![\"nayeon](\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/nayeon-na-interview-image1.jpg\")
Nayeon. Credit score: JYP Leisure<\/p>\n
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Nayeon is the centre of the universe, and we\u2019re all simply revolving round her. Along with her sophomore mini-album, \u2018Na\u2019, Nayeon makes certain we don\u2019t take note of anybody else: in spite of everything, the phrase \u201cna\u201d means \u201cI\u201d in Korean. However greater than getting a little bit of consideration, the TWICE member is set to make everybody \u201cfall deeper\u201d in love along with her, as she sings on the challenge\u2019s addictive title monitor \u2018ABCD\u2019, which powers by means of with much more zest than her viral TikTok hit, \u2018Pop!\u2019.<\/p>\n
That single, and its accompanying mini-album \u2018Im Nayeon\u2019, was a testomony to Nayeon\u2019s particular person skills past TWICE, and laid the groundwork for a promising future as an artist in her personal proper. With \u2018Na\u2019, Nayeon returns for an much more genuine celebration of herself. \u201cI do know it\u2019s not a should to attempt new issues and problem myself,\u201d she tells NME over a Zoom name from Seoul simply weeks forward of the discharge. \u201cHowever I feel it\u2019s extra attention-grabbing to indicate completely different sides of me\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nayeon offers us an early soundtrack for the summer time with the seven-track assortment, which navigates by means of a mixture of Y2K pop (\u2018ABCD\u2019), alluring R&B (\u2018Heaven\u2019, \u2018Magic\u2019), UK storage beats (\u2018One thing\u2019) and extra. \u201cWithin the course of of choosing songs, \u2018ABCD\u2019 actually stood out to me,\u201d the Ok-pop star says. \u201cI cherished it, and I believed it was appropriate for the title monitor as properly. I chosen [each song] in numerous intervals, however I bear in mind selecting \u2018Butterflies\u2019 and \u2018ABCD\u2019 as my favourites from the get go.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2018Na\u2019 additionally options collaborations with Sam Kim, AKMU\u2019s Lee Chan-hyuk and KISS OF LIFE\u2019s Julie \u2013 all artists that Nayeon adores. \u201cI’ve all the time cherished [Sam Kim\u2019s] music, nevertheless it was my label that advised the collaboration,\u201d she shares. \u201cFor Julie, we would have liked a rapper for \u2018Magic\u2019, and she or he was the primary one which got here into my thoughts, so I advised my label that I wished to work along with her. And for Chanhyuk, I\u2019ve all the time admired his music as properly, so I requested him to work with me on this album.\u201d<\/p>\n
Notably, although, Nayeon\u2019s new launch additionally options three songs which might be totally sung in English \u2013 particularly \u2018Butterflies\u2019, \u2018Heaven\u2019, and \u2018Magic\u2019 \u2013 nevertheless it was a quest that the Ok-pop star gladly accepted so as to attain wider audiences. \u201cHaving a variety of experiences is the bottom for development\u201d, she says. \u201cI feel it\u2019s an important alternative that Ok-pop is receiving a lot love globally, and it\u2019s additionally an opportunity for us to satisfy followers all over the world\u201d.<\/p>\n
Whereas Nayeon has tried her hand at songwriting earlier than, contributing to TWICE album cuts similar to \u2018Make Me Go\u2019 and \u2018F.I.L.A\u2019, the singer reveals that she \u201cdetermined to not\u201d this time round as a result of she \u201caimed for this album to be past good\u201d. And to succeed in that stage of perfection, she recruited a first-class workforce of producers and writers, from BTS\u00a0collaborators Pdogg and Adora, to JYP Leisure\u00a0co-founder J.Y. Park, to R&B singer-songwriter SOLE. \u201cAs a lot as it’s enjoyable and rewarding to work by myself songs, I’m not 100 per cent glad with [the ones] I labored on beforehand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nayeon. Credit score: JYP Leisure<\/p>\n
With nearly 10 years below her belt as a Ok-pop idol, Nayeon says she feels extra relaxed in comparison with when she first made her debut. She provides that these days she has \u201csufficient area to seek out pleasure and enjoyable in my career\u201d, revealing how essentially the most enjoyable, but difficult a part of engaged on \u2018Na\u2019 was studying the dance strikes for \u2018ABCD\u2019. \u201cI needed to study a brand new [style] of choreography, in order that was one thing I struggled with,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Bursting with highly effective shifts, the choreography for \u2018ABCD\u2019 is a complete cardio exercise, hardly ever waning down or stopping to catch a breath, very similar to the perky, plucky melody of the monitor. To not point out the thrilling dance break that\u2019s featured within the music\u2019s music video and dwell performances. \u201cTypically my confidence dropped whereas I used to be studying, however each time my members raised me up once more,\u201d she says, earlier than stopping for a second to reminisce, softly laughing to herself. \u201cI cherished when the members commented that I appeared cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Followers may need to attend till the following TWICE tour to see how cool Nayeon certainly seems to be dwell, with the singer revealing that there’s presently \u201cno plan\u201d for any \u201csolo tour or concert events\u201d. On the identical time, she\u2019s fairly certain that new music can be simply across the nook. \u201cThe idea for this album got here after I launched the primary album, so I feel the identical will occur with this time properly,\u201d she reveals. \u201cAfter I wrap up promotions, possibly we’ll begin discussing plans for the following one.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"nayeon](\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/nayeon-na-interview-image3.jpg\")
Nayeon. Credit score: JYP Leisure<\/p>\n
Although, this shouldn\u2019t come as a shock to followers who’ve been following Nayeon because the starting. She is all the time holding busy, whether or not it\u2019s on new TWICE music, her solo profession, with vogue and sweetness manufacturers or connecting with followers over social media. \u201cI\u2019m a really passionate particular person and I\u2019m very laborious working, and I additionally know learn how to declare what’s mine. I’ve fairly sturdy opinions as an artist,\u201d she says when requested to explain herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been on this enterprise for as long as a TWICE member and likewise as a solo artist, and followers have come to know me very well over time,\u201d Nayeon provides, saying that she believes what followers see of her is a real reflection of who she truly is. \u201cAnd lately my every day life, not as an artist however as a person, can also be on TV rather a lot, so I feel what you see is precisely who I’m. Not all of it, however most of myself is fairly public proper now.\u201d<\/p>\n
When she\u2019s not dazzling audiences onstage, Nayeon likes to take a while away from her busy idol life. \u201cI feel resting properly is de facto necessary. I attempt to do this in my very own method,\u201d she says. \u201cI recharge myself, and use the vitality that I get from resting on my skilled life.\u201d However most of all, Nayeon likes to put down in mattress (or, as TikTok would name it, #bedrot) and pet Kookeu, her Pomeranian canine. \u201cThat\u2019s how I stability it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nayeon\u2019s second mini-album, \u2018Na\u2019, is out now on Spotify<\/a>, Apple Music<\/a> and extra.<\/p>\n