Written by Michelle Sy | September 30, 2025

San Francisco, CA - Redefining indie and bedroom pop, rising star Yung Kai delivered an exceptional performance at Café Du Nord on Tuesday. Yung Kai is a 23-year-old Chinese Canadian musician, known for his viral hit blue, which peaked on the Billboard Global 200 in 2024 after gaining traction on TikTok and Instagram. His career has skyrocketed since—he was quickly signed by Wasserman Management and performed at Head in the Clouds 2025. Since then, he has released his debut album, stay with the ocean, i’ll find you, featuring a range of songs with a similar vibe.

yung kai performing at Café Du Nord, San Francisco | photos by Michelle Sy

Opening for Yung Kai was Takayoshi, an indie-pop musician from Southern California who brought high energy to the intimate venue. Café Du Nord, a staple San Francisco venue in the Castro District, boasts a capacity of only about 300 people in its basement-style bar. While eagerly awaiting Yung Kai, many fans inched as close as they could to the stage, battling the heat and low ventilation.

Yung Kai kicked off his show with stay with the ocean, i’ll find you. The album centers heavily on themes of love and yearning with songs such as do you think you could love me? and my love my love my love. His light, smooth vocals perfectly complemented the soft guitar and slower beats in many of his songs, creating a cozy atmosphere—especially for the couples swaying to the music. Off the same album, my light features several lyrics in Mandarin, which proved to be a crowd favorite, generating excitement among fans.

Halfway through his set, he paid homage to some of his greatest inspirations—including Wave to Earth, Keshi, and Daniel Caesar—through three covers. It was evident how these artists have influenced his vocals, instrumentals, and overall music style. On stage with him were Micah on bass, Jack on drums, and Jonathan on guitar. During flower, Yung Kai tossed flowers into the crowd, even stepping down to interact directly with fans.

“This song changed my life,” declared Yung Kai as he prepared to end his set with blue. The crowd clung to his every word, cheering and screaming for him and the band at any moment’s notice. It is always exciting to see what a newer artist, who has only recently risen to fame, brings to the stage. It is clear that Yung Kai has captured the hearts of many fans worldwide, resonating particularly strongly with Asian Americans.

If you are looking for romantic songs to share with your partner or want to wind down to some lighthearted, relaxing tunes, Yung Kai is the musician for you. We hope to see him back in San Francisco soon.