hevel RELEASES NEW ALBUM ‘our home and my overstayed welcome’ [REVIEW]

BY BRENESSA ROACH | MAY 2, 2025

On May 2, 2025, Midwest-based South Korean artist hevel released their new album our home, and my overstayed welcome. The 12-track project showcases hevel’s signature blend of alternative pop, punk-rock guitars, and high-energy drums, all tied together with their captivating vocals.

This album offers an intimate look into hevel’s experience as a foreigner navigating the Western music industry. Through each song, they unpack themes of the Asian diaspora, assimilation, and the emotional weight of being stuck in a loop of mistakes, self-reflection, addiction, and nihilism—all wrapped in tracks that contrast heavy introspection with deceptively upbeat sounds.

“our home, and my overstayed welcome is a paradoxical and nonsensical phrase,” hevel explains. “The words “our home” imply that I am included in the home, that it belongs to me too, yet I continue to feel unwelcome in the place I now call ‘home’. The ‘overstayed welcome’ is representative of the experience of the Asian diaspora, my insecurities of feeling belonging, my relationship issues, and imposter syndrome.”

Track 1: caleb intro

“caleb intro” starts off with a folk-type guitar and some humming. hevel’s vocal’s come in strong and they are such warm and honey-like vocals. We really enjoyed this intro—especially the pre-chorus as the production slowly builds into the catchy chorus. The background lyrics also say “Our home / our home and my overstayed welcome baby” which is the name of the album and that was a nice touch for an intro song.

Track 2: runaway

“runaway” is a hyper-pop style song. The intro to this song is not our favourite, but once hevel’s vocals come in and the production changes to that four-on-the-floor drum beat, we love it. This song is actually very catchy just like every hevel song at this point. Our favourite part of the song is when hevel sings: “Watch me as I fall apart / One by one as the world’s on fire / Baby run baby run don’t look back / If you don’t see nun its not mine”. This chorus part has such a nostalgic feel to it as it reminds me of the movie soundtracks I grew up listening to.

Track 3: PNR ft Sonny Zero

“PNR” is short form for Point of No Return and it’s a drum heavy song with vocal chops and a lot of synths—especially in the choruses. This song “delves into the feeling of being pushed beyond the breaking point, surrendering to mistreatment, and grappling with a sense of hopelessness and reluctant acceptance.”, says hevel. This song is featuring Sonny Zero—who is an artist we really love and every time Sonny Zero and hevel collab, we know it’s going to be a bop. Drum heavy songs really suit hevel’s style.

Track 4: kids (red ribbon) ft jontwo

“kids (red ribbon)” ft jontwo is a song where hevel talks about their current life and relationship state. It’s a reflection on their journey to self development and the feeling of being stuck in the same spot when the rest of the world is moving forward. hevel explains, “red ribbon” refers to the red ribbons on trees used to mark your past trail when hiking, indicating where you came from.”. This song is just so beautiful to us and we feel that a lot of people can relate to this feeling. Our favourite line of the song is “Tracing back my red ribbon in the dark / Cuz I can’t see right when the moon is glowing bright” emphasizing that feeling of being stuck. This song is a standout track for us on this album.

Track 5: skin

“skin” is one of the tracks that was released prior to this album. It first came out on October 18, 2024. It is a song that hevel sings in English and Korean and we think the mix of the languages is so special. Ever since this song came out, we have been obsessed with it especially the rock-production and the pre-chorus when hevel sings “언제부턴가 / My teeth and my gums feel off / And the skin on my knuckles / Peeling off cuz I hear nothing but loud / High screams of the god that fucks me over / Maybe I’m just meant to be / Oh stop picking at your skin baby”.

Track 6: emergency ft Wes Patrick

“emergency” ft Wes Patrick is another track that was released prior to this album. It came out on January 17th. We had discovered Wes Patrick at the end of 2024 and this collaboration starting our new year off was so unexpected and much needed. Wes Patrick and hevel’s voices and musical styles blend so well together. This is definitely one of our favourite songs on the album.

Track 7: numb ft maybeblue

“numb” featuring maybeblue showcases a refreshing shift from hevel’s usual sound—and it’s a great one. The track highlights hevel’s impressive versatility, proving they can effortlessly adapt to different genres. One standout moment comes in the lyrics, “Our home / our home and my overstayed welcome baby”—the delivery is so catchy, it sticks with you. hevel’s almost melodic rap style flows perfectly with the hyper-pop and hip-hop inspired production.

Track 8: 1004 ft Jiselle

“1004” featuring Jiselle, released as a pre-release track on February 14, is easily another one of our favourites from the album. The first time we heard it, we were immediately pulled in by the emotional lyrics: “Angel lost her wings / Fallen from grace baby / No one gets you like I do / They don’t even know ya / Friends said you’re nothing / But you were my first love / Baby please hold me / Please don’t let me leave you.” The moment hevel softly sings “1004” in Korean—“일 공 공 사”—right after, it gives the song an extra layer of depth. The track flows beautifully with a calming R&B vibe, and Jiselle’s feature adds the perfect finishing touch.

Track 9: wwidwy (sinhong’s version)

“wwidwy (sinhong’s version)” is a brief 48-second track that feels more like a transitional moment within the album. While it’s sonically interesting, we weren’t quite sure of its purpose or what “wwidwy” stands for, which left us a bit confused.

Track 10: frozen river

“frozen river,” originally released on November 22, 2024, as a pre-release track, is one of the more upbeat songs on the album. At its core, it’s about hevel holding onto hope, waiting for someone to return—as captured in the heartfelt lyric, “You know I can’t live here without you / My baby.” Sonically, the track leans into a drum-heavy production layered with bright synths, giving it a vibrant yet emotional feel.

Track 11: ghost of the peninsula

“ghost of the peninsula” is a beautiful title, and the song itself offers a slower, more emotional sound that feels like a refreshing shift from hevel’s usual style. It quickly became one of our favourites on the album—we love a track that starts soft and gradually builds into something a bit more upbeat. Although it’s another short song, the heartfelt lyrics make a strong impact and deliver the message powerfully, despite its brief runtime.

Track 12: lullaby

“lullaby” is the final track on hevel’s album, and just like the title suggests, it’s a soft, gentle song that wraps everything up perfectly. The song feels like a reflective letter to his parents—a vulnerable moment that ties back to the core theme of the album: hevel navigating life in America, feeling stuck at times, but still pushing forward. The lyrics “Daddy I can’t do it / I’m just losing every minute / And it’s been a while you dropped me off / Can you pick me up I’m scared / I know I’m strong and determined” are incredibly touching. It’s a raw and honest portrayal of growing up, and something so many people can relate to as they try to find their way.

Overall, our home, and my overstayed welcome is a beautiful collection of songs that captures hevel’s story with raw emotions and honesty. We feel truly honoured to have listened to and reviewed this album. hevel is an incredibly talented artist, and we can’t wait to see—and hear—what they share with the world next.

our home, and my overstayed welcome is now available on all platforms—listen here.

Follow hevel:

Spotify | Instagram | TikTok

Got an artist or song submission? Visit our Submit Music page.