Before she returned with a new single last month, it had been quite some time since we last heard from Seori.
Bar her contributions to the soundtracks of the 2023 K-dramas Doona!, Song of the Bandits, and Tell Me That You Love Me, the R&B and pop singer-songwriter had a silent year after she released her special digital single album, Cinderella, via THE UNIT LABEL back in December 2022.
A year-long hiatus may not sound long compared to others, but Seori's came somewhat abruptly. Having burst onto the Korean music scene with her debut EP, ?depacse ohw, in 2020, followed up on it with several singles, including team-ups with eaJ and GIRIBOY, and been featured on the soundtrack of Marvel Studios' Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, momentum was very much on her side before she took a pause from releasing music.
While a hiatus is sometimes thought of as a period of idleness or a time for an artist to pursue non-music activities, Seori, whose real name is Baek So-hyun, told Bandwagon that this was not the case for her.
"I've been diligently working on new music. I had the opportunity to join a new label, which opened up a fresh environment for me to focus on preparing my album," said the 27-year-old, who joined South Korean record label LABEL SAYU after departing from Warner Music Korea's artist collective, ASTIPAUS, last year.
Credit: LABEL SAYU
Aside from being a season of change, the 'Running Through The Night' singer's break also gave her time to plan the next phase of her music career and work on her personal growth.
She shared: "Throughout this period, I've been contemplating deeply what kind of music I wanted to present for my comeback. Personally, I've also been prioritizing my health and striving to approach each day with a positive mindset, making it meaningful in every way possible."
Unveiled on 31 January, Seori's latest release, the pre-release track 'Broken', sees the soloist lay bare her inner struggles through heartwrenching and introspective lyrics and a vocal performance with a degree of vulnerability we have not seen from her before. It is both a preview of what lies ahead for Seori and a reminder of why the music world became enamoured with her in the first place.
Following the release of 'Broken', Bandwagon caught up with Seori to learn the story behind her comeback track and find out what fans can expect from this new chapter of her music career.
Congratulations on the launch of your new pre-release single, ‘Broken’! What kind of story does the song tell? Where did you draw inspiration from while putting it together?
I've always wanted to tell stories through my music that reflect the various emotions I experience. Among these emotions, 'Broken' delves into feelings of inferiority. Since I was young, I've sometimes struggled with comparing myself to others and feeling like I'm not good enough. When I started pursuing music, these feelings of frustration became even stronger. While these emotions are a part of who I am and something I need to acknowledge, there's also a part of me that wishes to push them away. I've always thought that confronting these parts of myself directly would eventually make me feel proud. I'm happy I could talk about this in my music and figure out how to deal with it. I think 'Broken' can help people feel understood and give [them] comfort because it's a feeling many can connect with.
Since I was young, I've sometimes struggled with comparing myself to others and feeling like I'm not good enough. When I started pursuing music, these feelings of frustration became even stronger.
Credit: Seori (Instagram)
‘Broken’ marks the beginning of a new chapter of your career. How does it reflect where you are artistically at the moment?
While continuing with the synth sound or elements that I've been exploring, I wanted to incorporate elements of alternative pop/rock, a genre that I enjoy listening to and draw inspiration from. I wanted the music to head in this direction, focusing on expressing personal growth in the lyrics. 'Broken' came about as a song with deeper emotional dynamics than my previous works.
How does the song set up your future releases? Can we expect more of what we hear in ‘Broken’?
'Broken' is a pre-release track, offering a glimpse into what's to come in my future releases. There will be more tracks that delve into personal emotions and situations that many may find difficult to reveal. Each song's topics are interconnected, and I've diversified the sounds while ensuring they don't stray too far from each other. There's a sense of exploration into my inner self throughout my upcoming releases, and I believe listeners will find it intriguing.
There's a sense of exploration into my inner self throughout my upcoming releases, and I believe listeners will find it intriguing.
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The track is also your first release under LABEL SAYU. What has your journey with your new label been like since you joined it last October?
I am so happy to be part of Label SAYU. The team at SAYU has been so supportive. We've had many discussions about showcasing new aspects of myself as an artist. I'm looking forward to preparing for various activities in the future, and I'm eagerly looking forward to what lies ahead.
After you announced that you would be returning with new material, your fans, Seoros, responded with excitement and expressed their support for you on social media. How did it feel to be welcomed back by such a warm reception?
I'm incredibly grateful to my fans, Seoros, who patiently waited for me during the long hiatus. While I tried to stay connected with various OST participations to shorten the gap, it feels like it's been ages since I've shared a complete album with my fans. I hope to have more opportunities to meet them in person in the future, and I truly appreciate their anticipation, support, and warm welcome. Thank you for waiting for me.
Credit: Seori (X)
How has your relationship with Seoros grown since you made your debut amid the COVID-19 pandemic?
I debuted during the COVID-19 pandemic, so I couldn't meet my fans in person through shows or events. It's still surprising to me that I have fans and they show me a lot of love. In the future, I promise to be more proactive in my work and activities.
I debuted during the COVID-19 pandemic, so I couldn't meet my fans in person through shows or events. It's still surprising to me that I have fans and they show me a lot of love.
Besides creating your own songs, you have also been featured on the soundtracks of Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and K-dramas such as Doona! and Remarriage and Desires. Considering you started off by making YouTube covers, what’s it like to be a part of these productions?
It's incredibly gratifying to be a part of dramas and movies and to contribute my music to help convey their messages. Moreover, discovering new aspects of my musical identity through these works has been a joyful experience.
It's incredibly gratifying to be a part of dramas and movies and to contribute my music to help convey their messages.
Finally, what else can we expect from you this year?
In 2024, you can expect more songs after a long hiatus. I'm looking forward to engaging in various activities and opportunities to meet fans through the albums. Additionally, I've launched a new YouTube channel, @Seori_Official, where you can expect to see a variety of content, including vlogs exhibiting my daily life. There's a lot to look forward to, so stay tuned!
Listen to Seori here:
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