By Sarina Bhutani
Talking with Solar appears like catching up with an previous buddy. As she settles into a night Zoom name, the final of her day’s packed schedule, the usually ultra-glam idol seems in her most intrinsic state. Her hair, dyed again to its pure darkish, is pulled up right into a tousled bun, and a easy white masks covers her naked face in accordance together with her stylish white athleisure. The lady sitting in entrance of the digicam appears to be like completely different from the one we usually see on stage, however her assured but humble disposition stays intact. Speaking to Photo voltaic is simple, and to know her is to actually love her.
Because the chief of one in all Ok-pop’s most spirited lady teams, Mamamoo, Photo voltaic has launched three studio albums, 11 EPs, and 25 lead singles since her debut in 2014, alongside fellow members Moonbyul, Wheein, and Hwasa. Nevertheless, forward of her first solo EP, a part of her nonetheless feels vastly uncertain. “Although it’s been eight years since my debut, it nonetheless at all times appears like I’m form of a rookie,” she tells MTV Information. “With each track I launch, I really at all times really feel nervous.” The “utterly unpredictable” success of her debut single, “Spit It Out,” in 2020 solely added to her blended emotions, permitting her to “let unfastened somewhat bit extra,” whereas additionally worrying about how her future releases would reside as much as the hype. “There have been moments we thought, Oh, perhaps we must always delay the subsequent comeback,” she reveals.
However after practically two full journeys across the solar, Photo voltaic finds solace in her latest work and reemerges with 容: Face (out right this moment, March 16), a five-track EP that shows her a number of dimensions. The title, a play on her given title, Kim Yong-sun (“Yong” which means “face” in Korean Hanja), encapsulates the challenge’s total themes of exposition and self-expression, permitting her to indicate the world her truest self. Every monitor takes listeners on a sonic journey.
On “Uncooked,” a monitor initially in competitors to be launched in the course of the “Spit It Out” period (therefore the acquainted melody), Photo voltaic demonstrates a darkish and edgy idea: “It’s actually simply the uncooked model of who I actually am.” “Honey,” the comeback’s title and arguably probably the most audibly Photo voltaic-esque track right here, was developed instantly upon listening to the “du, du, du” beat that she sings on the refrain. Pop-R&B monitor “찹찹 (chap chap)” got here to her as a random bolt of inspiration, whereas the jazzy “Large Booty,” a totally self-composed quantity, places a traditional spin in your common peach-emoji monitor. The EP ends on a excessive with “징글징글 (zinggle zinggle),” dropped at Photo voltaic as an apt match for her “cute and vivid picture,” and due to this fact the proper method to wrap up her first solo challenge.
Photo voltaic releases 容: Face on the heels of her thirty first birthday, which occurred on February 21. (Pisces queen!) She says her thirties have deepened her ideas and broadened her perspective in comparison with her twenties, the last decade wherein she each skilled and debuted. This newfound sense of maturity and thoughtfulness is well-articulated all through 容: Face. Under, Photo voltaic speaks with MTV Information concerning the inventive course of behind the EP and what she hopes for the long run.
MTV Information: You are an artist identified for unconventional ideas and pushing boundaries. An instance could be the bald-headed promo shoot you probably did for “Spit It Out.” What was the general idea you had been making an attempt to attain this time round with Face?
Photo voltaic: With the final album, “Spit It Out,” I actually did the whole lot and something I wished to for it. Even the daring makes an attempt I wished to make I put into the idea, so the whole lot was wild and type of out of this world. However for this album, I used to be pondering much less of the issues solely I wished to do as a result of I had already completed all of them. As a substitute, I used to be pondering with a extra balanced strategy of what the followers, firm, and I all wished for it. I believed it will make a extra full album if I merged all of those collectively, so I listened to many opinions whereas creating it. But when we’re speaking about an total idea, it is extra about giving an excellent feeling, somewhat than a particular idea. I wished there to be a therapeutic facet to it, one thing that makes you’re feeling higher. It’s good for spring.
MTV Information: In one in all your YouTube videos, you talked about how your MBTI character is INFJ. INFJs are identified to be very uncommon and distinctive and inventive. The place do you assume your creativity comes from? From the place do you draw inspiration?
Photo voltaic: Wow, even abroad MBTI is a pattern? [laughs] I feel I get a variety of inspiration simply from my day by day life. Whether or not they’re issues that I am instantly enthusiastic about at some point, phrases that pop into thoughts, issues I’ve skilled, issues I’ve seen, or actually good meals I’ve eaten, I get impressed by a wide range of issues and jot them down in my cellphone to look again on and take into consideration later.
MTV Information: The title monitor for this comeback is “Honey.” We additionally get to listen to you rap on the track, which was so surprising. What made you wish to embrace that part?
Photo voltaic: OK, so whereas making ready for this album, one of many first ideas that I had was, I’ve to strive rapping. I’ve to rap. So, for me, it was like a should to place it in there. And after doing it, if there’s ever an excellent rap or one thing I can experiment with, I’d like to do it once more. I at all times wish to proceed making an attempt new issues.
MTV Information: Attempting new issues appears to be a standard theme for you, and also you’ve said prior to now that you simply “wish to develop into an artist that makes individuals look ahead to what [you’ll] do subsequent.” How vital is it to you to maintain pushing your self as an artist?
Photo voltaic: For me, it’s one thing that is essential. In some methods, it could possibly be one of many most vital issues. When an album releases, it is technically one thing that can final endlessly, proper? That second is cemented in time. Considering of this, it is like a report of my ideas as I used to be making the album, in addition to my situation, and a wide range of issues. So, the issues I wished to do on the time, the issues I wished individuals to listen to, and messages I wished to convey are all included within the album. That is why it is essential to me to at all times strive new issues and tackle challenges to evolve.
MTV Information: Would you say that you simply’re somebody who thinks about legacy, or what you’ll depart behind?
Photo voltaic: Quite than pondering too deeply about legacy or abandoning some form of footprint, it’s extra vital to me that when individuals take heed to the album, they really feel good within the second. I care extra concerning the albums being comforting for individuals, one thing they will use to heal themselves after they’re not feeling good, or of their down instances.
MTV Information: You care a lot, specifically, about the way you make your followers really feel. Are you that kind of individual in your private life, too?
Photo voltaic: Being part of Mamamoo, I used to be in a position to meet so many followers frequently, and due to that, I are likely to assume extra about them. And now, whereas residing my day by day life, I noticed that there are some those who love me a lot and so passionately. For the those who put in a lot effort and time into their love for me, I really actually contemplate them as a result of they offer me a lot, I wish to return that a lot for them. I at all times assume, What can I do for them that may repay that form of ardour?
Courtesy of the artistMTV Information: Talking of Mamamoo, how do you assume your experiences within the group issue into the way in which you make music for your self? Is there any crossover between that course of and this course of?
Photo voltaic: I’ve realized quite a bit inside these eight years with Mamamoo, however even now, I’m really nonetheless persevering with to be taught from. However as a result of I have been in Mamamoo, and we launched a lot music collectively, it is one of many explanation why I may even be energetic as a solo artist, so I’m very grateful. It’s taught me a lot.
MTV Information: Eight years is a very long time to be collectively, particularly when so many teams fall into the seven-year curse. What do you assume makes Mamamoo particular? What’s the important thing to your longevity?
Photo voltaic: I feel what makes Mamamoo particular is that every member really has their very own distinctive colour, and we every even have a variety of ardour for music. So after we’re collectively, a variety of that synergy comes into play. And even now, when individuals watch us or take a look at us, they at all times assume, Wow, they’ve a lot vitality. Wow, they arrive collectively so nicely.
MTV Information: Because you talked about every member’s uniqueness, all 4 of you’ve got had an enormous solo comeback prior to now few months. Hwasa had Responsible Pleasure, Moonbyul had 6equence, Wheein had Whee, and now you’ve got Face. Now that every of you’ve got taken a flip with a solo challenge, does this imply a Mamamoo comeback is subsequent?
Photo voltaic: As a result of every member has already accomplished their very own solo challenge, I do actually wish to present as Mamamoo with a brand new challenge, however it’s not going to be speedy. It’s one thing that we’re persevering with to work arduous in the direction of, however perhaps not proper now. I’ll very, very rigorously say perhaps this yr, however, once more, it’s not particular! [laughs]
MTV Information: Are you able to a minimum of promise some extra humorous dance follow movies? The video for “Hip” is a common fan favourite!
Photo voltaic: So after we’re collectively as Mamamoo, there’s a variety of actually humorous issues that simply occur naturally. I feel you may positively have the ability to see extra of that sooner or later as nicely. It’s simply us!
MTV Information: Apart from a Mamamoo comeback, what do you hope for sooner or later? What are you personally trying ahead to?
Photo voltaic: Actually, I simply wish to reside as fortunately as proper now, working as I do and doing what I like. I hope for followers to nonetheless be ready for my music and loving what I make. I would like to have the ability to meet their expectations and simply proceed to be completely satisfied.
