Youngjae. Photo: courtesy of the artist.
Youngjae of Got7 takes a poignant piano melody, mixes it with break beats, and throws in some scorching guitar licks to create a music piece of his own—an alternative hip hop track he’s named “Escape to Me.”
This title song to Youngjae’s new digital single, Fermata, stems from vulnerability but finds strength in its message: “It’s okay to run away,” and escape the chaos as a coping mechanism. It’s a reassuring statement, reminding you that sometimes you need to take a step back to reclaim your strength. And with Youngjae’s soaring vocals within its rock-infused soundscapes, the message hits home.
The lines—“I’d been running with my eyes fixed forward/If I stopped, would I fall behind? Afraid of tomorrow with no promise in store/Shall I give up?”—are heavy with the desperation and uncertainty of feeling overwhelmed. They catalyze the message of self-acceptance, as Youngjae sings, “The way the world wants you to be, there’s no need to fit yourself to that/Even if it’s a little different/Use your unique rhythm.” The song calls for us to let go of expectations and free ourselves, expressed in his line, “It’s alright, even if running away is a bit embarrassing. If it helps, I think it’s okay.”
The music video features Youngjae in a double role, representing the anxious and the calm. We see a pensive Youngjae, jaded and struggling, turning to blue candies—a poignant analogy for his lingering melancholy. When he stands face-to-face with his other side, a more mature Youngjae, he initially tries to run away. The two run in a symbolic chase through a grass field, eventually sitting side by side before they return home. In the next scene, the mature Youngjae gives a red candy to his counterpart, a metaphorical contrast to the sorrow that had previously consumed him. The red candy represents warmth and comfort, and in fact, the healing that can come from life’s challenging situations. It could also be seen as a subtle nod to The Matrix, with the blue pill symbolizing the comfort of illusion, and the red pill daring you to face the truth.
“Escape to Me” expands on the title of its album, Fermata, an Italian musical term that means a brief pause or hold that can add depth to a composition, symbolizing a moment to gather strength and press forward. With this song, Youngjae shares his message of hope and solidarity, as noted in a press statement, reminding young listeners that “you don’t have to always face everything head-on to be brave. We’re young, and there’s still tomorrow.”
Stream Fermata here.
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