“While doing what you’re keen on, you do find yourself becoming weaker, too,” says K-pop singer Hwasa over a video call from Seoul, via a translator. Since being introduced almost ten years ago, first because the youngest member (often known as the ‘maknae’) of the harmony-forward girl group MAMAMOO after which later in 2019 as a soloist, 28-year-old Hwasa has rarely shied away from confronting the discourse that follows her celebrity, even when it stings. Her figure, her give-no-shits attitude, her sensuality, the way in which she approaches an industry that usually places exorbitant expectations on its female stars; all of it has been ravenously picked apart. But her response has at all times been to bite back, whether in candid moments with fans, pointed performances on stage or – where she does it best – in song.

“I strongly consider that the act of loving yourself is a particularly essential part within the strategy of getting through life,” she says, following the discharge of her latest solo single “I Love My Body”, an old-school retro-pop ode to self-love that’s as much a celebration of her own skin because it is a finger-point at her loudest critics. Its timing alone is an announcement in itself: last month, she found herself reported to police in South Korea by a gaggle of oldsters who thought her performance at a university festival was ‘indecent’. While a highlight on the command she has over her sexuality has at all times followed closely, this time the bulb exploded. “Unsurprisingly, things have been pretty noisy recently, so I felt much more strongly that I needed to think positively and that I desired to keep putting out music,” she says concerning the experience, selecting “I Love My Body” because, greater than anything, it just made her feel blissful.

For Hwasa, who debuted when she was just 18 years old, putting her self-confidence within the limelight is a no brainer. But she’s conscious to not let people think that it’s easy. “The confident [persona of] me that you simply see on stage is something I work really hard on,” she says, touching on the very relatable peaks and troughs of self-acceptance that appear to vary on a whim. “I’m going through times once I’m really sad,” she adds, saying that she tries to make use of those moments as a technique to grow and learn in order never to permit insecurity to tug rank over her strength.

“I Love My Body” is a turning point for Hwasa, because it’s her first release since leaving her longtime agency RBW and signing with P Nation, the K-pop label founded by industry veteran Psy. While she’s released a handful of solo songs previously and has been a go-to fave for features for years, that is her re-introduction as a fully-fledged solo artist. Below, we chat to Hwasa about self-love, latest beginnings and tragically missing out on Beyoncé tickets.

What’s a very powerful thing for you when it comes to this next phase of your profession?

Hwasa: I believe it’s the trust I even have in myself. With environments changing, as you retain moving forward, there are a variety of unfamiliar stuff you come across, ?  So, in that type of situation, I noticed that to be unwavering and trusting in yourself is a very powerful [thing].

You only released your latest song ‘I Love My Body’. What was it that drew you to that song?

Hwasa: Until very recently, I used to be feeling quite low, so I felt this urge to do a song that’s fun, light and upbeat. I actually feel prefer it was destiny discovering ‘I Love My Body’. I felt so sure about it, like  ‘Ah, if [I do] this song, I’ll have the ability to enjoy performing it’. 

You’ve at all times been so keen about celebrating your body and it’s been a theme in past solo releases and the way in which you perform on stage. Why is it essential to centre that within the work you do?

Hwasa: I strongly consider that the act of loving oneself is a large a part of getting through life, and so I are likely to express these sorts of themes loads. In point of fact, I’m, and have been, a goal [of the public] on issues like this, but, alternatively, I’m also harsh on myself regarding these topics, too. Going through all this, I feel like showing support [to fans] all of the more. But, after all, I also love myself loads, so having undergone all these different experiences, I believe it’s something that comes out naturally.

What makes you’re feeling strongest in times if you don’t feel your best?

Hwasa: So nowadays, specifically, I even have been noticing a variety of my weak points, things I’d prefer to improve on. But I believe that having these thoughts comes from the strong desire of wanting to enhance which I believe, for me, comes from a positive mindset. I [always] practice hard. The people around me tell me really often, ‘For somebody together with your experience, one would assume you could possibly practice without exerting yourself an excessive amount of. But you actually do work very hard.’ I realised that, with the quantity of labor I put in, when it’s time for fun, I’m capable of enjoy [it].

What do you say to yourself in moments when self-love feels hard to come back by?

Hwasa: Ah, [that’s] really difficult. The moments if you’re unable to like yourself – even this morning I felt like that – are at all times with you. If you feel like that, you simply must push through. There isn’t a other way. After all, in case you’re having a tough time, it’s OK to struggle. Just naturally doing the things that you could in that situation, I believe it’s enough to only do this.

“I’m not at all times that strong, . It’s just that, while doing what I like, I even have turn into stronger” — Hwasa

To me, you’re feeling very at the center of conversations around female celebrities, the way in which you have fun your body and your autonomy. How does it feel to be seen as a champion of that?

Hwasa: I’m not at all times that strong, . It’s just that, while doing what I like, I even have turn into stronger. What you see on stage comes from the experience of going through [all] those situations and feelings repeatedly, but, thankfully, seeing this [version of me], the fans feel empowered and feel some comfort through it. At any time when I hear things like that, I just feel so grateful. I also need to try living life showing my vulnerable side, but then I feel like I’m betraying my fans – I felt like this recently, seeing myself turn into more vulnerable. I attempt to concentrate on my cho shim – a Korean phrase idols often use to convey that, regardless of how famous they turn into, they’ll remain humble – and on reflecting always.

What can we expect from you on this latest chapter?

Hwasa: I just have the desire to make music until I’m sick of it. As a solo artist, I don’t have a variety of music released [yet], I need to proceed sharing all of the things that I need to speak about. And I need to do a variety of concert events, and thru my performances, I need to fulfill my fans loads more [often]. I believe that’s a very powerful for me.

What song could you not stop listening to growing up?

Hwasa: Ah! Beyoncé’s ‘Broken-Hearted Girl’. I haven’t been capable of see her in concert. I had originally planned to see her last concert but due to a conflict with my schedule, I couldn’t go.

What’s the last item in your notes app?

Hwasa: Let me grab my phone. Oh! I’ve written down the address for the brand new house I’m going to maneuver into soon, so I don’t think I can let you know. [Laughs].

What’s your most up-to-date web obsession?

Hwasa: There’s something I’m really obsessive about recently, but I believe it’s too heavy. Nowadays I’m just really interested by various social issues and I’m watching and reading that type of news loads.

What’s your favourite convenience store snack?

Hwasa: It will be the tuna mayo samgak kimbap (a triangle-shaped rice snack wrapped in seaweed). I believe the [main] reason for going to a convenience store can be for the kimbap. [Pauses]. Ah, I even have yet another! The coffee in convenience stores is de facto delicious. When my friends are like ‘Let’s grab a cup of coffee,’ I’m like, ‘Sounds great! There’s this coffee I actually like, we could [go] drink that?’ And we go to the convenience store, and my friends say jokingly, ‘You’re so wealthy and also you’re buying us convenience store coffee?’ Convenience store coffee is the very best!

When you could hearken to one artist for the remainder of your life, who would it not be?

Hwasa: I’d quite select death!

Additional translation provided by Neha Cariappa.