{"id":61857,"date":"2025-09-13T15:13:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T15:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/61857\/"},"modified":"2025-09-13T15:13:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T15:13:23","slug":"chaeyoung-reintroduces-herself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/61857\/","title":{"rendered":"CHAEYOUNG (Re)Introduces Herself"},"content":{"rendered":"

As she releases her eclectic and enduring debut solo album, TWICE\u2019s CHAEYOUNG shows herself to be one of K-pop\u2019s most compelling visionaries. In an exclusive interview, she reflects on a decade with the JYP Entertainment-formed girl group, and explains why now is the right time to step into the limelight.<\/p>\n

\"CHAEYOUNG<\/p>\n

Stepping out as a solo artist is a notoriously difficult task. Add in the fact that CHAEYOUNG\u2019s collaborative musical pursuit, TWICE, is one of the biggest exports to come out of the K-pop<\/a> dominion. It takes a special talent to be able to manufacture the same sort of critical plaudits and public adoration. But with her concise yet expansive, intimate yet cinematic debut album, the 26-year-old has done just that.<\/p>\n

TWICE\u2019s achievements speak for themselves. Since she became a member of the JYP Entertainment-formed girl group a decade ago, the artist has been a key cog in an unstoppable machine, amassing billions of streams and becoming the first K-pop act to headline the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago earlier this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Such heights make this solo step-out all the more impressive. Rather than rest on her bountiful laurels as one of nine members of TWICE, CHAEYOUNG has shot for artistic heights with this inaugural album and very much reached them. LIL FANTASY vol.1 is a deeply expressive collection of tracks, curated with nous and delivered with fervour.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cramming a whole load of sonic goodness into a tight 21 minutes, CHAEYOUNG flaunts a stylistic depth far beyond what has been illustrated within TWICE. Opener \u201cAVOCADO\u201d is a delicious R&B-tinted gem, \u201cDOWNPOUR\u201d is a moody dream pop standout, and closer \u201c\ub0b4 \uae30\ud0c0\u201d, which translates to \u201cMy Guitar\u201d, is a gorgeous slice of stripped-back acoustic ballad, the most touching and enchanting moment of the album.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Showing herself to be a fiercely creative and refined artist in her own right, CHAEYOUNG is more than just a team player. Sitting down with Wonderland, she talks K-pop, TWICE\u2019s 10th anniversary, and the meaning behind her debut album.<\/p>\n

Listen to LIL FANTASY vol.1\u2026<\/p>\n

Read the exclusive interview\u2026<\/p>\n

Talk us through your personal music origins. Where did you fall in love with it? How did you first find your talent?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

At first, I simply loved dancing, and that\u2019s how it all began. From there, it naturally grew into a dream of becoming a singer. Listening to and watching so many artists made me think, \u201cI want to be like them \u2013 I want to make my own music.\u201d I\u2019m not sure if I\u2019d call it talent yet, but while working on LIL FANTASY vol.1, I realised that I\u2019m someone who can express what I love and what I want to share through music.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Your group TWICE is one of K-pop\u2019s biggest exports. Does that still feel surreal to you sometimes?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Honestly, it still feels unreal at times. But whenever we travel abroad and people recognise us, that\u2019s when it really hits me.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is it about the nine of you that works so well, musically and personally?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s because all nine members have their own unique personalities and charms, and when we come together, that\u2019s what makes TWICE.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"CHAEYOUNG<\/p>\n

\"CHAEYOUNG<\/p>\n

K-pop has become one of the most globally popular genres. Where do you think its continued rise in popularity stems from?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think K-pop is always trying to keep moving forward \u2013 whether it\u2019s in music, performance, or visuals \u2013 in every aspect. Of course, the trends change so quickly that it can feel a little hard to keep up sometimes, but I think people positively appreciate that aspect.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Talk us through the story behind the recent K-pop Demon Hunters track, \u201cTakedown\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was a style of song TWICE had never tried before, and we just wanted to give it a shot. I never expected it to get this popular, so I\u2019m really grateful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TWICE have broken down so many boundaries \u2013 most recently the huge Lollapalooza performance. How far do you think you can go as a group? Is there no ceiling?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

There may be limits that even we\u2019re not aware of, but I don\u2019t really want to set those boundaries in my head when making albums or promoting. For us, it\u2019s always been about growing and showing new sides of ourselves while reaching more people along the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s TWICE\u2019s 10th anniversary this October \u2013 what can fans expect from the upcoming celebration?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been working hard on a few things, and now it\u2019s just a matter of waiting until they\u2019re ready to be shared. First, our 10th anniversary documentary is on the way. And there\u2019s also something else coming soon \u2013 so please look forward to it!\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"CHAEYOUNG<\/p>\n

You are sharing your debut album, congratulations! Why did now feel like the right time to share your first solo LP?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I felt like I was ready. It felt like the right moment to share the stories I wanted to tell, and to show my own tastes, thoughts, and way of thinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How has your time in TWICE guided you in approaching being a solo artist?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since it\u2019s my first time promoting solo, there are definitely some things that feel different from what I imagined. But having spent 10 years performing as TWICE gave me a lot of strength, both physically and mentally, and that experience has really helped me.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why is the album entitled<\/strong> LIL FANTASY vol.1<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

LIL FANTASY is what I call the little fantasy world inside me. I added \u201cvol.1\u201d because I didn\u2019t want the album to feel light or like it would end here \u2013 I wanted to show that this world will keep going.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Talk us through the making and meaning of <\/strong>LIL FANTASY vol.1<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I spent about two years just thinking about what kind of album I wanted to make, and then over a year really working, creating, and pouring my energy into bringing it to life. Every song was made together with people close to me, and they all reflect me most naturally. Just like everyone has their own little fantasy world, this album is my way of showing mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What does the album mean to you? What do you hope it achieves?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since it\u2019s my first solo album, I think it will always be one of the most special ones to me. While making it, I went through many worries and concerns, but I also gained a lot of lessons along the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Honestly, I didn\u2019t create it with the hope of some big achievement. If there are people who say that this is the kind of album they like to return to and listen to from time to time, that alone would make me really happy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What other plans do you have, this year and beyond?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

TWICE\u2019s tour is still going on, so I hope fans are excited for that. And I also hope\u00a0they\u2019ll look forward to what I\u2019ll be doing with my music career in the future, too.<\/p>\n

chaeyoung chaeyoung chaeyoung chaeyoung chaeyoung chaeyoung<\/p>\n

Words \u2013 Ben Tibbits<\/a><\/p>\n

Photography \u2013 JYP Entertainment <\/p>\n