South Korea’s Leading R&B Artists on the Importance of the Genre and SOULBYSEL Compilation 05

If you're a K-pop fanatic who hasn't yet delved into the world of K-R&B, you're seriously missing out on some incredible music, but SOULBYSEL Compilation 05 is the perfect place to start.

The album celebrates the first anniversary of the K-R&B compilation project SOULBYSEL (pronounced Soul by Seoul), curated by Korean R&B icon Junggigo to highlight the phenomenal R&B music coming out of the country. This album features 10 original tracks by 10 different artists, full of smooth sounds and relatable lyricism that immediately had us hooked. We had the pleasure of chatting with seven of the 10 contributors—Sion, Jeon Woong of AB6IX, ouidaehan, Ellui, Jiselle, Se.A and Nahzam Sue—to learn all about the album and what being Korean R&B artists means to them.

seven of the artists

What does it mean to you to be asked to participate in this collection of great K-R&B for SOULBYSEL?

Jiselle: Of course, I was very happy to be able to participate. While working on the tracks for my album, I was experiencing a bit of burnout and had a lot of worries in my mind when I got to participate in this project. But I think it was an opportunity to get more inspiration and refresh myself. The song I participated in was both a break I gave myself by stopping work, and also a project that gave me freedom from my mind to follow my heart rather than being tied to what I had to do.

Jeon Woong: I feel very special to be able to participate in SOULBYSEL's album, which curates the trendiest K-pop and K-R&B artists right now.

Sion: First of all, I was so happy to be among Korea's different and  talented R&B artists. Also, the palette of my music is quite diverse, so it was a very unique and meaningful time to focus on one single genre of R&B.

Se.A: It was fun and an honor to participate in a wonderful collection that introduces new attempts and various originalities at the same time.

Ellui: I think SOULBYSEL is a brand that represents K-R&B. As a rookie, it is even more special to me in the sense that I got closer to the Korean R&B scene and was recognized as an R&B artist.

Nahzam Sue: It is a great honor to be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with many prominent artists on the cutting edge of K-sound.

ouidaehan: I felt a sense of belonging in the Korean music scene and thought, "I can move forward."

 

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SH: What is the story behind your song on SOULBYSEL Compilation 05? How did the track come to be?

Jiselle: I was working on a video of my song with Korlio, the creative director of SOULBYSEL, so I visited the office for a work meeting. At that time, we were talking about music, culture and so on when director Korlio suggested I participate in the first anniversary compilation album. SOULBYSEL was a project that I absolutely wanted to do as a musician, so I said I would participate without any hesitation.

I think I was able to write a deep, house genre track, which I always wanted to do, because they respected my musical direction so that I could freely explore the genre I wanted. I was inspired by a house track produced by a track producer named Bemyfrnd and put a message inspired by the color I wanted to make and the pride I feel in my life these days.

Jeon Woong: When I was recording "Sail Away," I got to record while talking a lot with the producers of the track. Hearing what the producer had in mind when he was writing "Sail Away," I could be more immersed in the atmosphere of the song as I recorded.

Sion: Actually, my close friend EXN told me about her participation in the SOULBYSEL compilation album before, and when I was offered the chance, I thought it would be fun if I participated, too.

Se.A: I wrote this track about a year ago. I wrote this song to go home and relieve stress on a very frustrating day! I think it's more straightforward and fun because the lyrics seem to capture the scene where you're talking to another person. On this track, you can feel my honest and confident attitude as I say, "So where are we, just be my boyfriend," tired of the ambiguous and complicated stance of a man who calls me baby and treats me as more than a girlfriend but says we're not in a relationship. When I first sketched the track, it was a trap beat with a darker vibe based on string sounds. But working with a close producer named DAUL, we got the idea of changing the track brighter with a more chill, futuristic vibe. It was a song I was saving, but when SOULBYSEL contacted me, I felt that it was a song that matched the color of the compilation, so I joined with this track without hesitation.

Ellui: This song is dedicated to a lover who loves every part of me. When you fall in love with someone, you gradually see their shortcomings and some parts that don't work with you, and sometimes, you show a disappointing side of yourself. When I was writing this song, I was very anxious that my shortcomings would look disappointing, but isn't true love something that makes you want to know more and embrace the other person's shortcomings? That's how I wrote this song.

Nahzam Sue This is a track that could have been included in my album as a solo artist or in another artist's album. After being neglected for about six years, it was rediscovered, and this point of inspiration brought me new lyrics and a melody. The guide melody in the chorus made me think of the song title, "Decision To Leave."

ouidaehan: While talking with Jungigo, an artist who leads SOULBYSEL, I was going to work with another artist to participate, but I sent this one because I thought it would be good to participate with a track on the extension of my album. Fortunately, I received positive feedback and got to join.

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SH: What does your song mean to you, and what do you hope it will mean to your listeners?

Jiselle: I think this track holds a new side of me. Unlike what I've shown so far, the most important thing was to melt the house genre and my pop-R&B color. I wanted to express the message well because the lyrics are also not what I usually talk about. Like the nuance in the title "Foot on the Gas," I wanted to express my hustling, hurrying, busy lifestyle. It tells the story of chasing myself busily in this colorful city, to the point where I feel that my days and nights change and my time zone is different from others. As I enjoy every moment, I'm talking about my life in a proud tone. Everyone in the world lives with a dream and has a goal, whether it's long-term or short-term. I think the feelings of self-love and pride in it are very important. I hope that people who listen to this song can feel that message and that this song can be somebody's confidence.

Jeon Woong: "Sail Away," the song I participated in, is an impressive song with sentimental and pretty lyrics that remind you of a painting. The word "sail" gives me a romantic feeling, and I hope that listeners can imagine happily and heal while listening to this song.

Sion: "Wake Up" is a song that laments that there is no change in my situation unless I change myself, even if my past and present environment have changed a lot. I think I'm still at a growing age, both as an artist and as a human being. So naturally, my songs are dominated by themes such as growth, growing pains and becoming an adult.

Se.A: These days, free-spirited and easy relationships are trendy in some ways, and now it's quite common to spend close time together without confirming a relationship. It's a track that contains my heart that still pursues and wants to find a true relationship. I think one of the reasons is that people are increasingly afraid of getting hurt by each other. I was like that, too. Trusting people takes much courage and time, but I think love is the only thing that fills that much happiness and value. Just as we cherish ourselves, we need to be equally careful and sincere to our loved ones. Love is always worth more than just love. I hope that we don't hesitate to love with all our might in our short lives.

Ellui: I feel like I painted a picture with this song, as I simply put in my sight of looking at the person I love in this song. Especially in the chorus, I intended to feel dreamy as if you were dreaming. When you fall in love, the other person becomes the main character of your world, and everything else feels like the background. I hope you can feel the ecstasy of the moment when all focus is set on the person you love.

Nahzam Sue: I wanted to let people know that there is an artist in Korea who is also exploring the classic R&B sound of the '80s. In terms of content, I want to show that the decision to leave your lover is important.

ouidaehan: As I said earlier, it's an extension of my EP album, but I think it's a track that can show you my more advanced side as a player, and I hope listeners feel the same way.

 

SH: Is there anything else we should know about the song or the compilation?

Jiselle: If you look at SOULBYSEL's movement, I think they truly love music and are the main agents who support and lead our artists who love music. I think it is a very special place because I feel that it is a place that truly respects the diversity and possibilities needed for the music industry. It was a meaningful time because I was able to be inspired and influenced while working on this project. I hope there will be more projects in the Korean music industry that can expand the scope of such genres to inspire each other and develop the scene more!

Jeon Woong: SOULBYSEL is an album with the trendiest current K-pop and K-R&B artists, so if you pay attention to the albums and contents curated by SOULBYSEL, you can meet a diverse range of these artists.

Sion: I don't have much to say about my track, but to talk about the compilation in general, I wanted to say that the color of K-R&B is very diverse and that I respect the SOULBYSEL team for quickly providing and introducing that diverse music to listeners.

Se.A: I hope that this song becomes a song that you can listen to anywhere when you're stressed out in a relationship or when you want to be emotional with a cool and chill vibe.

Ellui: The SOULBYSEL compilation album is a gem album that constantly shines and creates new opportunities in the K-R&B scene. At the same time, I think it works to create an important society in the Korean music industry. It is also a project that has brought me a precious relationship. I hope that R&B music will be loved more in Korea!

Nahzam Sue: I'll explore this style of genre more so that it can lead to an album.

ouidaehan: Me, as well as SOULBYSEL, will show you a greater journey from now on into the future.

 

For more insights from our favorite South Korean artists, click HERE for our interview with Mamamoo on their first-ever American tour.