i-dle debuted in 2018 under Korea's CUBE Entertainment and made a stunning debut, winning nine rookie awards for their highly praised musicality.
Since then, they have captivated fans around the world with numerous hit songs, including the addictive melody of "TOMBOY" and the powerful message of "Nxde." What's particularly noteworthy about i-dle is that they are a self-produced group, with the members themselves participating in writing the lyrics, composing the music, arranging the songs, choreographing the music videos, and even producing their own music videos.
At the center of this is the exceptional leader and executive producer, Soyeon. We interviewed Soyeon, who had just finished her first tour in Japan, to hear her thoughts as a producer.
He is the leader and general producer of i-dle, and not only produces his own group but also writes songs for other artists.
"I've loved music since I was little, and I wanted to write my own songs one day. The skills naturally came to me while I was working as a rapper. I didn't intend to produce my debut song, "LATATA," from the beginning; I just wrote a song about what I wanted to sing at the time."
As the words suggest, many of i-dle's songs have strong messages and concepts that move the hearts of listeners and create empathy.
"When I write a song, I first think of a title. From there, the melody and lyrics are born. The most important thing to me is what story I want to tell with the song. Sometimes it gives a soft impression, and other times it has a strong message.
People say that i-dle's songs have a wide range, but perhaps it's because we feel different things at the time and what we want to convey is different, so songs of various styles are born naturally. We're simply taking on new challenges in order to convey what we want to say."
From the outside, Soyeon's talent is impressive, but she says, "I'm not the type to have a wide range of talent." So how does she produce such a wide variety of songs?
"When I immerse myself in one concept, I can discover a new side of myself. For example, with "Wife," I was able to break out of my shell by simply concentrating on rap, and with "Doushiyoukana," it was my first Japanese EP, so I tried to incorporate elements of J-POP, which resulted in the creation of a sound I'd never heard before.
I got the idea from Japanese anime songs, but in fact, that was my formative experience with music before I even came into contact with K-POP. Realizing this, I was able to discover another new side of myself. I'm always facing a wall, and I've continued to struggle to overcome it, which is how I became i-dle."
Soyeon, who describes herself as someone who worries deeply, worries, faces herself, and puts those feelings into songs. This is probably why i-dle's songs resonate with so many people. How does she perceive the individual personalities of the other members?
"Miyeon gives the songs a sense of stability. Her singing makes the songs more relatable. Minnie has a very attractive voice. She can sing any song like a Western pop song. Yugi is very unique, with the deepest and sexiest voice among K-pop idols. Shuhua's charm lies in her rich expressions. She has the presence to make an impact when she steps forward.
I believe I have solid skills. My presence makes the group more stable. When producing, I think it's important to know everything about the members, including their personalities and daily behavior."
Soyeon has built i-dle into a global group with her stoic producing skills. What are her future goals?
“I’ve been successful in producing for i-dle and other groups, but I’ve never actually produced myself. I’d like to produce myself perfectly and make an album.”
This is the lead track from her first Japanese EP "i-dle," released in October 2013. It has a nostalgic, pleasant melody inspired by Japanese anime songs. "I created this song based on the sound that is my roots. I wanted the music video to have a Japanese feel, so I shot it in a port town in Japan."
