Korea’s six-string queen MEMI talks 'Paranoia // Nostalgia', guitar memories & finding freedom in nu-metal

MEMI is flipping the script on what it means to be a rock artist in Korea.

On her new EP Paranoia // Nostalgia, the singer-songwriter and guitarist opens a raw, emotional diary soundtracked by gritty nu-metal riffs, 2000s pop-punk, and the occasional emo breakdown. The former 24Hours and Seoulmoon member has always walked a different path—and with a global chapter kicking off at SXSW 2024 and the upcoming LALALA Fest in Jakarta, the world is finally catching on.

We caught up with MEMI to talk guitar beginnings, TikTok breakthroughs, and what her instrument would say if it could speak for itself.

Your new EP is described as a sonic diary. What’s one memory that defines this record?

It’s really hard to choose just one, but I’d say the day I first went to learn electric guitar. I didn’t go to a regular music school—there weren’t any nearby—so I ended up at a studio known for hosting a lot of metal guitarists. At the time, I didn’t have many options, but looking back, it was honestly the best decision I could’ve made. I don’t want to romanticize it too much, but I think the memories from that place are the starting point and the very root of this album.

‘Get da Faka’ explodes with nu-metal energy. What inspired that track?

I think I’ve always been drawn to rebellious, even borderline antisocial energy since I was young. I gravitated toward heavy guitar riffs, and even when learning piano, I preferred moody melodies in Dorian or Mixolydian scales over classical pieces. I also loved the style and fashion of nu-metal bands. At some point, I realized I hadn’t yet made a track in that genre—and I really wanted to try. So this was my chance.

You reference 2000s pop-rock and 2010s emo—what were your soundtrack staples?

There are honestly too many to list. When I first picked up the guitar, it was Avril Lavigne. During my emo phase, it was bands like Korn and Placebo. And when I started my first band, we were all into Arctic Monkeys, Foals... I’ve drawn inspiration from so many different artists over the years.

The EP balances angst and vulnerability. Was that intentional?

To be honest, I didn’t start out with these themes in mind. As I listened through my demos, I started noticing shared emotional threads. They brought me back to the music I listened to growing up. I’m generally a positive person, but not all my childhood memories were happy ones. I think in tough times, I tried to convince myself to “live more positively,” almost like self-hypnosis. Those complicated emotions naturally found their way into this album.

Your relationship with the guitar is central to this EP. If your guitar could talk, what would it say?

(Laughs) Wow, that’s such an emo question already!  If my guitar could talk, it’d probably say something like, “These tracks alone don’t even begin to describe me!”—because I think we’d have similar personalities.

From 24Hours to now, how has your view of the industry changed?

Since I’m based in Korea, I’ll answer from that perspective. When I was in 24Hours, we performed purely out of passion. No strategy, no long-term plans—we just believed that our moment would come eventually. Even though rock was already a tough genre, we kept going. Later, during my time with Seoulmoon, I started to realize that music is also a business. That experience has helped me so much in my solo career.

I remember doing an interview as a rookie and giving a super optimistic answer about the future. But another artist—much more experienced—answered the same question in a much darker way, and I remember being shocked. Now I kind of understand where they were coming from. (Laughs) Still, my outlook on music remains hopeful. That hope is what keeps me going.

You made your SXSW debut and are heading to LALALA Fest. How do you approach international stages?

Performing overseas has always been a dream of mine, so getting these opportunities is beyond exciting! But honestly, I don’t approach Korean and international stages very differently. I believe the passion of the audience is the same wherever you go. My goal is to always give the best performance I can, no matter where I’m standing. And there’s still so much I want to learn.

You’ve built a strong TikTok following. How has that shaped your musical identity?

I used to have mixed feelings about social media, but now it’s become a space that’s given me so many opportunities. It’s helped me connect with fans, and it’s also reassured me—“Will anyone else like the kind of music I love?” I used to feel like a bit of a weirdo for my taste, but seeing people engage with my short-form content gave me the confidence to embrace it. And that’s how the music I’m making now came to be. I’m truly grateful.

You’ve been called “Korea’s queen of the six-string.” What does that mean to you?

I don’t think I’m the type of guitarist known for flashy, technical solos—but if listening to my music makes someone think, “Hey, maybe I could try playing guitar too,” then that’s the greatest compliment I could get. That’s exactly how I fell in love with guitar—by watching other rock guitarists. So I’ll humbly accept that title. (Laughs)

What’s a story from your early days with guitar that fans might not know?

I got really into pop-punk, especially Avril Lavigne’s 'Sk8er Boi', and was desperate to play it on guitar. I told my first teacher that it was the song I most wanted to learn, and I remember him laughing so hard. But then he said, “Let’s start from the roots,” and introduced me to blues, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin. One of the first songs I learned was 'Stairway to Heaven'. At the time, it felt way too long (longer than seven minutes!) and boring for my younger self—I didn’t even listen to the original track, I just practiced it straight from the sheet music.

Looking back now, I’m so grateful to every teacher who made guitar fun for me. That was such an important first step in my journey into this world.