[Exclusive]Heo Hye-gyeong: "The title 'singer' feels grandiose... I'm just someone who writes songs and sings" [Heo Ji-hyung's Music Topography] ①

*This content was translated by AI.

[Editor’s Note] An interview that explores an artist’s musical journey, mapping out their unique 'music topography' by following their path from the present into the future.

'Singer-songwriter Heo Hye-gyeong, who writes songs and sings them.'

His brief self-introduction fully reflects his approach to music. Rather than relying on flashy descriptors, he chooses to reveal himself through the songs he has written and the stories they contain. Heo Hye-gyeong’s musical topography is being built by stacking one song at a time, each reflecting his life and thoughts.

To Heo Hye-gyeong, the term "singer" still feels somewhat grandiose. He naturally picked up the microphone with the thought that perhaps it would be better for someone who can best express their own emotions to sing, rather than having others perform songs he created.

Heo Hye-gyeong said, "In fact, I never dreamed of becoming a singer. Originally, I wanted to be a composer. I even majored in composition and believed that I could best express my emotions through myself." He added, "If someone calls me a singer just because I created a song and sang over it, I feel a bit embarrassed. To me, a singer is someone with outstanding vocal ability who makes songs sound like true songs. For me, it’s more like reciting the songs I wrote."

Perhaps that’s why Heo Hye-gyeong finds the term "singer-songwriter" more familiar than "singer" when introducing himself. He explained, "The title 'singer' feels grandiose to me. Still, I think calling myself a 'singer-songwriter' feels more natural." For him, music is not something grand; it’s closer to a way of honestly expressing his thoughts and emotions by putting his own voice over the songs he created and embedding his stories within them.

The words that best describe Heo Hye-gyeong’s music are "honesty" and "simplicity." Words casually heard in daily life, phrases that have remained vividly in memory, or expressions found in books, movies, and comics eventually become the material for his songs at some point.

He explained, "When writing lyrics, I try to be honest and simple. I consciously avoid making them too grandiose. Especially, I make an effort not to use flowery phrases just to look good." He added, "I often jot down memorable lines or conversations in my daily life. Then, looking back at those notes, I produce my output."

How naturally he can embed his intended message into a song is an important criterion in his creative process. He said, "It seems that if I like the lyrics, I tend to like the song as well. I enjoy the process of working so that the lyrics and melody fit perfectly together. I don’t just force a good lyric into a melody."

Among his songs, "Living That Way" is considered by Heo Hye-gyeong to best capture his musical values. It is a song that observes the pain, boredom, happiness, and hope encountered while living without any special embellishment.

Heo Hye-gyeong said with a smile, "This song was truly excellent. It captured the balance between suffering and weariness, happiness and hope—the kind of balance I value in my worldview and life. I think it expressed that well." He added, "I thought this was a real masterpiece. Even by myself, I felt it was very good."

He continued, "Of course, since it’s my own song, I might feel that way. But many people liked it and resonated with it, so I think I realized that 'life is the same for everyone.'"

In fact, a significant portion of his songs originate from his own experiences. This is also where he feels the greatest satisfaction in making music. When his thoughts and values become a song, and someone else accepts it as their own story, that moment brings him deep fulfillment.

He said, "I estimate that about 70 to 80 percent of my songs are based on my own stories. I don’t necessarily ponder life deeply, but many songs naturally emerge that deal with life. I feel the most accomplished, satisfied, and happy when I’ve successfully expressed my values about life in lyrics. My self-esteem also tends to rise."

When asked to introduce a hidden song of his, Heo Hye-gyeong pointed to "You Nod Your Head," the final track on his regular album Memoirs. He said, "I personally like this song. It’s not very popular. It’s extremely slow, has no particular plot, and even lacks lyrics, but it was intentionally designed to make people think. I hope you listen to it and reflect on it."

Looking ahead, Heo Hye-gyeong expressed his desire to try various musical experiments. He said, "I’m open to new attempts. I want to explore music across different genres. That way, I can show more variety during concerts and live performances." He added, "Recently, in a collaboration with singer and cellist Park Chan-young, I sang a love-filled song. I don’t have many memories of singing while smiling broadly, but it was very fun. I thought I should write more songs like that while I’m young."

-To be continued in Interview ②.

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*This content was translated by AI.