Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones — always focused on sound, stage and substance.
A large part of what drives us here at HallyuTones is helping artists find their audience, and listeners find their new favourite artist. Today, meet suggi. Born in South Korea, the artist now lives in Canada and he’s been releasing music since 2018. With influences ranging between Girls Generation, indigenous folk singers and Ariana Grande, listeners are bound to fall for his unique sound.
suggi released his debut EP, Get off Your Phone, in 2018 but his biggest song to date, entirely thanks to his own perseverance, is astroboy. Much of suggi’s discography revolves around childhood themes and nostalgic songs. Another example of this being bunny do. From the heartfelt lyrics and soothing melody attached to each track, it is clear that the main goal is to bring comfort to the listener.
With a voice as smooth as silk and a way with words that speaks to wisdom beyond his years, it was shocking to read that a star as talented as suggi would even consider giving up his career in music. The artist describes a turbulent time in his life when the tension between his dreams and reality was near breaking point. In a fast changing world where financial stability far supersedes the desire, or freedom in most cases, to pursue your passion, sometimes giving up is self-preservation. Thankfully, in great part to The Boyz member Kevin, suggi proved that at times all you need to keep going is a great friend in your corner, and a great opportunity to come your way.
In today’s interview, suggi talks to us about the journey to releasing his latest EP, child again, and the life-changing moments it has brought with it. Gearing up for a deluxe release on November 7th (!), the album is full of tales of growing up and growing old in the eyes of a young man still figuring it out himself. The key point? suggi invites everyone to take every tentative step together, never alone.
1. Hello and welcome to HallyuTones. Please introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! My name is suggi, I am a Canadian R&B and Pop artist writing music for those that feel like an outsider in a world of perfection. I’m influenced by a lot of K-pop, as that was what I grew up listening to; I’ve also started my journey from making cover content on YouTube!
2. You’ve come a long way since astroboy and the cheer up EP. What is one thing that stands out for you between the two releases?
First of all, thank you! It’s surreal to have anyone really be interested in how I’ve grown up ever since the YouTube days and my first song astroboy. It’s always so crazy thinking back on where I was when I released astroboy, because I truly believed the world was the hardest on me during that time- only to find out as I grow older that life had its full swing on its way. I think the teenage angst and desperation to be heard was portrayed really well in the ‘cheer up’ EP, meanwhile in the new ‘child again’ EP, you can really feel the acceptance and coming of age. Needlessly to say, I think I grew up. 😛
3. You’ve mentioned in previous interviews that taking the step to release your latest EP, child again, was a major moment for you. What was the thing that reaffirmed your decision to pursue your career as a musician?
I’ve taken my time to re-think about my career as a musician a few times. I went from being fully committed and driven to pursuing the only form of joy I knew: music, to desperately trying to make this music career work by prioritizing virality and income, even selling rights to my songs to make ends meet. I ended up working in factories moving boxes and car parts to make some income to help pay rent, as my income continued to fall short ever since astroboy was released. The person that’s kept me going was Kevin of The Boyz, he would call me now and then to make sure I never gave up on music, and would text me on random days to facetime me, yelling at me to stop being stupid every time I had an inch of thought to quit music. He told me to put it all in the music. I think the ‘child again’ EP is a passion project I very much needed to create to make sure ‘music’ is still the thing I loved. The sound that I wanted to make, without the pressure of wanting to be heard and just telling my story, being myself.
child again EP (via genius)
4. Over the past few years there has been an exponential interest in Korean music and creators in general. Who are some of your favourite Korean artists or major influences?
With the giant growth of K-Pop the last few years, I’ve definitely become a big fan of it as well! I grew up only ever listening to Girls’ Generation, and have gotten my first ever iPod Touch JUST for their music listening purposes. To this day, their songs ‘Kissing You’ and ‘Baby Baby’ have such a huge influence on my music sound, as I am just now naturally conditioned to find those exact keys and piano chord progressions to begin creating. Nowadays, I’ve been a big fan of Min Jiwoon, and The Boyz.
5. Story-telling is a major component of your lyrical content. What is the process behind choosing the final lyrics for your releases?
Wow, that’s honestly the most touching thing to have heard, as I honestly don’t hear that very often from people that listen to my music. Usually my listeners tend to be very young which is awesome, but I do get scared to share some stories as it might be too deep, specific, or the fact that they prioritize the sound over the lyrics. I’ve always taken the comments on my YouTube videos personally where they’d only ever comment on my voice or my face, rather than any of my lyrics, so this is very heart warming that you’d taken the time to read my lyrics. Thank you.
I’ve definitely thought way more about the lyrics over this release than any other songs. The main reason for these lyrics being more direct was to make sure it felt authentic to me. I didn’t censor or change any words to hide anything, and I wanted to listen to these songs myself to make myself feel heard to the max.
6. The first song on the EP, child (awake), confronts the reality of being “hurted” by the silent crowds at times. As someone who has confronted those feelings enough to write about them in such a comforting way, what would you say to any artist who is currently at a similar point in their journey?
You got the meaning of the song so perfectly! Like the song states, I want to express how important it is to keep that inner child awake. Both when life gets dark and bright, I think it’s best to let yourself indulge in the emotions as a child would- cry when you want, feel sad when you want, and really enjoy what you like to the fullest. If music really was something you used to love making and listening to, then do exactly that! Wake your inner child and create what you’ve always wanted to as that child. Money will follow, and your fans will find you. Be you!
7. Somewhere Over The Rainbow is a song title popularised by the late Hawaiian singer Israel ‘IZ’ Kamakawiwo’ole. Were you inspired by that classic acoustic track at all while conceptualising your own song with the same title?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. I listen to this song so often, I’ve always come to this song as comfort to remind myself that there are brighter days ahead. I’ve had this idea to make my own version with the title ‘somewhere over the rainbow’, as I think the phrase itself is just so beautiful. When I saw Ariana Grande perform this song at the 97th Oscars, I felt it as a calling and immediately went to my laptop to finish the song. My song, just like the original, holds a similar meaning that signifies a brighter place out there, that is not where we are currently.
8. Is there a memory that sticks out to you from interacting with fans, whether in person or online, that you hold dear?
Yes, this happened a few years ago but I still remember it to this day. I don’t think I get recognized almost ever, but back when I was doing YouTube covers, I went to a convention with my friends for comics or animations, then a group of girls shyly walked up to me asking “Sorry to bother you, but are you suggi? the one that makes youtube covers?” and me being the socially awkward boy- I replied “Oh, no I’m not haha sorry” and then I ran away. To this day I regret that I didn’t say a proper hi to them and thank them for recognizing me and watching my videos. It’s a funny little story that is cute to remember, but there is an inkling of guilt and regret, haha.
9. If there is someone who is finding out about you for the first time, what three songs would you use to describe yourself to them? (Either your own or by other artists)
This is such a good question, because I actually do have the exact 3 songs I would give them. I think the first song would be WHITEBOXCAR. I think this song captures my style and vibe of me as a person perfectly. I am bubbly, bright, but still introverted. I have big dreams, but you’ll never see that in me externally. The second song I’d show them is somewhere over the rainbow, as I think lyrically this is the most connection you’ll feel to me as a person. This is the most authentically me!
Finally, I would have to show them astroboy. As much as it cringes me out to hear this song again, I think this shows the most vulnerable and raw version of myself both as a child and as an adult. Although I have grown up since then, I do still hold the same emotions and angst as that song does to this day.
10. What message would you give the suggi of five years from now? Is there any goal you hope to achieve in that time?
Five years is a long time, so I’m going to shoot big and say that my goal is to go on tour. Even if it is a small city tour, with 50 seats, I want to be able to sing my songs with a group of people who understand and can relate to my songs. A message to myself in 5 years, would be “You will one day thank yourself for not giving up”. I heard this from Bren Joy, a friend I met while writing songs in China, and it was a tip given to me by him. I still remember this and will forever be motivated by that quote.
11. What is one thing people wouldn’t know about you?
I think the one thing people don’t know about me is how insecure I actually am, and how unbelievably untalented I actually am. I am not saying this to sound all pick-me, but I am saying that I am just like anyone, and the level of success I have reached and the spot I am in is achievable by anyone. It’s humbling every single song I create, as I run into hurdles and walls created by my lack of talent and learning tools to overcome it- it being technical tools or tricks I learn from other producers or online. One thing I can share, is that my biggest song ‘astroboy’ was just made from Garageband on my mobile phone back in 2018.
12. You are soon to release the deluxe version of child again. Can you tell us about what fans can expect from this latest version of the project?
The deluxe version of child again, is titled ‘child, still’ and I have 2 brand new songs on it. It consists of one short song that almost sounds like an OST to the EP, and another song that was originally meant to be part of the EP, but didn’t make the cut because I wasn’t ready to share this secret yet. That being said, this deluxe version includes the 2 songs that I talk about a secret that I’ve held my whole life and something everyone that knows me both around me and online: my sexuality.
13. What are you most excited for fans to understand about suggi as an artist through this EP?
I’m excited to share this EP as my introduction when I meet new people. I am so excited and happy to have a body of work that represents me so much that when I meet new people that are musicians, I can just hand them my EP and say “this is me! nice to meet you.”
14. There are people who have been fans of your music for years and some who have recently happened upon your music and become dedicated listeners. Do you have any message for these people?
Being quite honest, the concept of having fans and listeners feels very distant to me, so it’s always very hard for me to correctly show my gratitude. I am so, so thankful and it makes me feel so disconnected from reality when I see the Spotify numbers or views, and even comments. I sit there and question if this is real life, and if these are real comments- but I am trying my hardest to get myself to understand. I am so thankful, and I cannot grasp the amount of emotions I feel just thinking about people listening to my songs. I wonder if they realize that they are changing my life as they listen to my music.
15. Any final words for the HallyuTones readers?
Thank you so much for taking your time to read this and showing interest in me as both an artist and a person. This means so, so much to me that you are curious about me and my music. Music that I write with so much emotions and thought- actually being dissected and understood by people is a different feeling of feeling appreciated. Thank you so much, and I only ever wish good things to happen to you!
And finally, thank you Tshego, you have been the sweetest!
From lullabies to break up songs, every part of suggi’s discography is testament to his ability to translate human emotions to sounds that carry meaning. I remember being excited for the release of the cheer up album in 2019, I was just happy to know that astroboy had made it to yet another release day. The adorable visuals accompanied by the message of being more than just a speck of dust in this universe resonated very deeply with a young Tshego that was finding my way in a whole new city across the country.
I also remember that at the time cheer up’s tracklist was announced, suggi had to make it clear that as much as he loved the song, it would have to be the last time it was listed on a release. And it was the last time… until astroboy, the story after.
Publishing this article just days before the deluxe edition of child again feels like a full circle moment for me as a listener and makes me hopeful that someone reading this will come back one day and eventually understand the feeling. To grow up alongside an artist is no trivial thing, and to know that the artist themself entrusts their listener to share their heart, is simply proof of the power of music. child, still is not just a revisit of the child again EP. It is a glimpse into the person behind suggi, the artist.
Put simply, the story that led him to the stars is ongoing, and it seems that for as long as there are stars in the sky, suggi will keep writing the soundtrack to every night spent admiring them.
Thank you so much to suggi for making time to speak to us. You can pre-save the child (still) EP here.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@suggi
Instagram: https://instagram.com/xuggi
Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@suggioppa
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1plTV3dffWAksGX2XEQKvS
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