Younha’s soothing voice is just as captivating as what she sings about. It’s no surprise that the Korean soloist has been a mainstay in the industry for the last two decades. Powerful with her vocals and paired with her masterful storytelling, Younha has etched herself in the echelons of the Korean music industry. Also a rarity, Younha possesses an authentic voice, not one to shy away from diving into themes of love and mental health. In this interview with Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong, Younha looks back at the last 20 years of her career and takes us behind the scenes of her new album, Growth Theory.
Younha debuted in Japan in 2004 to much success. Two years later, she broke into the Korean music scene with the single album, Audition. She quickly followed it up with a full-length Korean album, Password 486. It garnered huge attention and instantly scored six music show wins and four Rookie of the Year awards. And her story just continuously snowballed from there. As colourful as her life may seem, it isn’t always that way. The once-burned-out artist also succumbed to the perils of depression and was diagnosed with septal deviation, a nasal disease. She had to take a break from work following surgery. But against all odds, Younha found her voice again and is now back with her seventh album, Growth Theory. It is the second part of her Theory album trilogy and also celebrates her 20th anniversary in the industry.
The new release continues the narrative from her previous album, exploring the meaning of growth through the eyes of a girl. Younha admits that she imagined herself as a 20-year-old again during the process of making the album. A real chameleon, Younha blends various genres and uses multiple instruments ranging from electric guitar to traditional Korean instruments such as ‘janggu’ (Korean drums). Read our interview with Younha to find out more about her creative process and her feelings about her 20-year-long career.
Interview: Younha dives into the inspiration behind her new album Growth Theory
What aspect of growth are you exploring with this new album?
The idea of the ‘20th anniversary’ reminded me of the word ‘midlife,’ so I was looking for a setting to completely refresh my mindset. This led me to the idea of the ‘second 20-year-old.’ One change of the word gave a whole new feeling. I thought about the time when I turned 20 years old and just became an adult, while reminiscing about things I want to try again or I felt regretful back then.
During that process, I was reminded of my courage and decision to jump into the unknown, collaboration and communication with my surroundings, and open-mindedness that excitedly welcomes new opportunities. I reorganised and incorporated my thoughts and decisions based on my immature 20-year-old self into this album. As a result, I feel quite brand new and think my biological clock is changing even further!
How do you choose what culminates into an album or a song?
I don’t necessarily decide to turn an album into a collection of narratives. But looking back, each of my albums does narrate a specific timeline. I also enjoy working hard, saving some free time, and going on a break in nature, as I need to set myself in a completely different environment from daily life.
I think that time gives me new ideas and senses. There is a standard of what I can share with the listeners among countless inspirations, and it is quite clear to me, even clearer than anyone would expect. I firmly believe that music touches one’s unconsciousness, so I always direct my music to have a positive influence. In Asian culture, we value the importance of human emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. Every emotion is righteous and the freedom of expression is crucial, but a message needs a direction when delivered to other people.
One message holds the power to potentially change someone’s values, so it should be helpful for anyone’s life, in any shape or form. I archive a lot of resources, but at the same time, I let go of things of the past. Inspiration is something to be discovered, so there will be new inspirations for me in the future that are more fitting at that time.
What does this album represent to you? What kind of story are you hoping to tell?
I think this album is like a grand firework of many experiences as a musician over the last 20 years. It is difficult to satisfy the listeners at a regular level so sometimes, I might have disappointed them. Nevertheless, my fans and listeners have stayed with me and witnessed Younha’s growth as a musician, so I wanted to dedicate this album as my gratitude to them.
Growth cannot be accomplished by oneself. An individual’s privacy is important, but together we can grow, become stronger, and plan for a better future. This is the main story of Growth Theory.
The title track Sunfish encourages listeners to walk on the path they believe in, no matter what. Have there been moments in your life that you felt the same?
Absolutely. I believe that Korean society has only recently broadened its understanding of differences. If something is not familiar, we often have a hard time understanding it, which may cause misapprehension. It is not easy to accept something as is, and it takes thorough training to admit that I might not be accepted by others as who I am. I wish everyone to be happy in their natural forms, discovering their true values while following the social rules and promises. ‘Sunfish’ contains my process of understanding the aforementioned statement. Through this track, I hope you gain the courage to live in your true nature.
The album also incorporates different instruments including traditional Korean ones. Can you tell us more about this creative decision?
I have always been interested in ‘gukak’ (Korean classical music) and Korean traditional instruments. But it was quite hard to incorporate those elements because my music is focused on the rock genre with Western instruments. Then I found inspiration from the new generation of musicians who reinterpreted Celtic-corporated music. I wanted to share cool Korean instruments and various expressions of sound. Those sounds might not pop out too much since they were used in a more fun, exciting song, but everything needs a first step. I believe this attempt will lead to many more experiments in the future.
You wrote and composed all the 10 tracks in the album. Is there a track that particularly stood out to you? Or any lyrics that you feel deeply connected to?
Every song is precious to me because each one went through a long time to be finalised, but these days I continue to rethink the lyrics of “Part of cloud.” A cloud represents a relationship that was once bonded and then broken, and the track expresses that even though a cloud disappears as rain, there indeed was its shadow and the cloud existed.
We wish for eternity but some beings disappear, and I hope we can have loving, respectful hearts for all disappearing beings. There’s this line from the song: “The miracle when our hearts became clouds/Rising anywhere, floating through the world, creating miracles.” Keeping this line in my heart, I always try to remember that our relationships and daily life are just like miracles.
Younha reflects on her journey over the last 20 years
You’re known for conveying your feelings through your music. Do you find it difficult to be vulnerable or is it empowering?
I think continuing to realise and discover emotions is similar to meditation. Something more challenging than conveying emotions is to accept an emotion as is, and then to decide on how I can organise the elements of my emotions. It is a difficult process, but I believe it is what cures my life as well as all the listeners’ lives.
Your new album also celebrates your 20th debut anniversary. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since your journey?
It would be, “Everything connects.” I consider the meaning behind it to be that you may only reach the true value by continuing your life rather than trying to land at some point.
If there’s anything your current self would say to your younger self 20 years ago, what would it be?
I want to say that everyone joined your journey even though you feel like you’ve done everything by yourself, so it is okay to share your thoughts with others.
What do you hope listeners will get out of this new album?
I hope my listeners have a feeling that they can do anything together, even things that seem challenging as individuals.
Listen to Growth Theory by Younha on Spotify.
(Featured and Hero Image credit: C9 Entertainment)
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Written by
Jianne Soriano
Senior Digital Writer (Growth) - Dining, Culture & Travel
An introvert at heart, Jianne has an immense passion for storytelling. After working in Tokyo, this Filipino, Hong Kong-born native is back to tell stories about her home(s). When she’s not writing, you can find her looking for the best hojicha spots, binge-watching her comfort movies, or travelling solo.
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