From K-Pop Idol to Independent Artist, Ryu Su Jeong Talks ‘Intuition’ Leading Her On First Full-Length LP

After firmly establishing herself in the K-pop industry in 2014 as a member of chart-topping girl group Lovelyz, Ryu Su Jeong is laying out and sharing the next steps of her career with fans as she transforms into an independent artist involved in all aspects of her music.

As a member of Lovelyz from 2014 through 2021 under Korean music agency Woollim Entertainment, Ryu Su Jeong was a beloved vocalist in the group that earned a No. 1 album in South Korea with 2017’s Now, We before scoring a slew of chart-topping hits including “Twinkle,” “That Day” and “Obliviate.”

After seven of the eight members chose not to resign with Woollim Entertainment in 2017 upon the seven-year expiration of the group’s contract, Ryu Su Jeong connected with production company Artist Rider to develop her own independent label, House of Dreams. After several singles released last year including her first indie release “Dearest” and the lo-fi dance track “Pink Moon,” Archive of Emotions her first full-length album and independent project.

A stark difference from the bubbly pop of Lovelyz or Su Jeong’s first foray as a soloist under Woollim with 2020’s Tiger Eyes, the 25-year-old opts for a more moody and lower-fidelity vibe with Archive of Emotions. The LP’s perky, quirky lead single “Grabby Girl” is a nice transition for Lovelyz fans to get into Ryu Su Jeong’s new musical path while the pre-release buzz single “Love or Hate” delivers the sweet vocals fans have come to expect from her almost-decade in the industry. The full album proves itself as an unexpected listening experience as Ryu packs in big surprises, like the full English track “How Can I Get Your Love,” and smaller, subtle sonic treats like a saxophone breakdown in “Daydreaming” and a jazzy piano bridge on “Fluffy Kitty.”

Read on Ryu Su Jeong breaks down her journey from a full-time girl-group member to a “healthier” artist now calling all the shots on how she expressed herself with her music.

Jeff Benjamin: Congratulations on the upcoming release of your first full-length album. What was going through your mind ahead of its release?

Ryu Su Jeong: I’m very excited since it’s my first full-length and that this is an album that really talks about me for the first time—I can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks about it. I put a lot of attention and a lot of myself into it.

Jeff Benjamin: It’s not easy to start in a new place with an independent label when you’ve been used to a certain life as an idol for so long. Tell me about your day-to-day life in this past year or so.

Ryu Su Jeong: I tend to push towards stability rather than spontaneity so I was quite worried when I had a bunch of decisions to make all of a sudden while having to adjust to a new environment. But I was able to pull through all of it thanks to the many awesome people that I work with and the fans that adore and trust me. I tried to keep myself busy during the adjusting period and work on as many projects as I could without really taking a break.

Jeff Benjamin: How did you connect with Artist Rider and House of Dreams? What gave you the confidence to start a new path with them versus other routes you could take?

Ryu Su Jeong: I just knew from the beginning our conversation—we vibed! I think intuition is such an amazing and magical thing. I usually have a hard time when having to make important decisions, but I knew right away and decided on the first go. I’m very grateful to Artist Rider for giving me confidence. I still have no regrets on any of my decisions so I’m also very proud of my intuition!

Jeff Benjamin: I loved your solo EP Tiger Eyes. What kind of artists were you then and now?

Ryu Su Jeong: I’ve always had a lot of interest in different music genres. Whether it’d be a musical genre or a song, I think I’m an artist that seeks to make it my own. If I had to compare Archive of Emotions to my previous solo projects, I’d say I was much more involved in my new album and had more freedom to talk about whatever I wanted to.

Jeff Benjamin: So, on one hand, Lovelyz was a beloved group with consistent releases, success, and no large scandals. But you’ve shared life felt constricted then. For those of us who don’t know, what is constraining about it?

Ryu Su Jeong: The biggest constraint was not being able to spend much time with my family because I have a very close relationship with them, they’re like my friends. I was also limited when it came to making time for myself and finding personal space, but I am very proud that, through these limitations, we were able to accomplish and do what we did as Lovelyz without any serious scandals.

Jeff Benjamin: Regarding personal time, how did you take care of your mental health working full time in a girl group? How do you feel today?

Ryu Su Jeong: My family is my biggest pillar of support. I spent a lot of time talking and interacting with my family, which helps me relieve stress and maintain a strong mental health. I actually feel much healthier these days because I have been able to spend a lot of time with my family recently. But I also think it’s crucial for a person to have their own personal time so I try to recharge my mental energy by taking some time off alone.

Jeff Benjamin: How do you describe yourself as an artist these days?

Ryu Su Jeong: I think most the general public, as well as music fans, gravitate towards musicians that really love music and feel a sense of kinship with music that speaks to them. So in that sense, I think I’m trying to become an artist that is authentic—and create music that is entirely me.

Jeff Benjamin: There are so many creative details within Archive of Emotions. First and foremost, the album title is very intriguing. Can you explain it?

Ryu Su Jeong: I think I started to experience a wider range of emotions after reaching my mid-twenties. I felt like recording these feelings and thoughts as I made music so the title of my album came naturally as Archive of Emotions. The album is like my diary.

Jeff Benjamin: How involved do you get with the music?

Ryu Su Jeong: I was involved in the process of everything that goes into making the songs. From the songwriting process to composing, mixing and mastering; I was involved in every step of it. That’s why I think it’s such a meaningful album. The track “Daydreaming” was a song that I thought went well with the warm and breezy weather of spring and that’s how I decided I wanted to pre-release it, as well as “Love or Hate,” because I thought it was a track that best expressed the general feel of the album and thought it would be a perfect preview.

Jeff Benjamin: What is your creative process like?

Ryu Su Jeong: I like having flexibility when I’m writing my music. I hum tunes and lyrics when I’m just hanging out at home on my bed and often write when I’m walking on the street or taking the bus. I think I get more creative when I’m in an unconfined environment. I also think a lot, so I guess most of the topics I deal with in my music is a juxtaposition of that. I get inspired when I’m alone and thinking all sorts of things and that is why this album is so personal—it has a lot of my own feelings and worries.

Jeff Benjamin: What do you hope people take away from this album?

Ryu Su Jeong: I hope the people that listen to my music will heal and be able to confront all sorts of things that are just inevitable and that tend to just come and go in life. I also hope it becomes a long-lasting and remembered album for everyone that listens to it.

Jeff Benjamin: What does the rest of 2023 look like for you?

Ryu Su Jeong: As always, life is going to be on the fast lane and things are going by quickly, but I think 2023 is going to be a good year as I have a lot of plans to meet, interact and perform for my fans.

Jeff Benjamin: What kind of artists do you hope to ultimately be?

Ryu Su Jeong: I always want to be an artist that is sincere and I hope that sincerity resonates to people’s everyday lives.

Jeff Benjamin: What else do international fans need to know?

Ryu Su Jeong: I finally am able to share my first solo full-length album and I couldn’t be more happy to do so! It took me nine years to get here, but I’m filled with excitement as this is only the beginning and it feels like it’s a new start. I am truly honored to be sharing this moment with all you guys and you, Jeff. Thank you for reading through this interview and I will continue to release music that you can relate to and speaks to you.