Music has always been an art form where artists' emotions and personalities find home. It's especially true for artists like Su Lee, whose music reflects so much of who she is.

Delightfully chaotic, whimsical, and plain ol' fun, the Korean singer-songwriter's music offers a refreshing take on life's harshest realities, encasing moments of loneliness and despair with eccentric creativity and a sense of ease. Su Lee's songs never promise better days or brighter skies but instead comfort you with bubbly melodies and playful beats as you trudge along waiting for the rain clouds to clear up. 

Su Lee started turning heads in 2020 with the release of her lockdown anthem 'I'll Just Dance', her bouncy lockdown anthem that resonated with millions of listeners across the world. Since then, she's dropped her relatable and incredibly honest self-produced EP, Box Room Dreams which documents her admittedly lonely yet interesting adventures through quarantine in her bedroom in South Korea. 

But these days, she branching out into the outside world as she continues to push musical and creative boundaries. Most recently, she teamed up with Colombian artist Ariza for her multilingual singles 'Super Happy' and 'Jump'. 

Following its release, Bandwagon caught up with Su Lee to talk about the fantastical world she builds in her songs, leaving the confines of her bedroom, and what's next. 

Hi Su Lee! How have you been these days?

Never better! I’ve recently decided to do an extended stay in LA and it’s been a heck of a journey so far. I love the city and all the crazy, creative people here so much haha.

Let’s go back to the beginning, how did your interest in music first start?

I’ve always secretly wanted to pursue music and arts, but it was one of those unrealistic fantasies that I would only dream of doing—until recently, like 2 and a half years ago. I decided to finally give myself a year to writing and making music full-time.

How would you describe the music that you make and the impact you’d like it to have on your listeners?

I would describe my music as “musical barf about the chaos of life”—sorry that’s a mouthful haha, no pun intended. Impact-wise, all I wish is that hopefully some people feel heard and less lonely if they’re going through something similar to the things that I write about.

Who are some of the artists that inspire you?

Joji for his versatility in his music, Tyler, the Creator for how he literally creates and designs a whole universe around himself and his music, and Grimes for her hands-on approach to her craft, from producing her own music to branding herself or directing her own music videos. And, Doja Cat cause her IDGAF mannerism and confidence is something that is very difficult as an anxious overthinker myself, haha.

What does your creative process look like, especially since you work on a lot of your music and videos by yourself?

All of my work usually starts with something very trivial like a doodle, scribble of random words, or a short voice memo. And that’s just enough of a starting point for me to just add more flesh and build things up!

You recently released your double single ‘Super Happy’ and ‘Jump’, could you tell us the story behind these songs?

Ariza, the producer and featured artist on both tracks, and I met online during the pandemic. We were quite literally half a globe away from each other – Ariza in LA and I in South Korea – through the whole duration of making these songs.

Through a series of email conversations, we thought it would be fun to make some songs that we each write in our first languages (Spanish and Korean). And from that came these trilingual tunes!

These two tracks were also the first songs you’ve worked on outside your bedroom, what was that experience like? What was it like to bring someone else, especially someone like Ariza, into your creative process?

I was technically still in my bedroom in South Korea during the making of the song haha but bringing someone else besides myself was definitely something that was (and still is to a certain extent) very new to me. 

I’ve learned that you just need to be in a completely different headspace when you’re working with other artists - whether they may be songwriters, videographers, or producers. It’s a balance that I’m still trying to figure out, but you need to know when to be verbal about your idea or opinion, and when to be open-minded and listen to what the other creatives have to say.

Where do you hope to see yourself in the next five years?

If I were to give you my super duper ambitious answer, I want to be selling out stadiums around the world, have my own TV show, and own a happy cat and a dog.

But also, I honestly just want to vibe things out and see how it goes. What matters the most for me is that I’m having fun, working with people that I enjoy working with, and feeling fulfilled along the way. 

 

 

 

 

 

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What would you say is your greatest strength as an artist?

Not being afraid to write a song about my flat ass (yes the very song is in progress as I speak) or my debilitating mental health.

Outside of music, what do you enjoy doing?

I adore rollerblading and watching anime!

Share with us some of the plans you have for your music for the rest of the year.

I definitely want to be touring and performing more - it makes me feel so alive to be shaking my booty and singing with everyone live. 

My first ever official album (I think the jargon is “debut album”?) is also planned to be released later this year. I’m still grinding hard to finish some songs haha, but I’m very very excited to share it with the world.

Listen to Su Lee's 'Super Happy' and 'Jump' featuring Ariza here.