Just when you think you’ve heard the best that So!YoON! has to offer, the singer proves to be at the top of her own game and is set to stun us yet again with her upcoming sophomore album, Episode1: Love.
With roots in the music industry as the front person of South Korean rock band SE SO NEON, So!YoON!, the moniker that Hwang Soyoon goes by for her solo music projects, continued to make waves by debuting solo on 15 April 2019 under the record label Magic Strawberry Sound. Since then, the 'HOLIDAY' hitmaker has been known to present an indie sound that she has made entirely her own — a seamless blend between R&B and soul genres.
On 17 February, she released her latest two-track single album titled Prologue : Love, which comprises ‘Bad’ and ‘CANADA’ off her forthcoming album. Both songs have garnered impressive attention for thought-provoking lyrics and captivating music video cinematography. “Bold” and “undaunted” are words that come to mind immediately when one views how So!YoON! presents herself in the visual accompaniments. But more than anything, her unique euphonious vocals ring through, making a lasting impression on any listener.
Apart from knowing well, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what she intends to convey with her music, So!YoON! welcomes feedback to her music and is perceptive to responses from her audiences. A remarkable trait that truly makes her an artist who strives for nothing but perfection on all accounts.
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There is something to be said about all the intricacies that make up So!YoON! as an artist to look out for. From regaling us with tales of propelling herself to go beyond set boundaries, embracing vulnerability and change, and breaking out of her comfort zone to present fans with a different, never-before-seen side of herself, we realise that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Hwang Soyoon.
“I think my fans will be able to experience these different versions of me through this album. I’m showing something that I fear but at the same time, it’s also something that I can do best,” So!YoON! shared.
In a recent interview, Bandwagon caught up with So!YoON! to discuss her distinctive brand of music, what it was like collaborating with BTS’ RM, Y2K92’s Jibin, and parkjiyoon in her upcoming album Episode1 : Love, and her thoughts on making music as a soloist.
Hi, So!YoON! Congratulations on releasing your latest single album Prologue : Love. Tell us more about ‘Bad’ and ‘CANADA’, what tone do you hope these two songs set for your upcoming album?
The upcoming album will cover a variety of colors and characters. The reason why I picked ‘Bad’ and ‘CANADA’ to be pre-released is because they come the closest in describing my character which is something that my audience has neither seen nor heard before. I wanted to highlight and reveal it to them through these two songs.
Your second full-length solo album Episode1 : Love will be released soon. Tell us more about what this album means to you and what messages you hope to convey to your fans through this release.
The significance of this project lies in “experiment”. So following the first album, I thought about how many experiments and performances I can do with this second album. Various desires, as well as love stories, are expressed and I wrote it with the intention of “finding myself”. That’s why even though I didn’t mean for the theme to be all about love, I ended up discovering new personas of myself through the themes of love and desire. It was a process to discover my new self. Likewise, I think my fans would be able to experience these different versions of me through this album. I’m showing something that I fear but at the same time, it’s also something that I can do best.
So!YoON! - Episode1 : Love
— 새소년 SE SO NEON (@se_so_neon) March 1, 2023
So!YoON!의 두번째 정규 앨범 ‘Episode1 : Love’가 3월 14일 화요일 오후 6시에 발매됩니다.
So!YoON!'s second full length album, 'Episode1 : Love', will be released on Tuesday, March 14th at 6pm(KST).
So!YoON!
Episode1 : Love
2023.3.14 TUE 6pm(KST) pic.twitter.com/kO9W25XJIY
Were there any tracks on Episode1 : Love that stood out to you when you were recording it? Which songs are you most excited for your fans to listen to, and why?
All the songs have their own episodes and memorable moments that express various precious memories of mine but I think that the songs with featuring artists have different voices that feel a bit more refreshing than the other songs. I think that collaborating with various artists is a new way to discover another side of myself.
I think fans can anticipate the title song ‘Smoke Sprite’ which features BTS’ RM.
You’ve worked with several notable artists in the past and are continuing to do so for Episode1 : Love which features BTS’ RM, Y2K92’s Jibin, and parkjiyoon. What was the collaboration process like for you, and who are some artists that you hope to work with in the future?
I have collaborated with a lot of artists but the ones who lent their voices in Episode1 : Love were BTS’ RM, Y2K92’s Jibin, and parkjiyoon. The collaboration process varied from one artist to another.
With parkjiyoon, I was the one who asked for a meeting first. We also built rapport by exchanging emails and I got to know about the lyrics of the song ‘Love’ through that. With RM, I met with him naturally without any prior arrangement and we talked about our albums and listened to each other’s albums. He’s satisfied with the outcome of ‘Smoke Sprite’. It was really fun writing the lyrics and making the chorus together. It is no exaggeration to say that we truly made the song together.
Since the album hasn’t been released yet, it is too soon to speak about who I would like to collaborate with next time.
Could you describe Episode1 : Love in three words?
Sense, Spectrum, and Space.
Next Episode
— 새소년 SE SO NEON (@se_so_neon) February 7, 2023
So!YoON!의 새로운 이야기가 시작됩니다.
So!YoON!‘s new story will be started. pic.twitter.com/yw8vOfFHCS
Your first solo album So!YoON! was released in 2019. In what ways do you think your music has evolved since then?
There is a clear difference between the first album and the second album that’s releasing soon but essentially there is more depth. I can't objectively explain the difference but I think the listeners will be able to spot and explain better what has changed.
You are also the front person of rock band SE SO NEON. Could you share with us how is it different making music on your own as compared to when you’re in a band?
The seed of making music is me in both cases, so the essential aspect itself is not so different. However, with So!YoON!'s work, I feel like I am opening up a much wider spectrum and exploring various colors, while with SE SO NEON, it feels like I am molding my very concentrated emotions and senses much like shaping pottery.
In simple terms, it seems like So!YoON!'s work is about expanding, while SE SO NEON's work is about creating.
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What are some of your future aspirations for your music career? What do you hope to achieve or do?
I do not have a solid plan for the future these days. I just hope that I can be healthy, maintain a brave mind in what I do, and keep experiencing growth and various senses in my music.
Lastly, what do you want people to think about when they hear the name “So!YoON!”?
"!?"
When people think about “So!YoON!”, they’ll think about the exclamation and question punctuation marks which could convey excitement and a sense of curiousity.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
So!YoON!'s second full length album, Episode1 : Love, will be released on Tuesday, 14 March at 6 PM KST.
Listen to So!YoON!'s Episode1 : Love album here:
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