Entertainer and K-pop musician, CHUU revealed her new solo album after a tumultuous year of public legal battles with her previous agency. Long time K-pop fans are no stranger to the former LOONA member’s painful saga in the entertainment industry. Despite her struggles, the singer poured her experiences into the latest stage of her evolution as an artist.
CHUU will be soon coming to the US for her Howl in USA 2023 tour, and fans can expect to see an exciting new side of the soloist. Ahead of her December performance in Los Angeles, the singer shared with Asia Blooming her thoughts on this new era of her career. The vocalist admits standing alone on stage is an exciting, but nerve-racking challenge.
Congratulations on your first mini album! How did you work with Seo Ji-eum to craft the lyrics to such a sensitive, personal song?
I met lyricist Seo Ji-Eum, whom I had always admired and wanted to work with, through the song, “Howl” and ended up working on “Aliens” together as well. We weren’t really acquainted with one another, but through our relationship at my agency, we had meals together, got to know each other and worked on the songs together. I am truly grateful that she created such perfectly fitting lyrics to the song.
“Howl” features songs that are both electro and synth-pop, which highlight your vocals in ways listeners haven’t heard before. Why did you want to show that side of you?
For a while, I’ve thought about making a song with a captivating intro that emphasizes the vocals. And as fate would have it, I was able to make “Howl,” and I think it became a nice present for my fans who’ve been waiting for a long time. It was a new project for me as well, as I had to sing a variety of vocal ranges that I haven’t shown before, and I think it was an opportunity to learn a lot.
You’ve been through many difficulties in your career as a singer and entertainer. What lessons did you learn from your experience in the music industry? How did you apply that knowledge when working on “Howl”?
I experienced a lot of internal growth, living with emotions that I had never experienced before, and it all was a time of great learning for myself. Rather than hiding these emotions, I wanted to capture them through music. Overall, I think that the message and the emotions in my songs became more mature than before.
Reflecting on your journey to becoming a solo artist, what has been your biggest challenge?
Leading an entire stage by myself really feels like a challenge and I put my best effort into it. And looking back, I can see now that my sense of responsibility for stages has grown. I put a lot more effort into finalizing the details of every stage, regarding both vocals and performance aspects. And I also take great care of my physical condition as the energy I give off on stage is crucial. I do feel a bit of pressure filling up a stage all on my own, but I am working hard to overcome it step by step.
We’ve seen your many talents such as a dancer, singer, and show host. Are there any hidden talents you haven’t shown before that fans can look forward to at your concert?
I’ve always wanted to perform an entire concert live to deliver the liveliness of the performance to the fans! It appears that this dream will be fulfilled during the US tour, and I’m very much looking forward to it!
