For YOUHA, the past is made up of the experiences and emotions that brought her to where she is now.
The singer-songwriter released her first full-length album, pasado, on October 16. Featuring 12 tracks, including the previously released “Pink Dress,” the project finds YOUHA exploring new ways to use her voice while sharing stories rooted in her own life.
When The Mikan Box spoke with YOUHA around Head In The Clouds in 2025, she talked about wanting to show fans another side of herself. With pasado, she feels like she’s getting closer to doing just that.
“This album is the most honest reflection of the music I love and the stories I want to tell right now,” YOUHA told The Mikan Box. “My musical style has changed quite a bit, and I’ve also tried new ways of using my voice.”
“It’s a big challenge for me, too, so I’m nervous, but I hope listeners enjoy it and think, ‘I didn’t know YOUHA had this side to her.’”
The Meaning Behind pasado
The album’s title, pasado, means “past” in Spanish. YOUHA said she was initially drawn to the sound of the language before discovering a word that felt connected to her own story.
“At first, I was drawn to the sound and feel of the Spanish language,” she said. “Then I came across the word pasado, meaning ‘past,’ and its meaning resonated with me so much that I even got it tattooed.”
For YOUHA, the title reflects the experiences and emotions that have shaped her.
“This album holds the experiences I’ve lived through and the emotions I felt along the way,” she said. “I felt that all those pieces of my past came together to make me who I am today, so it seemed like the title that best expressed the album.”
That personal history runs through the 12-track project, which includes “Honey Cake,” “DSLR,” the title track “pasado,” and closing track “Head In The Clouds.”
The Personal Story Behind “Pink Dress”
Ahead of the album, YOUHA introduced listeners to part of this new chapter with “Pink Dress.” Its production and vocal effects gave her an opportunity to experiment with how her voice could shape the song.
“I wanted to use my voice more freely,” she said. “I felt that beyond the singing itself, the textures created through effects could become part of a song’s appeal.”
While the song’s sound and visuals are intense, its inspiration comes from a deeply personal place. YOUHA shared that “Pink Dress” is about her feelings toward her family, especially her dad.
“There are things that are harder to say precisely because you’re family, and emotions that are difficult to explain,” she said. “I wanted to put those feelings into music in my own way.”
YOUHA also worked closely with the music video’s director from the early stages, sharing the emotions and images she wanted to bring into the visual. While the song began with her real life, she wanted the video to make room for the imagination and fantasies in her head.
Looking Back While Moving Forward
Since The Mikan Box last caught up with YOUHA, she has continued collaborating with other artists, performing, and writing music. Those experiences helped her approach pasado with a fresh perspective.
She said working with other artists has shown her how many different ways there are to approach music. Writing with someone else’s voice and story in mind has also helped her look at her own work differently.
“As those experiences accumulated, they gave me the courage to step outside my usual approach on this album,” she said. “Whenever a new idea came to mind, I wanted to give it a try.”
Asked what she hopes listeners understand about her after hearing pasado, YOUHA said she doesn’t want to be defined by one image or genre. Instead, she hopes people hear the different sides of her, including moments of confidence and moments when she’s still finding her way.
“This music began with me, but by the time they finish listening, I hope it can become part of their own stories, too,” she said.
pasado Tracklist
“Honey Cake”
“DSLR”
“pasado”
“Black Diamonds”
“COCONOT”
“PAUSE”
“unholy bible”
“X.E.S”
“profile 1999”
“수(soo)”
“Pink Dress”
“Head In The Clouds”
Listen to pasado on Apple Music.
Quotes are from YOUHA’s interview with The Mikan Box.
