The one true thing in life is that you never know what’s going to happen. You can have a plan for yourself. Follow all the rules to get there. But life inevitably will take you where it wants. This truth rings with loud clarity for up-and-coming R&B songstress Yoonha Verse. She took some time to take us on her journey from shy music lover to confident vocalist.
Welcome to My Yoonha Verse
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Sure. What’s up, guys. I’m Yoonha Verse, a Korean-American recording artist based in LA. Genres like R&B, trap soul, and alternative pop influence my music. People have compared my music to artists like Jhene Aiko, Alina Baraz, and Billie Eilish. I take that as a HUGE compliment. I love all of them.
What’s your earliest memory of music (the first time you remember music being meaningful to you)?
Hmm, I don’t know if I can pinpoint the exact moment. But right now I’m thinking of the times when I was in Korea as a little kid watching music videos of the OG K-pop stars. I remember singing along pretending like I was a superstar and it taking me to another dimension of reality. I also remember falling in love with Britney Spears’ song ‘Everytime’ which wasn’t the earliest memory of music but definitely the earliest intro to American pop songs.
Yoonha Is Ready
What made you realize you wanted to be an artist?
This might sound super cliche, but I realized I needed to pursue a career in something where I can be 100% myself if I wanted to be happy. That was just not going to happen in a corporate environment. (I used to work in marketing and digital advertising.) I always knew singing and dancing made me the happiest but used to think that pursuing music was too unrealistic.
But there was a specific moment a few years back. I was in the very front watching an artist perform at a festival. I started crying because I realized how much I wanted to be up there. That I’d so much rather do music even if it was on the street, than become the CEO of a huge company. So I just had to go for it before it was way too late. I’m only starting out. But I know this is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing, and I have no regrets.
You spoke about how you’ve pretty much always been performing (having performances for your family, doing karaoke). What is it about performing that you love so much?
Honestly, I sing and dance around in my room even when I’m alone, and there’s just something super special about letting yourself go to the flow of music. For me it’s the purest form of joy I can feel, on the most primitive level. I’m a fan of live music because of that reason. And performing, connecting to a live audience, and empowering them to lose themselves in the moment is something so fulfilling to me. What’s better than doing something you love and also have other people fuck with it?
Yoonha and Her Inspirations
What was the moment you realized you don’t have to be like Beyonce or Adele to pursue your dreams?
Well, as much as I love and respect both of them, thankfully we live in an era where there’s just so much good music that doesn’t involve powerful vocalists belting out high notes. Once I realized that so many artists I love focus more on using their unique tone and perspective to create their own world, I realized I don’t have to limit myself to a one-dimensional way of thinking when it comes to what makes great music.
Who or what were your biggest inspirations growing up?
I grew up in Korea until I was 13, so I grew up listening to a lot of Korean music. But I’d say I was most inspired during college. I started listening to a lot more indie stuff and was introduced to genres like electronic, house and techno.
Who or what inspires you musically?
Tyler the Creator inspires me. Amy Winehouse inspires me. Rihanna always inspires me. People who completely lose themselves in music like Lorde inspire me.
Yoonha Takes Flight
Could you speak more about your time in the dance crews Triple 8 and BAC?
When I first got to college, I pushed myself to try out for a lot of random things that were outside of my comfort zone. Auditioning for dance crews was one of those, and I’m so so glad I did. My musical background up to then was limited to playing instruments. But dancing hit different. I really believe I wouldn’t be here talking to you as an artist if it wasn’t for my experience in dance crews. Some of my closest friends now are from those crews as well.
You said without the experience in those crews you probably wouldn’t be singing professionally. Firstly, what stopped you from pursuing life as an artist before you joined those crews?
Back then, I just never questioned the traditional path that I thought I was somehow required to follow. (Studying hard to go to a good school, then getting a good, respectable job, etc.) Especially as an immigrant, I just saw doing anything that didn’t contribute to my predetermined path to success as a waste of time if that makes sense.
What about that experience made you actively pursue this path?
First of all, dancing made me realize just how much I enjoy being creative and performing on stage. These were things that I kinda knew from before too, but that experience confirmed it. When you experience even a taste of your passion, I think you just know. Like oh, this is what I was born to do.
A Fork in the Road
You got into digital marketing to make a living. Firstly, was that what you went to school for?
My college was a liberal arts school, so no. We didn’t have any practical majors like that haha. I studied psychology.
What attracted you to digital marketing?
Mad Men. Just kidding (but not really.) I thought thinking about ways to convince people to do something could be interesting since I studied psychology and all. I figured it would let me be creative too.
Are you able to use those skills now?
100%. I didn’t realize how important branding was for artists until I dove into it, but my experience definitely helps me in that area. I’m sure knowing how brands operate will also come in very handy in the future.
I know you said you were going to make a video about this, but could you tell us a little bit about why you went to Bangkok and what your experience was like there?
After I quit my 9-5 job to do music, my friend, who was doing music with me at the time, and I decided to travel in Southeast Asia for a few months while doing music. After a year of doing a job I didn’t enjoy at all, that sounded like a dream to me. I love traveling and we had such a good time backpacking around, learning about different cultures, and meeting awesome people. It was also during this trip that my friend told me he’s actually not going to move to LA to do music with me after. So it was a very eventful trip to say the least.
New Challenges & Motivations
What keeps you motivated as an artist?
Wanting to grow and share my progression as an artist. Desire to fulfill my purpose and have a positive impact.
What do you think is the biggest obstacle you face as a newer artist? As an independent artist?
Having to juggle literally everything by yourself without a team as someone who sucks at time management and organization. It takes up so much time away from actually making music, which is basically what I wanna be doing all the time. I’m also a people person, so I just can’t wait to have a great team I can vibe and hustle with.
Has the pandemic changed any plans you might have had or maybe the way you approach creating?
I was supposed to go to Coachella with some of my best friends mostly to see Frank Ocean. So that was the biggest bummer. I HAVE to see him live at some point in my lifetime, so hopefully there are more chances in the future.
In terms of creating, I’ve been very inspired by other artists and creators getting really creative with their quarantine edition videos. It challenged me to think about what I can do with just what I have at home. There were also things I was procrastinating on (like the videos you watched on YouTube). I finally made them because I had so much more time alone.
What’s the biggest lesson this time has taught you?
That we can never take anything for granted. Ever. It might be scary to think about how literally anything can happen at any moment that will turn your life upside down, but it also makes you a lot more grateful for the present moment.
Yoonha Verse in a Time of Unrest
In this time of uncertainty and a lot of racial unrest, are you nervous or hesitant to continue as an artist and public figure? Or do the times motivate you more?
It 100% motivates me more. Yes, I’m doing music first and foremost because I love it so much, but I’m also excited to grow and use my platform for important issues like racial injustice.
Many artists do tend to concentrate just on their craft. Do you think artists have a duty to speak on the current climate? Or is that a choice that artists need to make for themselves?
I think if you’re someone who benefits from having a big following, then you also owe it to your fans to speak up, especially when it comes to movements like Black Lives Matter.
“I Bring Myself…”
It can be hard to be a newer artist trying to make an impression. Firstly, what do you believe you bring to the music industry?
I bring myself, my voice, my energy, and my perspective. I’ll let people decide whether they fuck with it or not.
Do you think it’s still harder for a female to debut and make an impression in the music industry? And do you think being Korean-American adds to those difficulties (if there are any)?
Yes, overt and subtle sexism definitely still exists in this industry. And the fact that there aren’t any Asian-American superstars yet at the level of someone like Rihanna does make it harder for people to imagine it. That being said, there are actually a lot of amazing Asian-American artists popping off right now. So I’m very happy about that.
Many Korean-American artists go to Korea to make a name for themselves there first (Ailee, Jay Park, pH-1, etc.). Have you ever considered going to South Korea to be an artist? Why/why not?
No, never. Forgive me for the generalization, but the music industry in Korea is still so heavily influenced by big labels who like to mold their K-pop idol trainees to fit their vision. It’s changing slowly to include more up-and-coming indie artists too which is good but yeah. It’s kinda against all the reasons I decided to do music in the first place. I wanna be able to experiment and express myself through my art however I want to.
Yoonha Wants to Inspire
What are some goals you want to achieve in 2020?
To continue to push myself and grow. I would love to make some dope music videos to go along with the songs I’m planning to release as well.
What is your biggest goal for yourself as an artist?
Becoming someone who inspires a lot of people, especially the younger generation.
What song of yours best represents you as an artist?
Damn, I’ll say Crushed Glitter for now, but you’ll see.
What can newcomers to your music expect the rest of 2020?
Definitely more new music, more visuals, and more content. I’m excited for you to join me on this journey!
Do you have any final thoughts?
I think it’s awesome that you’re supporting small indie artists like me, so I appreciate you for having me here. So much shit is happening right now which can feel overwhelming, but I have a lot of hope for what will come out of 2020. For anyone reading this, stay safe and take care of yourself. Don’t forget to keep advocating for Black Lives Matter!
Yoonha Verse is the quintessential artist. She embodies the notion of nothing ever being guaranteed. As Yoonha, she had one path. When she grew into her artistry, became Yoonha Verse, she found her calling. Look out for this young woman. Her journey has just begun.
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