Hyolyn: "I have a desire to produce idols... Cortis was great, I was shocked when I heard their ages" [Interview ②]

*This content was translated by AI.

Singer Hyolyn has evoked the pop sensibilities of the 1980s and 1990s with her new song "ChecK." Having overcome self-doubt and filled herself with confidence, Hyolyn found answers in the music from the period when she was most passionate.

Recently, Hyolyn held a roundtable interview to commemorate the release of her fourth mini-album "OriginaLyn" at a café in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.

On this day, Hyolyn explained why she chose 80s and 90s pop as the genre for the title track: "It started with the music I've been listening to recently. Usually, I analyze music while listening, so I ended up not listening much, but at some point, I found myself listening to old music from when I was most passionate and worked hardest."

Noticing herself smiling uncontrollably while listening to old music, she added, "I wanted to share this nostalgia with the public, not just feel it alone. I thought it would be nice if listeners could recall similar nostalgia through my music, so I decided on the genre and shared that story." However, the entire album is not retro-themed. Hyolyn further explained, "As an album, I wanted to offer a variety of experiences. Each track has a different genre, vocal tone, mood, and story."

The title track "ChecK" carries the message: "I am very cool, confident, and wonderful." Regarding the unique decision to capitalize only the final letter 'K', she shared behind-the-scenes details: "In daily life, I use the word 'check' more often than you might think. I wanted to create a visual highlight, and rather than ending it briefly as 'Che', I wanted to preserve the original feel of the word 'Check', so I used a capital K."

When asked if her comeback was aimed at summer, she nodded honestly. "If I said I didn't aim for it, that would be a lie. The beat gives a refreshing feeling, and I thought it would be great to show a cool stage during the hot weather."

Regarding the recurring title of "Summer Queen" every summer, Hyolyn credited her former group SISTAR. She said, "The 'Summer Queen' label wasn't something I earned alone; it's a title that followed me because it was originally associated with SISTAR. Without SISTAR, that title wouldn't exist, so I am truly grateful."

As a solo artist, she also discovered new insights. Hyolyn stated, "In the past, if it was a summer dance song, there was an obsession that it had to include sounds like waves or seagulls to clearly convey a summer vibe. However, while working on this track, I realized that even without explicitly expressing it, we can still create a refreshing feeling."

True to her reputation as a perfectionist in performance, she did not overlook stage details. For the choreography of her new song, Hyolyn performed wearing open-toe heels that fully expose the top of her feet. She described wearing heels as "a challenge and breaking through my own barriers."

"I can dance comfortably in sneakers, but dancing in heels is much harder. That's why I want to tackle even more difficult challenges. Especially with open-toe heels, they tend to slip off easily while walking, so most people wrap them with transparent straps, but I decided to try without even that."

Regarding the risk of injury, she joked, "My ankles are very strong, so I don't twist them. Bora-unni tends to twist hers a lot." She added with a smile, "Of course, my mom worries and tells me not to wear heels," which drew laughter from the audience.

Even on precarious open-toe heels, Hyolyn's stage never becomes boring for a moment. She said, "Usually, once a song's concept is set, the mood continues consistently, but this track shifts between powerful, sultry, and seductive expressions. The changes in facial expressions and choreography are diverse. It wasn't just one expression; the process of constantly switching felt very fun to me," raising expectations for her performance.

Offstage, Hyolyn is also a capable CEO leading her own one-person agency. When asked about the operation of her company, she smiled and said, "I need to keep working, and I think it would be great if we eventually turn a profit." She continued, "The money invested and spent on me so far has been an opportunity and experience that cannot be bought with money, so it was never wasted. In the future, if such opportunities are lacking, I think I should continue even by spending more of my own money."

Of course, there are significant challenges as a one-person Gi Hoek-sa (CEO). Hyolyn revealed her strong inner resolve: "Sometimes it gets so hard that I wonder if I should quit. But whenever that happens, I also think, 'How long has it been since we started? It feels too bad to be seen as someone who gives up quickly.' So with the mindset of seeing things through to the end, I am enduring well."

The expertise she accumulated by directly overseeing her own albums is now leading to dreams of nurturing future artists. Since the early days of establishing her one-person agency, she has consistently expressed her intention to produce rookie idols. "If the situation allows, I really want to do it," she showed unwavering determination.

"As I take care of my own things, sometimes I think that if someone entrusts me with producing an idol group in the future, I could do a great job. Because I get involved in everything related to my work, there are times when I can't see myself objectively. However, judging others' projects coldly and quickly is clearly different. If a good opportunity arises later, I definitely want to try it. Since I'm a woman, I think girl groups would suit me well, but boy groups would also be fun."

Among the rookies she is currently watching closely, she mentioned the boy group Cortis. Hyolyn praised them highly: "Cortis was really great. I was shocked when I heard their ages. I don't think I could have flown around on stage like that at their age; they were truly amazing. Their songs are excellent, and it's impressive that the members participate directly."

"OriginaLyn" will be released at 6 p.m. on the 22nd through various online music platforms.

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*This content was translated by AI.