Single Review: “Yoke” by Medium Build and Julien Baker
On October 25, 2024, Medium Build released "Yoke," the second single from his EP ‘Marietta.’ This track features Julien Baker, a longtime friend of his and an incredibly talented musician herself.
Medium Build is the stage name of American singer-songwriter Nick Carpenter. He and Baker first met when she was just 17, performing with her band, the Star Killers, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They connected over their shared love of music and their experiences growing up queer in religious Southern communities. The admiration they have for one another, both as artists and as people, is evident. As Carpenter puts it, they've always "pushed each other towards more honesty in [their] songs—the ugly kind of honesty [they] were drawn to." Baker, in turn, describes Carpenter's music as "from the borders of the absurd with humor and grace . . . unafraid of ugliness, but always begging the merit of levity."
“Yoke” is a song that is brutally honest, tender, and above all, healing. The title is a reference to Matthew 11:28-30 from the Christian Bible, where Jesus offers a light and easy yoke to ease one’s burdens. But within the context of the song, this “yoke” symbolizes the weight of a belief system that has become more difficult to carry and is no longer as straightforward as it once seemed.
The track beautifully blends both artists’ styles. The production begins sparse with simple guitar strumming, as Carpenter’s voice carries a vulnerable heaviness that is both palpable and heartbreaking. Though his vocals remain at the forefront, Baker's powerful harmonies, especially in the chorus, elevate and complete the song. In her solo work, Baker's songs are often known for their gradual build-ups to her passionate, cathartic screaming, a vocal style that complements Carpenter's perfectly. Through Carpenter’s delivery, we can feel the weariness and strain of someone struggling to hold on to something that no longer aligns with who they are. Meanwhile, Baker's voice channels the anger and resentment that has accumulated after years of feeling this way.
The lyrics, written entirely by Carpenter, express these emotions perfectly. The repetition in the chorus is impactful, while the verses carry a retrospective bitterness. In the second verse, they sing, “I gave them my youth, made some lifelong friends / Who no longer acknowledge me.” These lines are immediately striking because they capture the pain of lost years and the ache of outgrowing relationships with people who won’t accept you for who you’ve become.
As the song progresses, the instrumentation gradually builds with subtle strings and layered guitars, a slow crescendo that is both haunting and intimate. When Carpenter and Baker shout, “The yoke was so heavy,” for the final time, their voices are laced with anger, but more than that, it feels deeply sorrowful and freeing, as if they are embodying the burdens from their past and letting it go.
In their solo music and in interviews, Carpenter and Baker have been very open about their evolving relationships with queerness and faith. Although their journeys with religion are vastly different, they’re both inspiration that we don’t have to let past hurt from religious institutions define our present faith or who we are. “Yoke” is a song that hurts beautifully and comforts with its raw honesty. Upon its release, Carpenter and Baker stated, “We hope this song helps anyone who needs it.” For anybody who’s ever struggled with their faith or beliefs they once held tightly to, this song holds space for the pain and for the healing.
"Yoke" is just a glimpse into Medium Build’s EP ‘Marietta,’ which came out on November 15, 2024. Be sure to check it out, available now on all streaming services!