By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – London, The global electronic music community has long looked to Yu Su as a primary architect of modern "fourth-world" soundscapes, an artist capable of weaving together the organic and the synthetic with a rare, painterly touch. Today, the Kaifeng-born, London-based producer and DJ has officially pulled back the curtain on her next major creative chapter. Five years after her critically acclaimed debut LP redefined the boundaries of leftfield house and ambient music, Yu Su has announced the arrival of her sophomore studio album, titled Foundry. Set for a worldwide release on May 1st, the record promises to be a transformative exploration of rhythm and texture, anchored by the newly released lead single, "A Jewel," featuring the iconic Japanese dream-pop duo Dip in the Pool.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in a career that has been defined by steady, thoughtful evolution. Since the release of 2021’s Yellow River Blue, an album that acted as a sonic travelogue of her roots in China and her experiences in the Pacific Northwest, Yu Su has become one of the most sought-after names in the underground. However, Foundry represents something more than a mere sequel. It is a work of maturation, reflecting her recent relocation to North London and the shifts in perspective that come with a change in geography. The album’s title itself evokes a sense of industrial alchemy—a place where raw materials are melted down and recast into something durable and new.
In a personal statement reflecting on the project’s genesis, Yu Su described Foundry as the direct result of a long-term gestation process. She noted that the music is the "fruit borne from the buried seeds" of her previous work. This metaphor suggests a continuity of spirit, but the sonic results indicate a bold leap forward. Having spent the last few years establishing a "solid ground" in London, she has allowed her environment to seep into her production. The artist describes a process where the "dust settled into rhythm," a poetic nod to how the chaotic elements of life in a sprawling metropolis can eventually coalesce into the structured, hypnotic patterns found in her music.
The lead single, "A Jewel," serves as a perfect entry point into this new era. Featuring the ethereal vocals of Dip in the Pool—the Japanese duo consisting of Miyako Koda and Tatsuji Kimura—the track is a masterclass in understated elegance. Dip in the Pool, who rose to prominence in the 1980s with their unique blend of avant-pop and ambient textures, provide a nostalgic yet futuristic layer to Yu Su’s intricate production. The collaboration feels like a natural meeting of minds, bridging the gap between Tokyo’s legendary ambient heritage and the contemporary global dance floor. "A Jewel" manages to feel both weightless and grounded, utilizing a delicate rhythmic framework to support Koda’s hauntingly beautiful vocal performance.
Foundry is not merely a solo endeavor but a collaborative tapestry that brings together some of the most respected names in experimental music. Across its eight tracks, Yu Su has enlisted a diverse array of talent to help realize her vision. Among the most notable contributors are Seefeel, the legendary post-rock and IDM outfit affiliated with Warp Records. Known for their ability to blur the lines between guitar-driven shoegaze and electronic glitch, Seefeel’s involvement suggests that Foundry may touch upon darker, more industrial textures than Yu Su’s previous outings. Additionally, the album features Newport-based experimentalist Memotone, whose work often defies categorization, blending neoclassical elements with wonky, organic electronics.
The inclusion of such varied collaborators speaks to Yu Su’s standing as a curator as much as a composer. Since her last full-length release, she has remained prolific, ensuring that her name stayed at the forefront of the conversation through a series of high-quality EPs and singles. In 2023, she released the I Want An Earth EP via the boutique label Pinchy & Friends, a record that leaned into her penchant for dubby, mid-tempo grooves and lush synthesizers. More recently, in 2024, she contributed the single "Avanvera" to the esteemed Music From Memory imprint, a label synonymous with the rediscovery of lost ambient gems and the promotion of visionary new talent. These releases functioned as stepping stones, allowing her to experiment with different moods and tempos before committing to the cohesive narrative of a full-length album.
The transition from Yellow River Blue to Foundry is also a story of physical and cultural movement. While her debut was deeply tied to the landscapes of her youth and her time in Vancouver, the new album is firmly rooted in the energy of North London. The city’s history of club culture and its vibrant, multi-ethnic experimental scene have clearly left their mark. There is a sense that the "soil" Yu Su refers to is now composed of different minerals. Listeners are encouraged to "listen closely" to the rhythms bubbling through this new ground, suggesting a record that rewards deep, attentive listening rather than superficial consumption.
While the album shares its name with her November 2024 single released on the Short Span label, the tracklist offers a few surprises for completists. Notably, the B-side to that single, "Bonita," has been omitted from the final album sequence, indicating that Foundry has been meticulously curated to maintain a specific atmospheric flow. This dedication to the "album as an art form" is increasingly rare in the streaming era, but for an artist like Yu Su, the narrative arc of a long-player remains the ultimate medium for her storytelling.
For fans of electronic music that sits at the intersection of the cerebral and the visceral, Foundry is shaping up to be one of the most significant releases of the year. Yu Su’s ability to find beauty in the "settling dust" and to turn the industrial process of a foundry into a source of melodic inspiration is a testament to her unique artistic voice. Whether she is exploring the delicate pop sensibilities of her Japanese collaborators or the gritty experimentalism of the Warp-adjacent underground, she remains the steady hand guiding the process.
As the May 1st release date approaches, the anticipation continues to build. The album will be available across digital platforms and via Bandcamp, where pre-orders have already begun. For those who have followed her journey from the early days of her EPs on labels like Mood Hut and PPU, Foundry feels like a homecoming of sorts—a confirmation that Yu Su has found her footing in a new city and is ready to share the fruits of her labor with the world.
In the lead-up to the launch, listeners are encouraged to revisit her previous contributions to the scene, including her 2023 entry into the DJ Mag Selections series, which highlighted her eclectic taste and deep knowledge of the electronic canon. From the banks of the Yellow River to the streets of North London, Yu Su’s music continues to act as a bridge, connecting disparate cultures, eras, and sounds into a singular, shimmering whole. With Foundry, that bridge looks sturdier and more expansive than ever before. The seeds have been planted, the soil has been tilled, and on May 1st, the world will finally get to experience the full harvest of Yu Su’s latest creative cycle.