Following the explosive dissolution of the 12-member K-pop group Loona in a series of legal disputes centered on unfair contract terms, the members splintered off. While some debuted in new groups, others took the solo path, carving out a name for themselves as individual artists. The latter cohort includes group vocalist Yves. Making her debut in 2024 with the EP LOOP, Yves burst onto the scene as an artist stretching far beyond the confines of her K-pop roots. With a genre-defying sound and alternative influences, Yves has garnered a large underground fanbase alongside the Loona stragglers.
Embarking on a tour spanning North and South America after the mid-April release of her latest project, NAIL, Yves stopped in San Francisco on May 13 for an intimate and heartfelt night at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre.
A scan through the crowd saw many a light stick: a K-pop fandom staple and a symbol of love and dedication to an artist. Though not all were Yves-specific — Loona’s white-and-gold crown-affixed light stick was popular, accompanied by the occasional neon green NCT lightstick — they still shone brightly as the crowd cheered for Yves’ arrival.
While the set was sparsely decorated with a simple yellow tarp as a backdrop and a line of spotlights adorning both sides of the stage, Yves and her backup dancers brought a dynamic energy that transcended the minimalism as they began their opening sequence, choreographed to the track “HALO.”
Following a rendition of “Hashtag,” Yves took a break to speak to the audience. Shifting between English and Korean with the help of a translator, she remarked that she had heard San Francisco was famous for its seafood, asking for restaurant recommendations, though suggestions were likely lost to the din of the crowd. Before returning to the music, she asked the audience to practice the next song together, starting a call-and-response with the chorus of “Gone Girl.” Despite the enthusiasm, attendees were less than stellar in their performance, leaving even Yves to note with a giggle, “The tempo is wrong.”
A concert nowadays can typically feel like a sea of phones, the audience recording every moment without a breath’s hesitation. K-pop shows are hardly an exception; however, there were surprisingly only a select few who constantly had their phones up, with most seemingly living in the moment.
While the energy was never necessarily lacking, there was a significant surge when Yves performed her most beloved tracks: “Soap” — featuring rising superstar PinkPantheress — ramped up the excitement, and Yves’ debut single “LOOP” had the entire crowd excitedly chanting featured rapper Lil Cherry’s verse. For songs like these, all bets were off as phones came up to crystallize the moment.
As the show came to a close, Yves gave a heartfelt ending speech, noting that she hoped the audience “look[s] back at today … [as] a fun and memorable moment for your life.” She went on to reflect on her debut days, when she had been told she wouldn’t make it solo. Though the crowd booed in reaction to the harsh critique, a level of truthfulness remained: Solo acts are an increasingly rare sight in the Korean idol industry. After the tabloid disbandment of her original group, a solo career for Yves seemed insurmountable. Yet two years into her solo career, Yves has undeniably defied the odds, becoming an artist with a unique voice and vision.
Before the last track, Yves told the room she hoped they “never forget I love you guys the same way you love me,” a touching remark that felt even more poignant as she began the final song, “DIM.” The track, which had gone viral on social media in 2025 for its wistful instrumental ending, gave a nostalgic sensation that proved resonant among all, not just Yves fans. The song served as a perfect nightcap, a showing of the lasting power of reminiscence alongside the remembrance that all things must pass, and the path forward can prove just as fruitful as that which is left behind.