singles this year, such as “Kid & Leveret” and “Cole’s Response,” continuing the narrative they left off from their last EP.
Now signed to Atlantic Records, Yaelokre’s leap to a global tour feels like a natural evolution — but it’s also a rare one. Few Filipino artists get to bring deeply personal and high-concept storytelling to international audiences without compromising what made their sound distinct. In a label roster that includes Charli XCX, Janelle Monáe, and Coldplay, Osk’s inclusion signals something more than a viral moment. It’s recognition of a singular voice ready to scale.
