Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones – always focused on sound, stage and substance.
Today, we are proud to bring you our first ever interview with a band/pop group! We reached out to the lovely members of 3-piece band Kyly, who sat down with us to discuss their new music, their song writing process, and their favourite memories.
Introduction:
Kyly are a 3 member band/pop group formed in 2017 and composed of members Seo Gayeon (vocal), Kim Wookwan (guitar), and Lee Haemin (keyboard). Since their debut with ‘Star’, they have released numerous single albums, full albums and countless collaborations.
Many of their songs come accompanied with self produced music videos, studio versions, lyric videos and live stages. Kyly truly bring out the pure joy of live music with soothing vocals accompanied by melodic keyboard and guitar. Their festival stages are particularly of note, showcasing the members’ skills in the art of live performance.
Unlike many traditional K-Pop groups, this band have a more down-to-earth story rooted in connection and bonds over a shared love for the art of composing, crafting and writing music.
A great example of their typical sound is through their song ‘Shout’. This song is bright, with easy-listening vocals accompanied by well-mixed keyboard and synth instrumentation and guitar providing the backbone of the track. Their songs are instantly uplifting, relaxing and bring a smile to your face. Alongside the accompanying beach music video, it truly brings the feeling of a warm stroll on a summer’s day.
With a huge backlog of songs, their music is the perfect accompaniment to a countryside drive, a study session, or a relaxing Sunday afternoon. ‘Fireworks’ echoes cute K-Pop hits of the second and third generation, and uses it’s echoing background vocals and expertly crafted instrumental mix to draw the listener in. Listen with headphones to truly bring out the optimal listening experience!
One of their catchiest songs is ‘Cafe’ with a true earworm of a chorus that instantly has you dancing along while evoking memories of coffee shop dates with friends. There is a certain dynamic to their songs that captures pure positive energy that feels both welcoming and refreshing, and I think this song perfectly encapsulates that.
In contrast, the song ‘Up’ from their 1st album [exhale] puts power vocals at the forefront with a strong chorus, and instrumentals so strong that create an instant optimistic atmosphere. The package is rounded out with a playful rap section that helps accentuate the inspiring message of the song.
For a more stripped down song, we have 봄볕 (Spring Sun, a track from their most recent EP, ‘Spring’. This song truly showcases melodic piano alongside vocalist Seo Gayeon’s vocals to create one of the most relaxing songs of the year. Listening to this track is instantly healing, as your worries melt away and you truly become enveloped in the music.
Kyly’s discography is broad and diverse – there truly is a song out there for any listener. Thankfully, their official YouTube channel also has compilations of their songs to suit your mood. The below acoustic playlist is a perfect example, drawing together many of their acoustic songs and performances into one smooth listening package.
After discovering their music, I instantly knew that Kyly had something special – a fresh and unique vibe that could only be brought together by a group of people that truly put the music first. Please see below our interview with the members, where we explore what makes the group truly special.
Interview:
This interview is provided in both English and Korean. 한국어 버전의 인터뷰는 아래를 참조하세요.
1. Please introduce yourself and your music!
Hello, we are Kyly. We are a band formed in 2017 by three songwriters: Seo Gayeon (vocal), Kim Wookwan (guitar), and Lee Haemin (keyboard).
2. How did Kyly first form as a band/how were the members selected?
At first, Wookwan met Haemin while working as a music director for a musical, where Haemin was a performer. Wookwan suggested doing a small performance together. Later, while looking for a vocalist, Haemin recommended Gayeon, who was a university friend, and the three of us performed together. That became the starting point for Kyly. Our unique combination, transcending age and gender, is what makes Kyly special.
3. Kyly just released a collaboration with producer group 015B called ‘Keep Dreamin’, can you tell us a little bit about the song?
“Keep Dreamin” is our third collaboration with 015B. It’s a reinterpretation of the rock sound of the 1980s, blending powerful instrumentals with refreshing vocals. While working on it, we drew a lot of inspiration from songs of the 80s and 90s.
4. So far, you have released 8 EPs, 3 albums and numerous singles. What is your typical song production and writing process?
All Kyly members write lyrics and compose music. While each of us has our own detailed process, most of our songs start from ideas that come up during our conversations together. Once we decide on the genre and direction, we discuss who will create the main framework, and then we all work together to flesh out the song.
5. What messages and themes do you like to talk about in your songs?
It’s hard to define with just one word, but broadly speaking, we try to capture the many aspects of life. We share personal emotions and sometimes fleeting thoughts we experience in our lives, and weave them into our music.
6. What does music mean to you/why is music such an important part of your life?
To us, music is literally ‘life’. Rather than thinking in a grand sense, it’s because we’ve been making money, making albums, and continuing our activities with music. Of course, we still have dreams as musicians. That’s why we’re still working. Also, I feel very, very well that expressing our (or our individual) thoughts and intentions to the world through music is scarier than we think, but also more exciting and enjoyable than we think. I think that the experiences we’ve accumulated in this way have gradually taken up a large portion of our lives, and music has literally become ‘life’.
7. Kyly has been together since 2017, what have been your favourite moments and memories so far?
There have been many memorable moments, but our first performance stands out the most. Initially, we planned to be a one-time project, but during preparations, we discussed continuing together. That first stage, where we promised a future together, is especially meaningful.
8. Which singers or musicians inspire you?
We’re inspired by many artists, but to name a few: Wookwan is inspired by 015B, Gayeon by Coldplay, and Haemin by Sara Bareilles and Evan Call.
9. Your most recent release was the ‘Spring’ EP, could you tell us more about the songs on this EP?
The [봄 (Spring)] album is the final album in Kyly’s [Season Project]. Each member composed one song, inspired by the image of spring. The title track, “사막의 무지개(Rainbow in the Desert),” was composed by Wookwan and evokes the freshness of spring. If you have time, we recommend listening to our other [Season Project] albums as well.
10. Do you have any upcoming projects or songs for fans to look forward to?
While Kyly continues to release albums as artists, we also work as music directors on various projects. This fall, we’re creating parade music for an amusement park. Please look forward to Kyly’s parade!
11. What are your future goals for Kyly?
Our goal is to continue making diverse music as we do now. Being able to keep performing for a long time means we can share our music with even more people.
12. Lastly, do you have a message for your fans and new listeners?
We hope you’ll look forward to the many stories Kyly has yet to tell, and we’d be grateful if you’d join us on our journey!
Thank you again to the members of Kyly for taking the time to respond to all our questions!
HallyuTones always puts the music first and Kyly are true artists; songwriters and producers who through friendship have formed a life long bond. Their music goes beyond a simple release – it forms the backbone of not just their careers but a growing proportion of their lives. I truly hope you’ve enjoyed discovering more about Kyly as much as I have!
Please check out below for links to their social media and streaming links – send some love and discover for yourself a wide plethora of beautiful music to add to your playlist!
Do you have any artists that you feel deserve a bigger spotlight? Do you have an album that you’d like reviewed, or a topic that you’d like discussed? Please let us know in the comments below!
Socials:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kylyofficial
Twitter/X: https://x.com/kyly_official
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyly_official/
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/kyly/1294584010
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/66U03MVaRg1TJExKgbRdWU
Korean Language Interview:/한국어 인터뷰:
1. 본인과 음악에 대해 소개해 주세요!
안녕하세요. 카일리입니다. 2017년에 세명의 송라이터 Seo Gayeon (Vocal), Kim Wookwan(Guitar), Lee Haemin(Keyboard)가 만나 결성한 밴드입니다.
2. Kyly는 어떻게 결성되었고, 멤버들은 어떻게 선발되었나요?
처음엔 Wookwan이 음악감독으로 참여한 뮤지컬 작품에서 연주로 참여한 Haemin과 만나 작은 공연을 해보자고 제안했습니다. 이후 보컬을 찾고있던 와중에, Haemin이 대학교 친구였던 Gayeon을 추천해 함께 공연을 하게되었습니다. 그것이 계기가 되어 지금까지 이어지고 있습니다. 나이와 성별을 뛰어넘은 독특한 조합이 카일리만의 매력이라고 생각합니다.
3. 최근 프로듀서 그룹 015B와의 협업곡 ‘Keep Dreamin’을 발표하셨는데, 이 곡에 대해 조금 소개해 주실 수 있나요?
Keep Dreamin’은 015B와의 세번째 협업곡입니다. 80년대 락 사운드를 재해석한 노래로 강렬한 사운드와 시원시원한 보컬이 잘 어우러지는 곡입니다. 실제로 작업하면서 80-90년대의 곡들을 많이 참고하였습니다.
4. 지금까지 8개의 EP, 3개의 앨범, 그리고 수많은 싱글을 발표하셨는데, 평소 곡 작업과 작곡 과정은 어떻게 이루어지나요?
카일리는 멤버 모두가 작사, 작곡을 합니다. 세세한 작업방식은 각자 다르겠지만, 곡 작업은 셋이 함께 다양한 이야기를 나누는 중에 나오는 아이디어로 시작하는 경우가 많습니다. 그 후 장르와 방향성 등이 정해지면 세 명중 누가 먼저 큰 틀을 짤것인가 고민하고, 그 후에 나머지 멤버들과 함께 살을 붙혀나가는 과정을 거칩니다.
5. 여러분이 노래에서 주로 다루고 싶은 메시지나 주제는 무엇인가요?
한가지로 정의하기는 어렵지만 크게 보면 ‘삶의 다양한 모습들’ 이라고 볼 수 있겠습니다. 각자 살면서 느끼게 되는 개인적인 감정들, 때로는 단편적인 생각들을 함께 나누고 음악에 녹여내고있습니다.
6. 음악은 여러분에게 어떤 의미인가요? 왜 음악이 여러분의 삶에서 그렇게 중요한가요?
저희에게 음악은 말 그대로 ‘삶’입니다. 거창한 의미로 본다기 보단, 현실적으로 지금까지 음악으로 돈을 벌고, 앨범을 만들고, 활동을 이어나가고 있기 떄문입니다. 물론 아직까지도 음악가로써 꾸는 꿈들이 있습니다. 그렇기 때문에 계속 활동하고 있는거겠죠. 또 음악이라는 수단으로 저희의(혹은 개인의) 생각과 뜻을 세상에 내놓는 일은 생각보다 두렵고, 생각보다 흥분되며 즐거운 일인것을 아주아주 잘 느끼고 있습니다. 그렇게 쌓아 올려진 경험들이 점점 저희의 삶에 큰 비중을 차지하게 되어 음악이 말 그대로 ‘삶’이 된 것이라고 생각합니다.
7. Kyly는 2017년부터 함께해왔는데, 지금까지 가장 기억에 남는 순간이나 추억이 있다면 무엇인가요?
많은 순간들이 있지만 역시 첫공연이 기억에 남습니다. 당시에는 단발성 공연으로 기획한 팀이었는데, 공연 준비중에 쭉 함께해보면 어떻겠는냐는 이야기가 나와서 함께 미래를 기약하며 만들어진 첫 무대가 되었기 때문입니다.
8. 여러분에게 영감을 주는 가수나 뮤지션이 있다면 누구인가요?
다양한 아티스트들에게 영감을 받고있지만, 각자 고르자면, Wookwan은 015B, Gayeon은 Coldplay, Haemin은 Sara Bareilles와 Evan Call 입니다.
9. 최근 발매한 ‘Spring’ EP에 대해, 수록곡들에 대해 더 자세히 소개해 주실 수 있나요?
[봄]앨범은 카일리가 기획한 [계절 프로젝트]의 마지막 앨범입니다. 봄의 이미지를 상상하며 각 멤버가 1곡씩 작곡하여 만든 앨범입니다. 타이틀곡은 Wookwan이 작곡한 [사막의 무지개]인데 피어나는 봄의 싱그러움을 떠올리며 만든 곡입니다. 시간이 된다면 다른 [계절 프로젝트]의 앨범을 들어보시는 것을 추천드립니다.
10. 앞으로 팬들이 기대할 만한 새로운 프로젝트나 곡이 있을까요?
카일리는 아티스트로써 앨범을 내며 활동하기도 하지만 음악감독으로써 다양한 활동도 같이 해오고 있습니다. 이번 가을에 시작될 놀이공원의 퍼레이드음악을 만들고 있습니다. 카일리가 만들어가는 퍼레이드, 기대해 주세요.
11. Kyly의 앞으로의 목표는 무엇인가요?
꾸준히 지금처럼 다양한 음악활동을 하는것이 목표입니다. 오래도록 활동 할 수 있다는 것은 더 많은 사람들에게 더 많은 저희의 음악을 들려줄 수 있다는 것이기때문입니다.
12. 마지막으로, 팬들과 새로운 리스너들에게 전하고 싶은 메시지가 있다면 부탁드립니다!
앞으로 펼쳐질 다양한 카일리의 이야기 기다려주시고 함께 해주시면 감사하겠습니다!
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