Story / Christine Terrisse (@ms_terrisse)
Artistic Path: Justin Ayers (@justinnayers)
Photographer: Justin Ayers (@justinnayers)
Lighting Designer / Digi Tech: Mike Anderson (@msa_photography)
Picture Assistant: Jacob Telo (@jacob.telo)
Hair & Make-up: Leticia Llesmin (@leticiallesmin) for Unique Artists utilizing Dior Magnificence
Stylist: Aidan Palermo (@aidanjosephpalermo)
Stylist Assistant: Makayla Godden (@mak__godden)
Soyoon, who types her identify So!YoOn! for solo tasks, together with her unfussy demeanor, could possibly be a pleasant neighbor speaking about her backyard relatively than the chief of one among South Korea’s most profitable rock teams, one who’s directly, an intrepid solo artist, a consummate collaborator, and a killer guitarist.
Right here, huddled right into a nondescript diner in very un-rockstarlike Burbank, California, a “studio city” simply north of Hollywood, she opens up about her inventive course of and constructing a life in Los Angeles. “I’m at all times simply specializing in my current,” she says over the din of aged males at a desk throughout from us.
Recently, her skill to remain current has served the 28-year-old singer-songwriter effectively, each creatively and personally. She confronted the problem of transferring from her bustling neighborhood in Seoul to Los Angeles with fearless move, very similar to the way in which she strikes between inventive endeavors. “I’ve to see sunshine. I’ve to really feel the breeze and see the timber,” she says, declaring that she nonetheless needed to be close to individuals.“The choice to start out residing right here didn’t scare me.”
Within the first few months, she hopped round, staying with buddies whereas exploring the town’s totally different neighborhoods. “It was actually fascinating,” she explains. “I nonetheless really feel like I’m in a theme park. Each block has a special vibe. And it’s an entire totally different tradition. Like Koreatown. I used to be form of shocked the primary time I visited there. It’s so totally different from the Korea I’m from.”
Finally, she settled on the homey neighborhood of Atwater Village, which borders Griffith Park, an oasis of nature in the midst of the town sprawl.
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Soyoon rose to fame in South Korea over 10 years in the past because the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter of SE SO NEON. The identify of the group, she defined in an earlier interview, comes from a phrase which means “new birds” or “new boys/youngsters.” Her earliest collaborators on SO SE NEON included drummer Ganto and bassist Fancy Moon, and in its later incarnations included bassist Park Hyunjin and drummer U-su. Right this moment, she stays SO SE NEON’s one fixed. Fluent in English, whether or not on solo or band work, she switches languages relying on what a tune requires.
In 2017, their debut EP, Summer season Plumage, introduced quick acclaim. It was nominated for Greatest Rock Album on the 2018 Korean Music Awards, the business’s high recognition and gained Greatest Rock Track for “The Wave.” They had been topped Rookie of the 12 months.
The next yr, Soyoon launched her first solo studio album, So!YoOn! increasing her inventive horizons to incorporate pop, R&B, hip-hop, funk, and even visible arts–she acquired particular permission from Australian artist Patricia Piccinini to characteristic her sculpture “The Rookie” as album cowl artwork.
The identical 2018 Korean Music Awards that put Soyoon and SO SE NEON on the map additionally noticed supergroup BTS profitable Artist of the 12 months. Years later, a fateful likelihood assembly in a recording studio introduced Soyoon along with BTS’s chief, RM, and the two discovered kinship as leaders of inventive tasks, balancing solo efforts.
Within the natural, old style means, the 2 started to collaborate, ensuing within the longing-filled neo-soul “Smoke Sprite” off her second solo album, “Episode1: Love.” Directing or co-directing all of her movies, for “Smoke Sprite,” Soyoon noticed herself inhabit varied feminine personas from a futuristic rock goddess to a huntress, from a sunburnt warrior queen to a mysterious golden-haired siren.
And though each Soyoon and SO SE NEON had already been acclaimed outdoors Korea by that point, the collaboration introduced her to the eye of a brand new viewers.
“Folks [may] acknowledge me from any random place, like, from BTS,” she says, “Or the choice indie rock scene. The great factor about me is that I’m the kind of one who can exist wherever. It means I’ve an enormous boundary…even my setting– as a Korean artist who lives in L.A. and never…with out an enormous label right here. I actually began residing right here on my own to determine my profession and my life.”
Final August, Soyoon returned to SO SE NEON and launched a full debut studio album
One of many highlights of
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Soyoon wrapped up an enormous world tour final fall, one which took her throughout the U.S. and into Mexico, Europe, Asia, and Australia, her new’ 70s-vintage Fender Strat in tow, purchased after a lot thought earlier than she left.
Right this moment, she cherishes the time she spends balancing work and relaxation, discovering consolation in routine, cooking pasta at dwelling extra usually than going out. All the time productive, she finds life in L.A. rather less fast-paced than in Seoul. This life looks like turning the web page on a brand new chapter.
As a testomony to the free-flowing nature of her pursuits, her newest collaboration is for the globally profitable Ok-pop group Enhypen. On “No Method Again (feat. So!YoOn!)” from their Billboard 200-charting mini-album The Sin: Vanish, Soyoon’s voice offers a poignant counterweight to the group’s vocal trade-offs.
“I used to comply with the principles,” she admits. “There are such a lot of issues I can do on a extra private stage. What can I do? Even with out music as an individual, as an artist, what can I do, and what does it imply? I believe this yr I’m going to do extra private work, not solely in music, perhaps do extra producing, or like a movie story, or like another tasks. I’m fascinated by pictures, so it is going to be actually enjoyable.”
One new challenge she is admittedly excited to launch is SSN Books, a bodily challenge the place followers can signal as much as obtain sluggish mail from her each six weeks or so. “It’s not like a typical e book writer,” she says, “However a private challenge of writing poetry.”
“Today, she says individuals solely use social media or TikTok, one thing actually quick and simple…however that’s not my means.” As a result of she’s at all times touring the notes can act nearly like a postcard and maybe at some point, the writings can be collected right into a e book.
And what about performing? Will there come a time when she slows down?
“I wish to carry out in my ‘70s,” she says with a smile.
high: stylist’s personal denim: ACNE studios (expertise’s personal) footwear: nike (expertise’s personal)
high: stylist’s personal denim: ACNE studios (expertise’s personal) footwear: nike (expertise’s personal)
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