#excinterview

Your album is called HAPPINESS. How does the concept of your album relate to its title?

“HAPPINESS is an album that’s about feelings to the opposite. In our daily lives, we tend to neglect them for what’s easier to deal with. This album, and I, reject the idea that we must push away negative emotions. It’s for anyone who doesn’t always feel happiness, and feels guilty for that.”

What was different in the preparation process of this album in comparison to In Sensitivity?

“In Sensitivity was a much shorter preparation period, for one. There, it was an incredibly fast creative process as well. With HAPPINESS, I had the opportunity to work with our company’s different creative teams to create a cohesive album that means something every step of the way. This album, I also wrote largely on my own, which is not something I was able to do with In Sensitivity. I’d like to think of them as a natural progression in finding my place as a solo artist.”

What was it like working with Knight’s Duri, CHARM’s Aidynn and Dai, and Origin’s Joohwan as featuring artists on your album?

“They’re lovely to work with! They’re friends, which made working with them all the more smooth. I’m very thankful that they all took time from their busy schedules to lend me their talents. Every song they helped me with wouldn’t have been the same, had it just been me. Each of their unique colors brought something magical, so I’m very happy to have been able to work with them.”

You were heavily involved in the songwriting, composing, and producing process of the album. Which song was the hardest to write/compose/produce? Why?

“‘Seoul’. Many of the songs on the album were difficult to write for the state of mind that was required to write them, and I’m not sure if comparing them is proper. However, with ‘Seoul’, that’s a song that was years in the making. I’d originally begun the song as a trainee, and it grew alongside me and my personal growth through the years. Growth is one of the most difficult things to force yourself into, and without that, ‘Seoul’ wouldn’t exist.”

What worries and concerns did you have while working on HAPPINESS?

“I often worried that my intention wouldn’t come across. Until now, I’m still unsure. The album isn’t only about sitting in sadness, but that it’s okay to do so, and helpful, in order for the natural winds to pass. I hope that it is more of a comfort, than something that brings down listeners.”

Did you have any major inspirations for this album?

“One massive inspiration was for the song ‘Moonchild’. The inspiration came from a fan, actually. [On] my radio show, Sun’s Goodnight, I ask listeners to send in their stories and communicate with me on a more intimate level. Over the last two years, I’ve become well-acquainted with many of my regular listeners. We’ve grown together in sharing similar troubles, and I end up remembering the details of their lives. One of my listeners recently got married, and I’d been hearing about their relationship since their engagement. ‘Moonchild’ is a response to those people I feel like I’ve come to know, and the connection we have with one another. Honestly, my fans inspire me every day.”

What do you hope people take away from listening to this album?

“We all feel all kinds of emotions. Not all of them are pleasant, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important. I hope anyone who listens to HAPPINESS will take the journey to experiencing negative emotions fully, and embrace them, so they can be let go. It’s a difficult journey, but one I believe anyone can take on and win. Anyone hearing this, please let HAPPINESS be your friend on the path.”

Do you have any other comments you’d like to make to your fans?

How does the album title, Fatalism represent the album, in your opinion?

“Fatalism, if I am to speak casually, is the idea that there’s no real use trying to change anything because all events are already predetermined. That ties into the story line presented on the album of a passionate affair turning into a romantic love turning into heartbreak and then to despondency and hopelessness. When your heart is broken, the idea that you couldn’t have changed anything may be a comfort to you or it may cause you more pain, to know that the love you experienced was always fated to end. That’s how the title of Fatalism is supposed to connect to the album.”

How would you compare your Fatalism to Daydream and I’m Young, your first two solo albums?

"When I spoke about the difference between Daydream and I’m Young, I believe I said that I’d matured. Again, I believe the same thing happened between Daydream and Fatalism. Daydream was my start with some of the sounds that were incorporated onto Fatalism, but for this album, I went more all-in on them. The subject matter of Fatalism is more mature, in some ways and from an outside perspective, than the subject matter on I’m Young, too.”

What one b-side track off of Fatalism would you recommend everyone listen to?

“I’d like people to listen to “The Weight”. I hope it’s a song people can listen to and think, “ah, I’m not alone”. It isn’t a comforting song, but that’s not what everyone needs all the time, and sometimes it’s better just to know you’re not the only one going through hard times. That’s why I’d like more people to listen to it.”

You had the most creative involvement in this album compared to your previous two albums. How do you feel you’ve improved as a songwriter and producer since your first album?

“I’ve improved in learning how to write about new experiences. I do think I’ve gotten better, but I still have a very long way to go, and the album wouldn’t have happened without the others who helped me along the way. It can be dangerous to get too caught up in patting yourself on your back for your own improvement, so I don’t like to dwell to long on that, and instead think about all of the improvement that I have to work on in my future.”

Did you have any major inspirations for this album?

"I was inspired mainly by the story line that had been determined for the album. I wrote a lot of the album, in particular the first five tracks, with that goal in mind. It was a new experience for me to write songs and craft a track list with a story line in mind, so my biggest inspiration was the goal to create songs that would match that well.”

What challenges did you face while making this album?

“Writing for a story line as I mentioned was a challenge, but I also found myself more tied up in expectations of me this time around than I was with my other albums, so I had to work to get past those. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to receive the same love as in the past if I didn’t produce the perfect album, so I was working with that in mind, which challenged me at times.”

What do you hope people take away from listening to this album?

"My goal is always the same, to speak to people and create music that makes others feel. For this album, Fatalism, I’d like it if people left with an open mind about me and what kind of music I can make and what kinds of concepts I might show in the future.”

Is there anything else you’d like to say to your fans?

Why is your album titled “In Sensitivity” and what does that title mean to you?

“The album represents the parts of us that are sensitive, so it’s like a view into sensitivity, or to live within the realm of the sensitive. Being a sensitive person, like I am, isn’t a bad thing, and it shouldn’t be viewed as a negative part of us. It’s more important, and healthier, I think, to express those emotions fully, which is what I tried to do through naming it bluntly.”

How would you describe the concept of your mini-album?

“It’s a dual concept, that comes together as parts of a person. We all have an outward self we put on when we’re with others, but beneath that is the self that feels more true. That self is more vulnerable, and emotional. In a word, sensitive.”

How would you compare the sound and concept of your mini-album and its title track to the music you normally perform with Element?

“They’re very different in sound. If Element had a fully conceptual album, I think we could do one similar to what I feel In Sensitivity does, but the sound is different. Element’s music is mostly known for being tropical house, and most of In Sensitivity is hip hop leaning. Although, I think where they line up is in that both of them are chillwave inspired.”

What was your songwriting and production process for the songs you helped create on this album?

“I’m constantly making compositions in my free time. Most of the songs I created on the album were originally pieces I’d written as long as a year earlier. Some of the tracks that made it, and even those that didn’t, weren’t originally written with myself performing them in mind, especially solo, so they had to be rewritten to fit myself and the album. I think that’s part of why many of the songs ended up with that lo-fi, chillwave feeling to them, because they were originally pieces I had in mind for Element.”

What is your personal favorite track on the album and why?

“The intro, Sad Memories, definitely. I don’t rap on it at all, but it’s probably the composition I’m most proud of. Not just on In Sensitivity, but overall, of anything I’ve ever written. It’s the first full piano piece I’ve done, and I wrote it completely on my own. And personally, it represents how far I’ve come in songwriting. A year ago, there’s no way I could have played piano to that level. Maybe one day I can play it live for my fans.”

Did you have any major inspirations for this mini-album?

“So many people and things inspire me. My family, my friends, my members, God. They all support me, which makes any of this possible. Without them, I wouldn’t have the energy to keep creating. But, specifically, the concept, the interlude, and the way the whole album was formed, wouldn’t exist as is if I hadn’t come across the Ted Talk I sampled from.”

What do you hope people take away from listening to this mini-album?

“I hope that anyone who listens can feel heard in some way, and hear me too, saying that it’s okay to express your sensitivities, because it makes you stronger.”

Do you have any other comments you’d like to make to your fans?

A-Teen is your on-camera acting debut. Why did you choose this project?

“My manager was contacted by the producers of the webdrama, I took a look at the role descriptions, and I thought the character of Do Hana was very interesting … because that was who I originally auditioned for. Then, they called and said they wanted me to play Kim Hana. I was really surprised, but I thought it would be a good challenge.”

You starred in Les Misérables recently. What has been the difference for you between stage acting and on-camera acting?

“There’s a big difference, which I expected. I had to tone down a lot of things, and it was really strange to not have to look at the camera at all. The camera is your audience, and when you’re performing on music shows, you have to make sure to look at them, and when you’re on stage, singing to the audience is part of the experience too, but when you’re acting for screen? No eye contact with the camera, the audience isn’t there! If they’ll allow me, maybe I’ll upload a blooper of me accidentally looking at it onto my Instagram.”

Speaking of Les Misérables, how would you compare the roles of Cosette and Kim Hana? Which one did you enjoy playing more?

“Well, how can you compare the two? Playing Cosette was a childhood dream come true, but it was scary to step into such a famous role. Kim Hana was another dream … to get to create my very own role. There hasn’t been another Kim Hana from the webdrama A-Teen, but there’s been hundreds of Cosettes. They were both fun to work on in their own way, but I think Cosette was more enjoyable for me overall. I’ve never worked on screen before, so I spent most of my downtime on set learning about the process. It was a lot more hands on, whereas the stage process is something I’m familiar with, meaning I could relax more.”

What challenges did you face while playing your character?

“Like I said, I spent a lot of time on set just trying to settle in. Those first few days were hard … I feel like I only really got into the swing of things during the second week of filming, so I’m grateful for everyone who helped me and put up with me. An ensemble cast is a really comfortable thing to work in, and it made things a lot easier on me. When I was feeling lost, I always had my castmates around me to bounce off of.”

Do you think you and your character share similar characteristics? Do you think this made it an easier or harder role for you to play?

“Kim Hana and I are very different, but we still have some things in common. I’m the type of person who keeps things close to my chest, I’m not very good at expressing the truth about myself. We’re similar in that regard. However, I was never popular in school, and I was definitely never top of the class … those things impact your school years more than you even realize. More than I realized anyways, until I found myself struggling to relate to KimHa. I didn’t have any experiences to draw on. I actually ended up calling my sister to ask about her life as an A+ student.”

Do you plan to explore acting in dramas more in the future? What type of roles would you want to take on?

“If I’m lucky enough to, I would like to do more dramas. Maybe on TV? Or a second season of A-Teen. I feel like Kim Hana’s story still has more to be explored. I’m still too young at the moment, but I always like the cool, tough older women in dramas. Nothing fazes them, which is so different to me. I’d also like to try taking on something in the horror or mystery genres. Like a Nancy Drew kind of character!”

Why do you think people should watch A-Teen?

“It’s a drama that captures the everyday life of teenagers! I think it deals with lots of relevant issues today, without being too over the top or overly serious, and I’m proud to make my drama debut in it! And the episodes are short, so it’s a drama that’s easy to fit in to your day, if you’re looking for something to watch but don’t have the time to sit down for a whole hour.”

Do you have any other comments you’d like to make to your fans?

How would you describe the concept of Boy, and a Flower?

“I would describe the concept of Boy, and A Flower as soft, delicate. I think it takes the form of a flower, in its entirety.  There’s sad songs that are on the album and flowers are able to obtain the water. There’s beauty and flowers are some of the most beautiful things. There’s softness, with the petals of flowers being soft. To put it simply, the concept is just that of a flower.”

You released another album, WINTER, earlier this year. How would you compare that album to Boy, and a Flower?

“I think WINTER and Boy, and a Flower have a similar aura about them in the way that I wanted them to both be very healing albums in a sense. I want you to be able to sit down, turn them on, and rest. I quite enjoy putting out music that has that feeling. I really hope others are able to feel that way when they listen to both WINTER and Boy, and a Flower. However, I think Boy, and a Flower shows off my voice a bit more than WINTER did, since Boy, and a Flower is more ballad based! With WINTER, I believe the fans got to see both my voice and my abilities when it comes to dancing!”

What was the most challenging part of making this mini-album?

“Definitely deciding how this mini-album was going to go! I didn’t mean for it to be completely ballads, but it turned out that way, and I really like singing ballads anyways! I think I do best at ballads, right? Going through the writing process for a full mini album on my own was really challenging too and trying to figure which songs I’ve written in the past as well showed a true challenge. But, in the end, I think it turned out really well, and I’m glad we went with the songs that we did this time!”

Which is your favorite song on the mini-album?

“I really like all of the songs on the mini album! It’s really hard to pick just one song to name as my favorite. However, I think I really like Flower the most? The lyrics are really just really comforting to me and probably the lyrics that make me feel the most healed? I feel like it’s something I can really relate to! I guess that’s why the album is essentially named after that track!”

You wrote the lyrics for all of the song on the mini-album. What is your favorite lyric you wrote?

“Reiterating from the last question, that’s really a hard one! But, I think my favorite lyric comes from the song, Flower, which goes flowers bloom, holding the warming sun becoming small dreams.”

Did you have any major inspirations for this mini-album?

“Books and I’ll admit… I’m a little bit of a hopeless romantic, so I’m a sucker for romance books and movies! I just really like them a lot, so I looked upon those movies and books to get inspiration for the songs on this album! However, even though I got inspiration from those, I looked inside of my own hopeless romantic nature to formulate my very own stories to showcase on this album.”

What do you hope people take away from listening to this mini-album, and is that different from what you had hoped they’d take away from your first album?

“I don’t think it’s much different from what I’d like them to take away from my first album! I really want them to be able to take away the feelings that they feel when listening to Boy, and a Flower! I hope that by listening to this album, especially since the colder months are quickly falling upon us, that they can feel healed by anything that’s troubling them currently. It would be nice if they could come back to this album when they need comfort the most, I really hope I can do that for them!”

Do you have any other comments you’d like to make to your fans?

How would you describe the concept of Uncover; Touch?

“The concept for Uncover; Touch came out because I wanted people to see this side of me. I think it’s my personal extension of Gal.actic’s concept. That’s what it is at its core. But the entire album follows my idea of how a relationship could go. In order, I struggled with choosing “Touch “ or “Mastering” to open the album but I went with “Touch”. That first glance, that passion. I’m a straightforward person. “Touch” is me overall. “Mastering” shows the soft side of it, how you constantly put your thoughts and focus into one person. And then by the time you get to “Fly High”, you notice a shift. When things aren’t so great. Ending with “Fever”, wanting that person to go back to who they were, wanting the relationship to go back to what it was but it won’t. It’s a love story with passion and softness and then a bitter end.”

You debuted with Gal.actic in 2011. Why was now the right time for you to make your solo debut?

"I think now is the perfect time because I’ve learned everything I could in my years as an idol. From dancing to being stable live, how to work the crowd. How to be a great performer. Gal.actic is at a point where we can focus on solo works. We have a lot more freedom to follow our own interest. It felt like it was finally time to show our fans and the public this side of me. I would have liked for it to happen sooner but I think now is the perfect time. I went into my solo debut with the mindset that this was the time to have all eyes on me. All the years in Gal.actic have helped me arrive at this moment and has helped me become the Kami that can stand on stage today. I’ve become a senior artist and I’ve learned a lot, now is the time to show everyone that”

What was the most challenging part of making this mini-album?

“Nailing down the album. I know it sounds funny, maybe even silly but the hardest part was the start. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to really break away from our sound. To go with something cute or rap focused. Maybe a mix of both. or did I want to go a sexy route and show what we’re known for. There aren’t many soloist who go for a concept like my group has. So the hardest part been choosing what was Kami. I have chances in the future to show more sides of myself but how would I start out? What sound would I start out with? Handling that part had been the hardest for me but I’m sure I tackled it.”

7ROPHY’s Eunah produced “Mastering” off of the album, Fuse’s Alice featured on “I Love You, I Love You“, and Silhoeutte’s Youngjoo featured on “Leggo”. What was it like working with them?

“It was honestly wonderful and it wasn’t hard. I think I loved that the most, but should I explain a bit more right? The lyrics for ”Mastering” were already finished but I needed the music. I talked to the producers in the company and then someone suggested Eunah. We went to her with the lyrics and then the instrumental for “Mastering” was born. Hopefully, I can do a video with her and let her explain her process. I’ll work to make that happen. As for my featuring artist, for Youngjoo I looked around for a vocalist that could capture the feelings. I had a very certain idea in mind. I combed through a few videos of singers and finally settled on Youngjoo. She’s sweet and very agreeable. While working together, I think she managed to see my vision so the recording process wasn’t hard at all. I’m really thankful for that. and Alice, Alice is a junior that I completely adore. One day I jokingly told her that she would be on my first album and I think she didn’t really believe at the time. There’s something about her vocals that I adore so I jumped at the chance and she said yes. I think I had the most fun with Alice because we’re already close. I even call her my ace. She worked hard for me and I wouldn’t be able to ask for anything more.”

You co-produced “Touch” and “Leggo” and lyric-wrote “Fever”, along with choreographing “Touch” and “Mastering”. What was the creative process of those like for you?

"A lot of late nights first of all. It would’ve been harder if it hadn’t been for the company staff. They really rallied behind me for it. I made the lyrics for “Fever” during a late night session, we have fun and just re-played the music over and over until I could find something I wanted. And it was the same for ”Touch”. I got in the studio and I just threw myself at it. I knew I wanted something fun and flirty so I took that into account. I think I really focused on my personality and that bloomed into the music I have now. Dancing had been the easiest, I even have a video up about how I create choreography. I take into account the lyrics, the mood of the music and how many dancers there would be. Then I constantly had people review, tell me the good and the bad and finally the dances were born.”

Did you have any major inspirations for this mini-album?

“Me. I want to say that I was the major inspiration for the album. I wanted to be ale to hold my head high and I needed to create a work that would allow me to do that. There is so much that I want to do but this is what I wanted to do first”

What do you hope people take away from listening to this mini-album?

“I hope through this album, people can find a song that they connect too. The upbeat “Touch”, the party styles of “Fever” and “Leggo”. I want them to be able to hear my ideas of love and passion and compare them to their own. If just one song can become something people can connect with, then I think that I did my job.”

Do you have any other comments you’d like to make to your fans?

Dogfight is your professional acting debut. How did you prepare?

“Before rehearsal began, I made sure to study up on the show and get myself in a positive mindset to approach rehearsals. I was promoting alongside Lucid for much of our rehearsal period for the show, so I worked on ways to separate my focus and did a lot of script studying backstage during music shows so that I wouldn’t be behind everyone next time we met for rehearsals. The other cast members helped a lot too!”

Why did you choose Dogfight as your acting debut?

“Dogfight wasn’t a show I was very familiar with before I heard about the auditions, but I fell in love with it throughout the audition process and getting cast. Rose is a character every girl can see some of herself in, but she’s still a believable character. That resonated with me. During discussions with the director, we talked about the changes Rose herself goes through on a personal level being a metaphor for changes in women in society, and that only solidified my confidence in taking on the role.”

How is acting in a musical different from your job as an idol singer? How have you adapted with that in mind?

“They’re very different experiences except for the obvious shared trait of singing both in a musical and while onstage as a singer. When I’m doing my part as Lucid’s Juliet, the focus is on delivering the song and choreography in the most enjoyable way for the audience watching. When I’m acting onstage, I have to focus more on the character and her motivations, and how to portray her self and story in the way I feel is most true to her."

Do you think you and your character share similar characteristics? Do you think this made it an easier or harder role for you to play?

“I think we do! We both have quieter personalities and love music, and she wants to see the best in people like I do, and I’m glad that the first role I got to take on was one I could immediately find common ground with. I did want to make sure there were differences, though, and that I was becoming her instead of making her become me. Our similarities did make it easier at first since it was easy to figure out her motivations and connect with her emotional journey throughout the musical.”

What is your favorite song to perform?

“’Pretty Funny’ is a song I love to perform. It closes the first act and there’s a lot of vulnerability I have to show, but throughout rehearsals, I came to really love “Before It’s Over”. It’s a big character moment for Rose and without that song, her whole journey would feel a lot cheaper. You can really see the change in Rose from “Pretty Funny” to “Before It’s Over” in a big way, and I tried hard to do well showing that.”

What type of roles would you like to explore in the future?

“I want to try a lot of different roles! I’m interested to try and tackle any role that is offered to me. Being able to play a really iconic role like Christine in The Phantom of the Opera would be a big dream come true.”

Why do you think people should come see Dogfight?

“It’s a really interesting show they might not be too familiar with! It explores socio-cultural issues from a different place and a different time, but they’re still issues that can resonate with a modern audience.”

Do you have any other comments you’d like to make to your fans?

Why did you choose Memoir of a Murderer to make your film debut?

“The script was intriguing to me from the first time I read it. I’m a fan of thriller films and it’s been an ambition of mine to appear in one, so when the role was offered to me, I had to take it.”

Have you read the book Memoir of a Murderer is based on? If so, how do you think the film compares to the novel?

“I wasn’t familiar with the novel the script was based on [A Murderer’s Guide to Memorization] when I went to read for my audition for Eunhee, but the casting directors put confidence in me for the role anyway and suggested I give my own take on the character instead of studying the novel too deeply. Eunhee has a certain naivety underlying her character because she’s stuck in a war between her dad and her fiance, and I did read the book before filming, but not being tied too intensely to the novel helped me to embody that essence of her character more authentically.”

How does Eunhee compare to other roles you’ve played in the past?

“Eunhee is her own unique character who lived a very different life to any of the roles I’ve played before. Parts of her may be familiar to audiences who know me as Hana of WISH, but she’s living in a darker reality than WISH ever tackles, and so her innocence is touched by that darkness in a way.”

Do you think you and your character share any similar characteristics? Do you think this made it an easier or harder role for you to play?

“Eunhee is very different from me. I wouldn’t trust Taejoo or Byeongsoo as easily as she did, so I had to look into her character to figure out why her self-protective instincts didn’t come out so naturally as mine would have. That certainly presented challenges to me while I was acting, and particularly in scenes with the actors who played Taejoo and Byeongsoo and in scenes where she defended them to each other.”

What type of people do you think would enjoy watching Memoir of a Murderer?