As she releases her eclectic and enduring debut solo album, TWICE’s CHAEYOUNG shows herself to be one of K-pop’s most compelling visionaries. In an exclusive interview, she reflects on a decade with the JYP Entertainment-formed girl group, and explains why now is the right time to step into the limelight.
Stepping out as a solo artist is a notoriously difficult task. Add in the fact that CHAEYOUNG’s collaborative musical pursuit, TWICE, is one of the biggest exports to come out of the K-pop dominion. It takes a special talent to be able to manufacture the same sort of critical plaudits and public adoration. But with her concise yet expansive, intimate yet cinematic debut album, the 26-year-old has done just that.
TWICE’s achievements speak for themselves. Since she became a member of the JYP Entertainment-formed girl group a decade ago, the artist has been a key cog in an unstoppable machine, amassing billions of streams and becoming the first K-pop act to headline the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago earlier this year.
Such heights make this solo step-out all the more impressive. Rather than rest on her bountiful laurels as one of nine members of TWICE, CHAEYOUNG has shot for artistic heights with this inaugural album and very much reached them. LIL FANTASY vol.1 is a deeply expressive collection of tracks, curated with nous and delivered with fervour.
Cramming a whole load of sonic goodness into a tight 21 minutes, CHAEYOUNG flaunts a stylistic depth far beyond what has been illustrated within TWICE. Opener “AVOCADO” is a delicious R&B-tinted gem, “DOWNPOUR” is a moody dream pop standout, and closer “내 기타”, which translates to “My Guitar”, is a gorgeous slice of stripped-back acoustic ballad, the most touching and enchanting moment of the album.
Showing herself to be a fiercely creative and refined artist in her own right, CHAEYOUNG is more than just a team player. Sitting down with Wonderland, she talks K-pop, TWICE’s 10th anniversary, and the meaning behind her debut album.
Listen to LIL FANTASY vol.1…
Read the exclusive interview…
Talk us through your personal music origins. Where did you fall in love with it? How did you first find your talent?
At first, I simply loved dancing, and that’s how it all began. From there, it naturally grew into a dream of becoming a singer. Listening to and watching so many artists made me think, “I want to be like them – I want to make my own music.” I’m not sure if I’d call it talent yet, but while working on LIL FANTASY vol.1, I realised that I’m someone who can express what I love and what I want to share through music.
Your group TWICE is one of K-pop’s biggest exports. Does that still feel surreal to you sometimes?
Honestly, it still feels unreal at times. But whenever we travel abroad and people recognise us, that’s when it really hits me.
What is it about the nine of you that works so well, musically and personally?
I think it’s because all nine members have their own unique personalities and charms, and when we come together, that’s what makes TWICE.
K-pop has become one of the most globally popular genres. Where do you think its continued rise in popularity stems from?
I think K-pop is always trying to keep moving forward – whether it’s in music, performance, or visuals – in every aspect. Of course, the trends change so quickly that it can feel a little hard to keep up sometimes, but I think people positively appreciate that aspect.
Talk us through the story behind the recent K-pop Demon Hunters track, “Takedown”.
It was a style of song TWICE had never tried before, and we just wanted to give it a shot. I never expected it to get this popular, so I’m really grateful.
TWICE have broken down so many boundaries – most recently the huge Lollapalooza performance. How far do you think you can go as a group? Is there no ceiling?
There may be limits that even we’re not aware of, but I don’t really want to set those boundaries in my head when making albums or promoting. For us, it’s always been about growing and showing new sides of ourselves while reaching more people along the way.
It’s TWICE’s 10th anniversary this October – what can fans expect from the upcoming celebration?
We’ve been working hard on a few things, and now it’s just a matter of waiting until they’re ready to be shared. First, our 10th anniversary documentary is on the way. And there’s also something else coming soon – so please look forward to it!
You are sharing your debut album, congratulations! Why did now feel like the right time to share your first solo LP?
I felt like I was ready. It felt like the right moment to share the stories I wanted to tell, and to show my own tastes, thoughts, and way of thinking.
How has your time in TWICE guided you in approaching being a solo artist?
Since it’s my first time promoting solo, there are definitely some things that feel different from what I imagined. But having spent 10 years performing as TWICE gave me a lot of strength, both physically and mentally, and that experience has really helped me.
Why is the album entitled LIL FANTASY vol.1?
LIL FANTASY is what I call the little fantasy world inside me. I added “vol.1” because I didn’t want the album to feel light or like it would end here – I wanted to show that this world will keep going.
Talk us through the making and meaning of LIL FANTASY vol.1?
I spent about two years just thinking about what kind of album I wanted to make, and then over a year really working, creating, and pouring my energy into bringing it to life. Every song was made together with people close to me, and they all reflect me most naturally. Just like everyone has their own little fantasy world, this album is my way of showing mine.
What does the album mean to you? What do you hope it achieves?
Since it’s my first solo album, I think it will always be one of the most special ones to me. While making it, I went through many worries and concerns, but I also gained a lot of lessons along the way.
Honestly, I didn’t create it with the hope of some big achievement. If there are people who say that this is the kind of album they like to return to and listen to from time to time, that alone would make me really happy.
What other plans do you have, this year and beyond?
TWICE’s tour is still going on, so I hope fans are excited for that. And I also hope they’ll look forward to what I’ll be doing with my music career in the future, too.
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Words – Ben Tibbits
Photography – JYP Entertainment