‘I Want To Be A Timeless Singer’

A recording studio is a sacred space for many singers, which took on a whole new meaning for Yuju this year.

After initially debuting as the emotional vocal centerpiece in K-pop girl group GFriend, Yuju broke out as the group’s first member to officially embark on a solo career with the release of January’s [REC.] album, named after the bright red letters an artist sees lit up when recording. While the Korean starlet had been slowly racking up songwriting and production credits in GFriend albums, Yuju’s five-track EP marked a body of work where she was involved in every song. [REC] was the promising first step in a solo journey that Yuju describes as a “good kind of anxiety.”

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But any butterflies the singer feels aren’t noticeable when Yuju takes the stage to bring her debut solo single “Play” to life nor when she’s talking in an off-moment to reflect through a Zoom call. She selects her words carefully (only she can speak for her music now, versus five others helping in her former girl group) with her sweet and humble tone showing the lightness Yuju is relishing in (one can’t help but smile throughout her grins and multiple times she says “thank you” after a compliment). “Play,” along with her summer single “Evening,” all feel like the beginning of a new, exciting chapter where fans can understand the buzz Yuju feels today.

Read on for more reflections from Yuju on her first step as a solo artist, connecting with her new label home KONNECT Entertainment, her early starts as an artist and more.

Jeff Benjamin: Let’s start with your new song “Evening.” How does it show your developing story as a solo artist that began with [REC]?

YUJU: If [REC] is the album that contains the deep and unrestrained emotions inside of me, then “Evening” is a song that is a little lighter but filled with delicate excitement at the same time. I want to develop myself as a singer who can express diverse feelings in my own style.

Jeff Benjamin: Is this new single the star of a longer project like [REC.] or is it a moment by itself?

YUJU: The previous album named [REC.] was made to literally mean “record.” This song will also be a part of that record, and I will spend the rest of this year working hard for more activities in the future. Various performances are planned and I wish to continue showing my fans great performances!

Jeff Benjamin: What’s the larger message behind this current era?

YUJU: If you’ve seen the recording studio, there’s a red light with the word “REC” that gives you an alert when you’re recording and that light gives me this excitement, a really good kind of anxiety. The [REC.] album’s name itself is exactly my feeling right now emotionally and how I want to show up to the world. I’m just expressing all the feelings that I can. Everything is super new right now, and I have a lot to learn, but I guess I’m moving along this new path.

Jeff Benjamin: I’m curious how you first linked with your new label, KONNECT Entertainment? I’m sure you had many offers; what convinced you to join them?

YUJU: Well, first of all, I met great staff in KONNECT and the direction of the musicality was in sync with mine. Especially when we talked about the music directions that they were taking and are our communication was really thorough and good. Kang Daniel, Chancellor, I’m really thankful; everyone’s so supportive.

Jeff Benjamin: How has the musical process been for you now? You’re highly involved in songwriting and production.

YUJU: My goal hasn’t been to be excellent at the songwriting or composing itself, but to have fun with it and just be excited while doing it. In the process itself, it wasn’t just on my own, I had help from many different people, but the basic idea was that I had so much fun doing it with them.

Jeff Benjamin: I’m curious if you remember when you first noticed you could write music?

YUJU: Since I was young, I loved the idea of writing songs but I only started writing not long ago.

Jeff Benjamin: Do you have a favorite track you have worked on so far?

YUJU: Oh. Very hard to choose. [Laughs] But today, I recommend the track “Blue Nostalgia.”

Jeff Benjamin: That one has such a cool title. When did you write it and what does “Blue Nostalgia” mean?

YUJU: Oh, yes, I wrote the lyrics! I wrote it not long ago. So, I actually received the demo guide at dawn and that’s when I started writing the lyrics on my own. It represents preciousness and also a little bit of melancholy. Usually, I remember everything that’s happened to me in the past and, sometimes, I dream about it. I’ll have a dream, and then after I wake up, I go straight to writing about how I felt and those kinds of things. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes a gloomy memory, all sorts of emotional aspects are mixed into that song. I actually have a really good memory. [Laughs]

Jeff Benjamin: I have a really bad memory, I’m jealous. But I’ve always remembered you as an extraordinary vocalist. I can always feel the emotion, even when we’re speaking now. Where did you develop your singing technique?

YUJU: Basically, the first thing I do, is really, really concentrate on the basic vocal practices. And when it comes to adding technique with the emotional side of a recording, that comes later. I’m not usually thinking about that specifically, but it comes in various moments depending on the place and environment. Of course, I try to always concentrate on the technique and emotional sides at their specific times.

Jeff Benjamin: You’ve released music videos for “Play” and “Evening” which show two different moods. What are you showing visually as an artist?

YUJU: Actually, my music videos are specifically for fans. There are “Easter eggs” for my fans and for them to find these kinds of ideas. Like, I shared that the keyword for the “Play” video was “mix and match” which refers to the wardrobe, colors and the collaboration of the song. You might think me next to a Barbie doll was connected to this theme, but it’s an idea I’m taking to my fans and I’m looking for them to connect it. So, you should also discover the Easter eggs. I want to inspire fan theories.

Jeff Benjamin: BIG Naughty is one of the hottest artists in the R&B and hip-hop world, why was he the right collaborator for “Evening”?

YUJU: BIG Naughty is a free-spirited, witty, attentive and really cool artist. I thought he would go well with the mood of this song, and, fortunately, everything worked out well so we were able to collaborate.

Jeff Benjamin: Before your solo debut, you did a lot of OSTs and collaborations with hip-hop and R&B artists like Mad Clown, Loco, San E. Did these collaborations help you find your color as an artist?

YUJU: Loco, San E, all these artists that you just mentioned, they all have so many different specialties and such different energies; working with them also gave me a different voice and vocals that I could try out. So, that also made me grow into having a variety of vocal skills with them. Like when I did a stage with Mad Clown, he had a very strong energy during his rapping. So I was so impressed by his performance. He was a good influence on me.

Jeff Benjamin: Have you thought about the next album at all? Or are you still focused on this [REC.] era?

YUJU: I will make many more albums from now and I want [REC.] and “Evening” to be a good start. To be really honest, yes, I have been thinking about the next album and what should I should do. But all my focus is still on my album now. Since the first album’s name is about “recording” itself, my next will also be something that would be recorded. Probably the same sort of meaning in the path I’m going down. Think about, maybe, a photo? But for now, I’m still performing and I’m still concentrating on [the [REC.] era] itself because it’s all just released.

Jeff Benjamin: That’s a great hint, fans will appreciate it. Why did you want to go solo versus perhaps doing a new group?

YUJU: I mean, I naturally happened to meet KONNECT Entertainment and hearing about their musical directions and having the opportunity to become a solo artist; I guess it was very natural for me to go onto that path. I want to be a timeless singer. One that you can always look back at any time, any moment and it still will be really fresh. I want to be remembered as that kind of excellent artist.

Jeff Benjamin: I’ve heard your relationship with GFriend members is really strong. Do you guys keep in touch?

YUJU: We’ve always been the same way, we’re not different now. We’ve always been so supportive of each other’s activities. VIVIZ and Yerin’s album are also out, some of my friends are also doing acting, and we’ve just been looking forward to the future.

Jeff Benjamin: And it might be difficult to plan, but do you have any ideas when you might visit fans overseas? Do you want to give a message to international fans?

YUJU: If the situation comes, as soon as possible, at any time, at any moment, I’m always ready to go to meet my fans, whenever and I really want to say to all the fans out there, especially the ones who are overseas and far away from me who are all always still so supportive, I want to say thanks to them. I want to reciprocate that love to them constantly.