Hwang Soyoon, also known by her stage name, “So!YoON!” is a South Korean singer-songwriter and lead singer of the band SE SO NEON (새소년). With the release of her new album, Episode 1: Love, she steps out to create a unique and jaw-dropping work of art.
SE SO NEON
Starting her career at 18 with the band SE SO NEON (새소년), Soyoon partnered with bassist Park Hyunjin and drummer U-su to create and explore genres varying from blues, psychedelic rock, new wave, and synth rock. As a result, they were nominated as Rookie of the Year and Best Rock Song of the Year by the Korean Popular Music Awards. Additionally, SE SO NEON was named Fender’s Global Artist of the Year in 2020, garnering fans worldwide.
Highlighting some tracks from SE SO NEON would include NAN CHUN, Winter, Midnight Train, and Jayu.
Episode 1: Love
Following her solo singles, first album, and further releases with the band, Soyoon started prep on her second album. Establishing herself as an indescribable vocalist and jaw-dropping visuals, she molded her album to create an edgy, intense, and bold album to match.
She begins by dropping single tracks, Bad and CANADA, as a prologue to her album, Prologue: Love.
‘Bad’ plays with wanting someone so bad but not knowing if it is enough. The music video highlights Soyoon and her ideas on love, explained below:
Soyoon tells NME, “You mean, why I kissed a girl? [laughs] There are many shapes and forms of love; I just wanted to visualize it best. I wasn’t particularly focused on it being a same-sex relationship, [but] I knew that gender shouldn’t hold importance when representing love.”
Following the release of her prologue, she released her album Episode1: Love. An eleven-track album, she turns the album into a self-reflection representing the six parts of herself through the six individuals shown on the album.
Soyoon involved several well-known artists in her new album, including RM of BTS, park jiyoon, and Jibin. With the title track, ‘Smoke Sprite,’ So!YoON! takes control with belting vocals and gripping lyrics that make the song utterly addicting.
“Take on my knees / Stuck with you in your dreams / Tell me more, I could die / Take on like a beast” – Smoke Sprite.
The psychedelic rock track combines sensual and edgy themes by painting a couple who is calling out to each other. In a husky, r&b accompaniment, RM adds flavor to the already edgy song with a rap that adds to it rather than steals the show.
As I finished listening to the album, I was amazed at the distinctive and stylistic blend of music and production. She fights her desires through her lyrics of longing and forbidden love. Soyoon’s genre-bending efforts, use of language, and imagery continue to challenge standards for contemporary artists. Soyoon is someone you should add to your listening habits if you’re looking for a different and electric new artist.
laura reyes
Founder of Daybreak Music and lover of all music.
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