In Korea’s popular culture scene, Lee Youngji is a reputation now synonymous with vibrant and unfiltered leisure, greatest seen by her viral Nothing A lot Ready YouTube collection, the place she shares drinks with members of Okay-pop supergroups like BTS, BLACKPINK and SEVENTEEN. Nonetheless, 2024 marks a major yr for the 21-year-old as she appears to be like to return to her roots in music and highlight her expertise as a performer and musician. Even when many followers may acknowledge her first because the comedic pressure behind a few of Okay-pop’s most unforgettable interviews, Youngji’s journey in leisure started with music — and he or she’s decided to remind everybody of that on her ongoing world tour that hits the U.S. on the finish of August.
The discharge of her debut album, June’s 16 Fantasy, marked a daring assertion of her inventive id and the promise proven for her musical future. The lead single, “Small Woman” that includes EXO’s D.O., not solely topped the charts in South Korea but in addition broke into the High 40 of the Billboard International 200. In the meantime, b-side cuts like Lee’s “ADHD Woman,” plus her hit collaborations with prime acts like Dynamicduo and BSS, all show her versatility and talents to step up and stage up for every new tune launch.
“This yr is basically necessary for me musically,” Youngji displays throughout a night FaceTime name from Seoul forward of the U.S. leg of her tour. “I’ve had plenty of collaborations and I’ve a spread present on my YouTube channel, so many individuals know me by a number of jobs…however I need to highlight my musician mode this yr.”
As she embarks on the U.S. leg of her All or Nothing World Tour, Lee Youngji is keen to attach with followers in a extra intimate setting, bringing not simply her music to the stage however the distinctive private vitality that’s made her such a breakout star among the many subsequent era of Korean-pop entertainers.
“I are likely to attempt to actually talk with the viewers, ask them questions, simply attempt to speak to them and I feel that U. S. followers are going to love that lots,” she says, hinting on the interactive and private nature of her stage setup. The All or Nothing Tour is extra of an invite for followers to expertise Lee Youngji in her purest type as a musician and entertainer. And whereas she won’t be capable of bask in her well-known on-camera consuming along with her viewers — although she tells Billboard that she actually desires to — she’s able to carry that very same spontaneous and real connection to each present.
Learn on for extra with Lee Youngji sharing about her Stateside tour, her large yr in music, recollections with some prime Okay-pop stars and what’s coming subsequent.
Congratulations on all of the latest successes, Youngji. There’s lots to debate, however it’s been a very necessary yr for you as a musician. Is that this why you’re going in your first U.S. tour?
Such as you stated, this yr is basically necessary for me musically. I’ve had plenty of collaborations, and I’ve a spread present on my YouTube channel, so many individuals know me by a number of jobs. First, they knew me as a YouTuber; then they could have recognized me as a star pal; they knew me as all various kinds of issues, however I need to highlight my musician mode this yr. And gratefully, “Small Woman” had an incredible response and increase, even within the U.S., so I believed that this was an incredible alternative for me to be extra assured on what I’m doing proper now as a musician.
You achieve this a lot, and folks know you for a lot of completely different causes, however the place does music align along with your total world?
In my childhood period, I might at all times imagine, “I feel I’m gonna be a well-known individual, however I don’t suppose that I could possibly be a musician.” However the first time individuals bought to know me was within the survival present Excessive College Rapper 3 [in 2019]. At the moment, rap was the one factor I used to be competent in any sort of musical expertise, however I didn’t essentially need to be solely a rapper.
Did you discover your confidence to pursue music by rapping?
Sure, however I don’t suppose that it’s my solely expertise. Rapping positively requires expertise, however I don’t suppose that’s all I’ve. So, once I received the rap survival present, I used to be at all times pondering, “Oh, so is ‘rapper’ my job now?” I didn’t need to begin my profession as a rapper. I stated, “Oh, I bought [to show] greater than rapping.” Nevertheless it was my greatest expertise, so I used to be at all times curious…
Is that why we solely bought your first album 5 years after Excessive College Rapper? You share plenty of completely different sides and kinds on the file. What’s your favourite tune?
Yep, yep. And never as a result of that tune bought a lot fame, however I ultimately actually beloved “Small Woman.” It’s an sincere, sincere, sincere tune; an actual story about myself. I really like these sorts of songs. There are some tall, tall women…ah, how ought to I say this? Everybody has part of themselves that they lack confidence in, however this tune can actually soften that advanced. I believed that “Small Woman” was a tune I might make for everybody to be extra assured. So, I actually cherish “Small Woman” as a tune that I made for everybody who might need decrease or won’t have self-confidence.
One in all my favorites is “ADHD Woman” as a result of I even have ADHD. What impressed this tune?
Ever since childhood, I’ve been listening to lots of people, like my academics and my mother and father, saying that I’ve ADHD — and that was earlier than many individuals grew to become actually conscious of it. However I’ve plenty of mates round me who do have ADHD and take medicine for it. It’s a tune I wrote primarily based on my experiences in addition to my mates’ experiences, a few of them who’re actually battling ADHD.
What’s your songwriting or artistic course of?
Properly, there’s plenty of nice expertise and stuff for music today, you recognize? However I really like iPhone and iPhone memos. I’m at all times recording on my iPhone: a bit gibberish, little unknown sounds, guides for songs. I at all times write key phrases with my iPhone. Truly, that was the precise course of for the tune “Not Sorry.” Once I went by the competitors present, Present Me the Cash, I suffered lots from this hate practice. So, I wrote on my iPhone that stated, “Not sorry, not sorry in any respect,” and I requested my producers — Jay Park, Zion.T and Slom — I requested them, “What about this topic for the title of this tune” and so they have been like, “Oh, that’s dope and that’s one thing you are able to do proper now.” My music-making course of is at all times, at all times like that. I write a title on my cellphone and I do a gibberish recording.
And “Not Sorry” was successful!
[Laughs] Yeah!
I’ve at all times appreciated your perspective. I’m positive it’s not straightforward for you, or anybody, however you might have a refreshing perspective about criticism and “hate feedback.” We even noticed your “liking” tweets which have criticized you. How do you retain this robust mindset?
Once I get hate, I attempt to perceive them. “Why do you hate me?” “Oh, due to that time?” “Okay, I perceive that — however I don’t agree in any respect.” I can perceive you, however I don’t should agree with you. I at all times take into consideration how no one is aware of me higher than me. So, you recognize once I “like” [hate comments] — I actually don’t understand how the web system works — however I don’t care until I do one thing that’s actually a nasty factor or crosses the road legally. I additionally reply [to] them once they ship me DMs that say, “I hate you, go kill your self” or one thing. I at all times reply to them and at all times like their messages as a result of they by no means suppose that in the event that they ship me a message, I can see them; they don’t know that I can see them. So I need to allow them to know that I see all the pieces.
So, what are you getting ready for the U.S. leg of your All or Nothing Tour?
I at all times hoped that if I had an opportunity, I need to meet everybody on the planet and music is my likelihood. So, sure, I wished to make use of this as my alternative. I’ve already toured Asia, however you recognize what? The temper is form of completely different in comparison with America. My efficiency [style] is normally to get individuals loopy. On this tour, I particularly need to have extra direct communication with the viewers and to introduce who I’m, that I make this sort of music, and that I introduce myself as an artist to the U.S. audiences. In comparison with Asia, there’s extra participation within the U.S., whereas direct communication is decrease in different nations. I made plenty of modifications to my songs. I’m planning to carry the viewers as much as the stage truly, and possibly dance or carry out collectively; I’m making an attempt to plan these form of issues.
Such as you stated, you’re not simply recognized for music however in your persona too. Are you getting ready enjoyable methods to share that facet of your self too?
I feel that my persona reveals up whereas I’m speaking with one other individual. So, I are likely to attempt to actually talk with the viewers, ask them questions, simply attempt to speak to them. And I feel that U. S. followers are going to love that lots. I actually need to drink with them. I imply, I actually need to get drunk with them, however I can’t. [Laughs]
Perhaps we are able to take a secret shot collectively for the reason that tour’s final present is in New York…
HA ha. I hope so! [Laughs]
However I do need to spotlight how, in your 5 years since Excessive College Rapper, you’ve finished a ton of collaborations throughout many genres: Okay-pop idols, rappers, indie musicians, R&B, older era artists, chart-topping artists. How do you join with so many various sounds and kinds?
I’m so grateful that they at all times attain [out] to me and ask me to characteristic with them or collaborate. I’ve been actually energetic with video and media contents in Korea for 4, 5 years now and, fortunately, that’s proven my persona and expertise in Korea and to audiences. So, I feel plenty of artists really feel like I’m somebody who’s acquainted and for them to achieve out and join with me to do different initiatives. However anytime once I get requested for a characteristic, I at all times suppose, “How can I beat them on this tune? How can I do higher on this tune?” [Laughs] However options and collaborating actually pressure me to go to the following stage of myself.
I feel that’s what Nicki Minaj stated. She wants a “sparring companion” to stage herself up.
She’s my aim.
Are there any final messages for followers or what to anticipate on the U.S. tour? And with Nothing A lot Ready‘s return, are you able to share some spoilers?
Properly, sure, I can provide you plenty of spoilers, however the first episode is with Lisa and he or she’s so sensible, fairly, younger, wealthy, and a hilarious individual. I really like her. As of mid-August, I already recorded, like, six or seven episodes so we’re going to see plenty of idols and plenty of actors.
However what else ought to I say? I feel U.S. followers are usually not ready for what’s coming to them! I need to promise to the U.S. followers that I can be working laborious to have the ability to see them extra typically. I even have plenty of songs able to be launched, and I need to watch U.S. followers react. I’ve bought an extended approach to go. This tour shouldn’t be even step one. I’ve large ambitions.
