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| ▲ This photo, provided by Bonboo Entertainment, shows Korean pop diva Lena Park. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, July 25 (Yonhap) -- "Despite being associated with R&B for over 20 years, it's been a long time since I've actually sung 'true' R&B. The further I got from it, the less I understood what R&B really was."
Since her debut in 1998, Lena Park has been known as the "R&B Fairy" and "R&B Queen." Early hits like "I'll Write You a Letter" and "You Mean Everything to Me" are still considered R&B classics. However, as her image as an R&B singer solidified, the pressure to live up to that title grew, leading her to shy away from new experiments and distance her albums from R&B for a while.
In an interview with Yonhap News on the 25th, Lena Park revealed, "Despite having R&B close by for a long time, I didn't venture into new attempts. I wanted to express what I could, just as a challenge."
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Bonboo Entertainment, shows Korean pop diva Lena Park. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Her latest EP "Stay With Me," released on the 11th, reflects her resolve to re-engage with R&B. The album includes seven tracks spanning modern R&B, jazz, and soul, genres closely related to R&B. The title "Stay With Me" was chosen because, despite their different genres, all seven tracks convey the message of 'staying together.'
"I wanted to include songs from genres I haven't recently explored, as if embarking on a new journey," Park explained. "Because of this, I entered the recording studio with less confidence than usual. Singing R&B felt like being re-educated, which was refreshing."
The title track "Shall We Walk" (English title "Summer Sweet") evokes the image of a hot summer night in the city. The song has both English and Korean versions, offering diverse feelings from the same melody. "The English lyrics reflect the feeling of a long-married couple reminiscing about their early days, while the Korean lyrics portray the excitement of a new couple getting to know each other," Park explained. "The characters are different, but they share the same energy."
Another track, "A Ray of Light," contains a message to her past self. During a time when her future seemed unclear, the words "Just try it" provided strength, which she wanted to encapsulate in the lyrics. "I believe in the paradoxical idea that you gain strength by letting go. I want to tell my juniors that it's okay not to know where you're headed and that it's fine to be imperfect," she said.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Bonboo Entertainment, shows Korean pop diva Lena Park. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Lena Park feels personally satisfied with this album, which began as a leap of faith. "I've always felt a responsibility to live up to the 'R&B Fairy' title given by my fans. I think this album shows that I have found a new voice, illustrating my attempts at evolution."
Marking her 26th year since debut, Lena Park credits her longevity in the industry to focusing on herself rather than being influenced by other artists. "I believe my strength lies in steadily moving forward without being swayed by others' paths. While new attempts are always daunting, my accumulated experience has made me less afraid of failure."
As her career progresses, she has increasingly considered her audience when creating music. Her earlier songs, known for their dramatic lyrics and atmosphere, were often challenging for listeners to sing along to, earning the nickname "狂曲" (crazy song). "In the past, my musical ambitions drove me to try more extreme, untested, and even bizarre things. I now see those efforts as for myself. Nowadays, I think of songs as something to give, focusing more on the listeners," she reflected.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Bonboo Entertainment on July 11, 2024, shows the teaser image of Lena Park's new mini album "Stay With Me." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Lena Park has also been increasing her engagement with fans through her YouTube channel, where she shares glimpses of her daily life, and by performing in small theaters. "Concerts are where I can express my music most freely," she said. "I'm working on bringing better performances to YouTube and am already preparing for my winter concert."
"I approach every stage as if it could be my last, which allows me to confidently try new things. I'm grateful and find it fun that I can always explore something new."
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