Interview: Baek Hwong of NoSo Discusses Discovering Strength, Comfort, and Freedom Through Honest Pop Music - Atwood Magazine

      A symbol of vulnerability, introspective songwriting, and rich, genre-crossing sound, indie pop artist NoSo is carving out their own path as they approach their daring and candid sophomore album, ‘When Are You Leaving?’ In this piece, singer/songwriter and producer Baek Hwong delves into the essence of their latest singles “Sugar” and “Don’t Hurt Me, I’m Trying,” discussing themes of empowerment, growth, and expressing one’s truth through music.

      Stream: “Sugar” – NoSo

      I’ve always been more of an introverted and reserved individual who tends to avoid conflict, but I believe that the experiences reflected in this album helped me truly learn how to advocate for myself.

      * * *

      There’s something captivating about NoSo’s song “Sugar” – it grips you by the ears, the heart, and the hands, refusing to let go.

      Whenever we hit play, we stay entranced until the very last note – drawn in by a shimmering guitar melody reminiscent of sunlight on morning pavement, elevated by the rhythm of tight drums and NoSo’s vibrant, soaring vocals. It’s a song that possesses a heartbeat of its own – heartbreakingly intimate and irresistibly sweet, with a subtle sting that remains long after the final chorus fades.

      In a box of power

      A mouse is too loud

      Move like a hiker,

      Indebted to you now

      Sugar – NoSo

      Two years after their debut LP Stay Proud of Me introduced us to Baek Hwong’s vividly cinematic world of self-discovery and coming-of-age vulnerability, NoSo is back with an offering that is bigger, bolder, and beautifully confident. Released in mid-May, “Sugar” establishes the mood for the LA-based artist’s eagerly awaited sophomore album When Are You Leaving?, set to release on October 10th via Partisan Records, and signifies a significant step forward – both musically and emotionally.

      “My first album was primarily about dreaming of what my life could be if I embraced my identity,” says Hwong. Indeed, Stay Proud of Me was a project of internal exploration, reconciliation, and deep self-reflection. The track “Parasites,” for instance, was initially crafted before Hwong’s top surgery in 2020 and completed afterward, taking into account their past and present bodies. “Feeling Like a Woman Lately” walked a fine line “between empowerment and dysphoria,” as they openly shared at that time.

      Looking back on their debut three years later, Hwong reflects, “Stay Proud of Me is the first body of work I’ve ever produced that I know I will always be proud of (pun intended). I understand how much I had to learn to create that record, so it will always hold special significance to me.” That sense of self-compassion extends into everything they’ve produced since.

      In contrast to their first album, NoSo’s current music exhibits a sense of self-assuredness, mirroring their emotional state.

      “This record is firmly anchored in reality and directly addresses my enlightening and tumultuous experiences,” they share.

      That grounding is evident throughout “Sugar.” Underneath its dreamy disco rhythm and shiny pop façade lies a raw exploration of empathy, boundaries, and the quiet cost of providing space for someone who is suffering. “‘Sugar’ is about the delicate balance of engaging with unpredictable, troubled individuals,” Hwong elaborates. “It reflects those experiences, seeking to approach them with compassion instead of resentment. I’ve discovered that this is the only way for me to move forward – by not empowering those memories.”

      “This song captures an unusually strange chapter of my life that took a long time to sort through,” they continue. “Before it, I attempted to write songs about the situation, but they felt too chaotic, and I didn’t want to lyrically shame someone… Instead, this song is vibrant and fun juxtaposed against darker lyrics. I needed to create something that felt light so I could perform it positively, rather than revisiting that anger and those memories every time I take the stage.”

      Only in silence

      And I fell for your

      Waning sugar kindness

      And I fell for your

      But you needed to be touched

      And I could tell your

      Sickness had enough

      That maturity resonates in the song’s captivating chorus, which features some of its most haunting lines – “Only in silence, and I fell for your waning sugar kindness… but you needed to be touched, and I could tell your sickness had enough.” There’s both warmth and weariness in that refrain, as well as conviction and clarity; a reclamation of strength through gentleness, rather than retribution.

      “I wrote ‘Sugar’ during a distinct period of my life,” Hwong adds. “Mainly out of frustration from leading such an unpredictable lifestyle despite thriving in stable environments. I wrote it as a cathartic response to my situation.”

      If Stay Proud