Interviews

Exclusive Interview: Cherry Coke (2018)

Independent artist and R&B singer-songwriter Cherry Coke has garnered a lot of attention over the past year through her music releases and featured tracks. Back in 2014, the artist first debuted under her first name Sunkyung with her single ‘Beautiful Things’ with rapper Eun-P. Two years later, her first mixtape titled Here (2016) dropped on her SoundCloud and comprised of five tracks and featured rapper Mac Kidd. Along with several featuring in tracks by SLEEQ, Andup, J’Kyun, and Nuttyverse, Cherry Coke released her first solo single titled ‘UP‘ which comprised of the tracks ‘Like I Do‘ and ‘Drive‘. Most recently, in August 2017, Cherry Coke released her single ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe‘.

Cherry Coke is debuting with her new single ‘Iloveyourcheek‘ on January 21 at 6PM KST.

We wanted to know more about Cherry Coke so we conducted a short interview with the artist. Be sure to check out her new single and keep an eye out on this up and coming artist!

The Interview

Can you introduce yourself, for our international readers who may not be familiar with you?
Hello! This is Korean female vocalist Cherry Coke.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbZfQkRlxNU/?taken-by=cherrycoke95

How did you get your name ‘Cherry Coke’?
The words “Cherry Coke” seemed to go well with my music, so it was brought out to the world.

Can you tell us about yourself personally? Where were you born and raised, and what brought you to Seoul?
I was born in Busan and grew up in both Busan and Seoul. Throughout my high school years, I grew up in Busan, but during that time I received calls from several agencies so I decided to make the move up to Seoul.

When did you become interested in hip-hop and R&B?
Since I was very young, my mother enjoyed listening to hip-hop and R&B music. I grew up listening to the music with her, and naturally became a fan of the genre.

Can you also describe your music for those who haven’t heard it before?
The music I have shown so far were songs with R&B vocals; songs that were in kind of a gray area that makes it difficult to label them a specific genre.

Which of your songs would you recommend to first time listeners?
I would like to recommend my first debut single titled ‘Like I Do’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6dhd_M1irQ

Do you write all your own songs?
Yes! I write my own lyrics and compose my own music.

Your mixtape Here has a very calm R&B feel, what were your inspirations for the songs in this album?
Back when I was recording my mixtape, I don’t think I was inspired by a particular song or artist. I guess I was inspired by the beat of the music because I found myself humming over the instrumentals.

Can you talk a bit about your new single ‘Iloveyourcheek’?
I took the “dreamy” element of Cherry Coke and added a new layer of feel to the vocal style. I hope the listeners will enjoy the new style!

Album cover for Cherry Coke’s upcoming single ‘Iloveyourcheek’

What are your musical influences? How do you get inspired when making music?
I usually listen to the beat first, then think of the melody, and then write my lyrics. I become very inspired by the sounds of the beat because I want my voice to blend within the beat.

Who are some of your favorite artists to listen to?
I enjoy listening to artists who are little far away from the music I create. Higher Brothers are dope!

Who would you love the chance to collaborate with?
I want to collaborate with a male R&B vocalist!

Do you have any upcoming performances?
You can see me before the days get warmer! [before the Summer of 2018]

Can you tell us what we can expect from you in the future?
I think I can show you several sides of myself that are more than just vocals.

Lastly, is there anything you want to say or express to our readers? Express yourself!
Thank you for reading this interview! I want you to remember me now, because I think that will allow for an even greater greeting in the near future! :)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdXHR5Hlwx-/?taken-by=cherrycoke95

Follow Cherry Coke

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Interview conducted by guest writer Amy
Interview edited and formatted by Andrew

XXX at SXSW 2017

XXX (Kim Ximya, FRNK) Exclusive Interview at SXSW 2017

During the 2017 SXSW Conference and Festivals, I had the opportunity to sit down and interview with hip-hop duo XXX (Kim Ximya and FRNK), who performed at ScratcHouse in Austin, Texas on March 15, 2017.

Introduction

Hip-hop group XXX is an up-and-coming and internationally recognized duo signed under the Korean label Beasts and Natives Alike (BANA).  The first member of XXX is rapper Kim Ximya, who made several headlines when he was first noticed as the sole featured artist in E-Sens‘ critically acclaimed album [The Anecdote] (2015), which took home “Best Rap & Hip-hop Album” and “Album of the Year” at the 2016 Korean Music Awards.  The second member is a young producer named FRNK, who surfaced to the Korean music scene through his production of E-Sens’ single “Sleep Tight” (2015), as well as the official remix of K-pop group f(x)’s track “4 Walls.”

The combination of rapper Kim Ximya’s “brutally honest” rap and producer FRNK’s avant-garde beats was spotted by BBC 1 Radio, Apple Music and Hypetrak, even before the release of their debut album [KYOMI] (2016).  In addition, the duo has worked with international artists including the Paris-based animator and illustrator Mattis Dovier, who is recognized for his “gruesome yet beautiful” 8-bit dot animations.  The music video for the track “Flight Attendant” takes place in an airplane, which “symbolizes today’s consumer society expressed in a beautiful yet gruesome way with [a] spine-tingling twist.”

 

The Interview

What’s been your favourite about Austin, Texas?  What’s been your favorite food here?
FRNK: Most definitely, the weather.  It’s been pretty cold in Korea.  My answer [to the second question] is very ordinary, but for me: In N Out.  It’s my favorite burger joint.

Kim Ximya: For me, Gus’s chicken.

 

What inspired each of you to pursue music as a career?  Which artist(s) has/had the greatest impact on you?
Kim Ximya: I started [rapping] because I wanted to get attention from the girls.  For me, Jay-Z has had the biggest impact.  I first discovered Jay-Z through his track “Tom Ford” from his album [Magna Carta… Holy Grail].  And then I went back and listened to [The Black Album] as well as [The Blueprint].  I first thought “Tom Ford” was the best track but now I think it’s “Takeover.”

Jay-Z’s Magna Carta… Holy Grail dropped back in 2013… does this mean you only started rapping 4 years ago?
Kim Ximya: Not exactly.  I started listening to trap music before I discovered artists like Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar.  Nowadays, I don’t really listen to trap music because they sound the same.  For Jay-Z, I thought the [Magna Carta… Holy Grail] album was very experimental and I like beats that are hard to rap on, which is why I can work well with FRNK.  I always knew who Jay-Z was, but the album is what got me into listening to his music.  [The Blueprint] is a real classic.

FRNK: For me, J.Dilla has been my biggest inspiration [during their first show, the artist wore a T-shirt that read ‘J.Dilla Changed My Life‘].  It was through his music that motivated me to learn how to produce beats and take music seriously.  Although our beats are nothing alike, it was his forward-thinking and willingness to invent new styles that pulled me into music.  Though I enjoy all his albums, I’d say my favorite album has to be [Donut] (2006).  What attracts me to this instrumental album is the messages included between tracks, as well as the fact that the album started with an outro track and ends with the intro, like the shape of a donut.

 

Did you two know each other before forming this group?
Kim Ximya: Initially, we were in the same crew.  We actually started as a trio, which included a vocalist, but that eventually turned into a duo comprising of FRNK and myself.

 

Let’s talk about the group name “XXX” — I remember reading a series of tweets by fellow label-mate E-SENS regarding the name.  Knowing that some fans have trouble discovering your music because of the name, have you considered changing the name?
Kim Ximya: We weren’t very concerned about it… until we came here to Austin, Texas for SXSW.  Earlier this week, we were at In N Out and met this guy who was apparently a friend of the rapper xxxtentacion.  While exchanging small talks with him, he asked us what our group name was.  When we said we are a group called  ‘XXX,’ he suddenly became defensive and told us not to f*ck with him because he ‘was a friend of xxxtentacion.’  I guess he thought we were pretending to be xxxtentacion.  There’s also a handful of other group names that includes the letter ‘X.’

The name ‘XXX’ does not have a specific meaning to it.

 

The music production is industrial, raw and hard-hitting, like an organized chaos. What’s your process of creating music?
FRNK: In the beginning, I would create the basic drum and bass lines to establish a rhythm.  This is then passed onto Ximya, who would write his lyrics over the preliminary beats before passing it back to me.

Kim Ximya: When the basic bass/drum line is complete, he comes up with five or six variations of it.  Once I establish a structure for my lyrics, FRNK and I would get together and piece the different versions to my lyrics.

FRNK: Although the rhythm of the drum line remains the same throughout the track, the rhythm of Ximya’s rap keeps changing.  I would then challenge myself to insert varying beats over his lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWixa5Y1E-Y

 

Your debut album [KYOMI] (2016) features contributions by producer 250 and mastering engineer Vlado Meller, as well as French animator Mattie Dovier.  Any other international artists you want to work with?  How about domestic artists?
FRNK: There’s a lot of producers I would like to work with.  If I had to choose one, I’d like to work with Kanye West.  If I could revive J.Dilla, I’d definitely work with him *laughs*

What’s your favorite Kanye West album?
I like all of his albums, but the one that stands out is [Yeezus].  Coincidentally, our EP [KYOMI] was actually mastered by the same engineer who mastered Yeezus!

Kim Ximya: I’ve got two answers for this.  From the production aspect, I would work with a group/team called They, who performed a show last night during SXSW.  Although I was a fan of them before I came to Austin, but when I saw their live performance… If I could be their fashion stylist, design their album cover, or direct their music videos, I would work with that team.  If collaborating as a rapper, I would choose to work with Clarence Clarity, which is a band also with an industrial sound.  I’m a huge fan of them.

 

Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) member and producer D.Sanders recently signed with BANA. Have you had the opportunity to work with him on a project?
Kim Ximya: I’ve been working on a mixtape with D.Sanders.  I’m hoping to drop the mixtape this summer, provided everything works out.  I’m not sure though, because he’s been busy with his overseas activities.  We still got the mixing left, so we’ll see.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BO_0uQ4DB03/?taken-by=sondaehyun

 

Any upcoming projects (albums, singles, etc)?
FRNK: Following our EP KYOMI (2016), we’re planning to release our first full-length album by the end of the year.  At this time, we’ve only nailed down the concept and the promotional aspect of the new album.

Follow BANA, FRNK & Kim Ximya

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FRNK    [icon type=”instagram”]    [icon type=”soundcloud”]
Kim Ximya    [icon type=”instagram”]    [icon type=”soundcloud”]