In an alternate universe, TWICE’s Chaeyoung reigns as the indie pop princess, fully taking over the underground music scene. With her distinct sound and a fiercely genuine style, she has built a realm uniquely her own. The phrase “Lil Fantasy” encapsulates this inner cosmos, reflecting her journey through love, desire, solitude, and unimaginable joy—experiences that define the essence of being human. This also serves as the title of her debut solo album, in which she reveals her true self to fans, sharing aspects of her life that are yet to be seen by the world.
“This album reflects my tastes and thoughts,” Chaeyoung shared with Clash during a video call. “I’m essentially inviting people into the small world I’ve crafted for myself.” She has previously offered glimpses of this world through her Instagram, filled with grainy images, monochrome sketches, and avant-garde fashion.
Now, she has brought her vision to life with her first solo musical endeavor, featuring the title track ‘SHOOT (Firecracker).’ The album is intensely personal and deeply introspective, potentially a result of her introverted nature. Though being so open has previously intimidated her, she noted that ‘Lil Fantasy’ has allowed her the chance to “express stories that have never been shared before.”
“I believe it will be a wonderful opportunity for people who haven’t gotten to know me yet,” she remarked, embracing the experience with enthusiasm. “I’m not anxious or worried about it because I truly put my heart into it.”
The album begins with ‘Avocado,’ inspired by the tale of Adam and Eve, which features dreamy lyrics centered around temptation and desire. In the accompanying visualizer, Chaeyoung invites listeners into her world, showcasing quirky stop-motion animations, vibrant hues, and handmade props. The song acts as her Genesis, an introduction to her universe.
‘Lil Fantasy’ is a tribute to Chaeyoung’s artistry, something she has honed during her decade-long journey with TWICE. She has participated as a credited lyricist in multiple albums for the group and proudly claims writing credits for every track on her own album, making her the first among the group's soloists to achieve this.
In the world of K-pop, where songs are often shared among a large group, working solo is among her most significant shifts. When asked about the challenges of creating her first solo album, she smiled to herself before saying, “This time, I had to perform the entire song alone, and it felt unusual to take a song from beginning to end by myself.”
Consequently, ensuring she held the audience's attention throughout the album was crucial to her creative approach. While her voice frequently delivers playful raps alongside her TWICE members, ‘Lil Fantasy’ accentuates her vocal prowess. “With this album, I created the songs, and then I sought the right vocal style, which naturally unfolded,” she explained modestly.
Despite a slight learning curve, this album offered numerous lessons, allowing Chaeyoung to uncover the full extent of her musical abilities. It was a new and challenging experience; she welcomed the chance to place her feelings and thoughts at the forefront. While some may find this process cathartic, others might view it as grueling. “It was tough because it was my debut album, and I wanted to showcase something I could be proud of.” She earnestly reflects on the effort spent intertwining years of intense emotions and experiences into this album, admitting that she would “describe the process as a significant struggle.”
Always the perfectionist, her sentiment is understandable coming from an industry veteran who expressed, “I felt a great relief” once the project was done. “I felt healed after its completion.” This satisfaction partially stems from the time spent with her close collaborators and friends Gliiico, a Japanese alt-indie trio whose sound fits seamlessly into Chaeyoung’s aesthetic. “I think working with Gliiico is likely my fondest memory from this album's creation,” she shared. “We hung out a lot in Japan, and we even went karaoke together! The whole album process with them felt like a fun hangout.”
As Chaeyoung converses with Clash, she emphasizes that this album centers around her artistry, message, and vision. Her collaborations emerged organically—she and Gliiico had already connected before making music together, as did her partnership with Jibin of Y2K92. For the track ‘RIBBON’, she expressed excitement about collaborating with SUMIN, one of her dream artists. “I’ve always admired SUMIN as an artist, and I thought it would be incredibly fun for three female artists to collaborate on this track, which is how it came about.”
The former rapper-turned-indie princess moves through each project with confidence and enthusiasm. Recently, aside from her solo debut, she collaborated with her TWICE bandmates Jihyo and Jeongyeon for the soundtrack of Netflix’s K-P
Picture Parlour is set to release their first album this Autumn. The group's foundation is built on the strong bond between frontwoman Katherine Parlour and the lead.
Futurecop! has released his latest synth-pop album titled 'Wind, Town & Flowers'. Now available, this record marks a confident and expansive comeback, showcasing his vibrant synth compositions.
The London-based footwear brand Lili Curia has introduced its first collection this week, accompanied by a whimsical campaign featuring Tali Lennox. This launch marks the
The Copenhagen duo Snuggle has released their new album 'Goodbyehouse' in its entirety. This album marks their first collaboration with the Danish label Escho and features the duo, Andrea Thuesen.
Djo, the artist and actor better known as Joe Keery, recently made waves in the indie music scene with his third album, ‘The Crux’, which was released in April.
A sincere depiction of intense love and its consuming nature.
In a different realm, TWICE’s Chaeyoung reigns as the indie pop princess, fully taking over the underground scene. Commanding the stage with a distinctive sound and