Lee Youngji Previews U.S. All or Nothing Tour, Ok-Pop YouTube Sequence

In Korea’s pop tradition scene, Lee Youngji is a reputation now synonymous with vibrant and unfiltered leisure, finest seen by way of her viral Nothing A lot Ready YouTube collection, the place she shares drinks with members of Ok-pop supergroups like BTS, BLACKPINK and SEVENTEEN. Nevertheless, 2024 marks a major yr for the 21-year-old as she seems to be to return to her roots in music and highlight her expertise as a performer and musician. Even when many followers may acknowledge her first because the comedic drive behind a few of Ok-pop’s most unforgettable interviews, Youngji’s journey in leisure started with music — and he or she’s decided to remind everybody of that on her ongoing world tour that hits the U.S. on the finish of August.

The discharge of her debut album, June’s 16 Fantasy, marked a daring assertion of her inventive identification and the promise proven for her musical future. The lead single, “Small Woman” that includes EXO’s D.O., not solely topped the charts in South Korea but additionally broke into the Prime 40 of the Billboard World 200. In the meantime, b-side cuts like Lee’s “ADHD Woman,” plus her hit collaborations with prime acts like Dynamicduo and BSS, all show her versatility and skills to step up and stage up for every new music launch.

“This yr is admittedly necessary for me musically,” Youngji displays throughout a night FaceTime name from Seoul forward of the U.S. leg of her tour. “I’ve had a variety of collaborations and I’ve a spread present on my YouTube channel, so many individuals know me by way of plenty of jobs…however I need to highlight my musician mode this yr.”

As she embarks on the U.S. leg of her All or Nothing World Tour, Lee Youngji is keen to attach with followers in a extra intimate setting, bringing not simply her music to the stage however the distinctive private vitality that’s made her such a breakout star among the many subsequent technology of Korean-pop entertainers.

“I are inclined to attempt to actually talk with the viewers, ask them questions, simply attempt to discuss to them and I believe that U. S. followers are going to love that rather a lot,” she says, hinting on the interactive and private nature of her stage setup. The All or Nothing Tour is extra of an invite for followers to expertise Lee Youngji in her purest kind as a musician and entertainer. And whereas she may not be capable to take pleasure in her well-known on-camera ingesting together with her viewers — despite the fact that she tells Billboard that she actually desires to — she’s able to deliver that very same spontaneous and real connection to each present.

Learn on for extra with Lee Youngji sharing about her Stateside tour, her large yr in music, recollections with some prime Ok-pop stars and what’s coming subsequent.

Congratulations on all of the latest successes, Youngji. There’s rather a lot to debate, but it surely’s been a extremely necessary yr for you as a musician. Is that this why you’re going in your first U.S. tour?

Such as you stated, this yr is admittedly necessary for me musically. I’ve had a variety of collaborations, and I’ve a spread present on my YouTube channel, so many individuals know me by way of plenty of jobs. First, they knew me as a YouTuber; then they may have recognized me as a star buddy; they knew me as all several types of issues, however I need to highlight my musician mode this yr. And gratefully, “Small Woman” had an ideal response and increase, even within the U.S., so I believed that this was an ideal alternative for me to be extra assured on what I’m doing proper now as a musician.

You accomplish that a lot, and other people know you for a lot of totally different causes, however the place does music align along with your general world?

In my childhood period, I might all the time consider, “I believe I’m gonna be a well-known particular person, however I don’t assume that I may very well be a musician.” However the first time individuals bought to know me was within the survival present Excessive Faculty Rapper 3 [in 2019]. At the moment, rap was the one factor I used to be competent in any sort of musical expertise, however I didn’t essentially need to be solely a rapper.

Did you discover your confidence to pursue music by way of rapping?

Sure, however I don’t assume that it’s my solely expertise. Rapping undoubtedly requires expertise, however I don’t assume that’s all I’ve. So, once I received the rap survival present, I used to be all the time pondering, “Oh, so is ‘rapper’ my job now?” I didn’t need to begin my profession as a rapper. I stated, “Oh, I bought [to show] greater than rapping.” But it surely was my finest expertise, so I used to be all the time curious…

Is that why we solely bought your first album 5 years after Excessive Faculty Rapper? You share a variety of totally different sides and types on the report. What’s your favourite music?

Yep, yep. And never as a result of that music bought a lot fame, however I ultimately actually liked “Small Woman.” It’s an trustworthy, trustworthy, trustworthy music; an actual story about myself. I like these sorts of songs. There are some tall, tall ladies…ah, how ought to I say this? Everybody has part of themselves that they lack confidence in, however this music can truthfully soften that complicated. I believed that “Small Woman” was a music I may make for everybody to be extra assured. So, I actually cherish “Small Woman” as a music that I made for everybody who might need decrease or may not have self-confidence.

Certainly one of my favorites is “ADHD Woman” as a result of I even have ADHD. What impressed this music?

Ever since childhood, I’ve been listening to lots of people, like my academics and my dad and mom, saying that I’ve ADHD — and that was earlier than many individuals grew to become actually conscious of it. However I’ve a variety of associates round me who do have ADHD and take remedy for it. It’s a music I wrote based mostly on my experiences in addition to my associates’ experiences, a few of them who’re actually battling ADHD.

What’s your songwriting or inventive course of?

Nicely, there’s a variety of nice know-how and stuff for music as of late, you already know? However I like iPhone and iPhone memos. I’m all the time recording on my iPhone: a bit of gibberish, little unknown sounds, guides for songs. I all the time write key phrases with my iPhone. Really, that was the precise course of for the music “Not Sorry.” After I went by way of the competitors present, Present Me the Cash, I suffered rather a lot from this hate practice. So, I wrote on my iPhone that stated, “Not sorry, not sorry in any respect,” and I requested my producers — Jay Park, Zion.T and Slom — I requested them, “What about this topic for the title of this music” they usually have been like, “Oh, that’s dope and that’s one thing you are able to do proper now.” My music-making course of is all the time, all the time like that. I write a title on my telephone and I do a gibberish recording.

And “Not Sorry” was a success!

[Laughs] Yeah!

I’ve all the time appreciated your angle. I’m certain it’s not simple for you, or anybody, however you’ve a refreshing angle about criticism and “hate feedback.” We even noticed your “liking” tweets which have criticized you. How do you retain this sturdy mindset?

After I get hate, I attempt to perceive them. “Why do you hate me?” “Oh, due to that time?” “Okay, I perceive that — however I don’t agree in any respect.” I can perceive you, however I don’t should agree with you. I all the time take into consideration how no one is aware of me higher than me. So, you already know once I “like” [hate comments] — I actually don’t understand how the web system works — however I don’t care until I do one thing that’s actually a nasty factor or crosses the road legally. I additionally reply [to] them after they ship me DMs that say, “I hate you, go kill your self” or one thing. I all the time reply to them and all the time like their messages as a result of they by no means assume that in the event that they ship me a message, I can see them; they don’t know that I can see them. So I need to allow them to know that I see the whole lot.

So, what are you getting ready for the U.S. leg of your All or Nothing Tour?

I all the time hoped that if I had an opportunity, I need to meet everybody on the planet and music is my probability. So, sure, I wished to make use of this as my alternative. I’ve already toured Asia, however you already know what? The temper is type of totally different in comparison with America. My efficiency [style] is normally to get individuals loopy. On this tour, I particularly need to have extra direct communication with the viewers and to introduce who I’m, that I make this type of music, and that I introduce myself as an artist to the U.S. audiences. In comparison with Asia, there’s extra participation within the U.S., whereas direct communication is decrease in different nations. I made a variety of modifications to my songs. I’m planning to deliver the viewers as much as the stage really, and perhaps dance or carry out collectively; I’m making an attempt to plan these type of issues.

Such as you stated, you’re not simply recognized for music however on your persona too. Are you getting ready enjoyable methods to share that facet of your self too?

I believe that my persona exhibits up whereas I’m speaking with one other particular person. So, I are inclined to attempt to actually talk with the viewers, ask them questions, simply attempt to discuss to them. And I believe that U. S. followers are going to love that rather a lot. I actually need to drink with them. I imply, I actually need to get drunk with them, however I can’t. [Laughs]

Possibly we will take a secret shot collectively because the tour’s final present is in New York…

HA ha. I hope so! [Laughs]

However I do need to spotlight how, in your 5 years since Excessive Faculty Rapper, you’ve performed a ton of collaborations throughout many genres: Ok-pop idols, rappers, indie musicians, R&B, older technology artists, chart-topping artists. How do you join with so many alternative sounds and types?

I’m so grateful that they all the time attain [out] to me and ask me to function with them or collaborate. I’ve been actually energetic with video and media contents in Korea for 4, 5 years now and, fortunately, that’s proven my persona and expertise in Korea and to audiences. So, I believe a variety of artists really feel like I’m somebody who’s acquainted and for them to achieve out and join with me to do different initiatives. However anytime once I get requested for a function, I all the time assume, “How can I beat them on this music? How can I do higher on this music?” [Laughs] However options and collaborating actually drive me to go to the subsequent stage of myself.

I believe that’s what Nicki Minaj stated. She wants a “sparring associate” to stage herself up.

She’s my purpose.

Are there any final messages for followers or what to anticipate on the U.S. tour? And with Nothing A lot Ready‘s return, are you able to share some spoilers?

Nicely, sure, I can provide you a variety of spoilers, however the primary episode is with Lisa and he or she’s so sensible, fairly, younger, wealthy, and a hilarious particular person. I like her. As of mid-August, I already recorded, like, six or seven episodes so we’re going to see a variety of idols and a variety of actors.

However what else ought to I say? I believe U.S. followers are usually not ready for what’s coming to them! I need to promise to the U.S. followers that I will likely be working arduous to have the ability to see them extra typically. I even have a variety of songs able to be launched, and I need to watch U.S. followers react. I’ve bought an extended strategy to go. This tour will not be even step one. I’ve large ambitions.