LE SSERAFIM‘s Heo Yunjin has had a journey that’s as intricate as the melodies she writes. In a recent sit-down with Teen Vogue, she delved deep into her inspirations, challenges, and the story behind her new solo song, “blessing in disguise.”

 

Yunjin‘s connection to music feels almost predestined. She says, “I think it was just very natural.” Growing up, she was surrounded by musical influences, from “musicals, plays, and movies with music” to creating songs with her sister. The passion was evident as she reminisced, “We would just make songs together and get the camera.” 

This early love for music was not just about the melodies but the stories they told. Yunjin found solace in her art. She explained, “I really liked storytelling, and I found that doing that through music, expressing myself through music, was very therapeutic. But also, I don’t know, I just fell in love with it.”

However, every artist’s journey has its share of challenges. Yunjin‘s path was no exception. Her initial foray into the music industry was marked by her participation in Mnet’s Produce 48 in 2018. But the aftermath of the show was a tumultuous period for her. Although her now-groupmates Kim Chaewon and Miyawaki Sakura made it into IZ*ONE, she didn’t. That was a bitter pill for Yunjin to swallow.

She shared, “When I went back to the U.S., I don’t know, I went through every state of despair.” This period of introspection and self-doubt led her to contemplate a shift in career. But fate had other plans. A call from South Korea changed Yunjin’s trajectory, leading her to Source Music and the ranks of LE SSERAFIM. Reflecting on this twist, she said, “I went through it again. But in the end, I found my place.”

Heo Yunjin on her latest solo song

Her latest solo song, “blessing in disguise,” is a testament to her journey. It starts with an airport announcement, transporting listeners to her transformative journey from JFK to Incheon. Yunjin‘s description of the track as a conversation echoes the song’s intimate and personal nature. “It feels like I’m just talking to a friend,” she remarked. 

HUH YUNJIN – ‘blessing in disguise’

The song’s disco funk genre was a departure from her comfort zone, but the result is a refreshing blend of sounds that captivates listeners. She admitted, “It’s disco funk, which is very out of my comfort zone, so I actually took months to write the song.”

The accompanying music video adds another dimension to the song. Moving away from animations, Yunjin chose to use personal footage instead, offering FEARNOT an unfiltered view of her world. Despite the singer-songwriter’s initial reservations about doing so, the final product is a heartfelt montage of memories, showcasing her journey from New York to Seoul and the moments in between.

A standout figure

Yunjin‘s authenticity shone through in her interview with Teen Vogue. Her reflections on her past, present, and future are laced with vulnerability. 

“I’ve always had a fear of the future,” she confessed. Delving deeper into this sentiment, Yunjin expressed, “I do always try to live in the present, but I think writing about the past is easy because everything has passed, and I can look at it from a mature perspective. But if I write about it right now, I feel like… I don’t know; it’s very raw and feels very vulnerable, I think, because this is me right now, and I’m facing myself as I am right now, so there’s nothing I can do about it. I can’t be like, ‘Oh yeah, I was a little younger.’ No, this is today.”

Teen Vogue‘s feature on LE SSERAFIM’s Heo Yunjin is a comprehensive exploration of an artist’s world, from her musical inspirations to the creative process behind her songs and visuals. It’s quite a compelling narrative that underscores the depth and breadth of her artistry, painting Yunjin as a standout figure in the contemporary K-pop scene. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Soloist Yunjin returns with a funky new track. Source: Twitter/@le_sserafim.