[ENG TRANS] 210419 Interview with CHUNG HA for Marie Claire Korea (May issue)

The freedom Sunmi and Chungha dream of

Sunmi and Chungha, who are as alike as they are different. The syngergy they created together with Gucci.

It's almost 12 o'clock at night. For some, it's time to wrap up the day, only for some people it's rather a time they get energy, but what about you two?

Sunmi: I'm the 'getting energy' style. During the day, I'm busy with this and that with work, but at night, I won't be contacted and just want to enjoy my own time.

Chungha: Me too. I think of it as free time, so I don't like going to sleep early.

What do you like to do at this time?

Chungha: These days, I always try to watch a movie and sleep. Order something to eat. I like that time, so even if I have work the next day, I won't sleep until dawn.

Because you both promote as solo artist, I think it's rare to shoot with someone else like today. Is there a different feeling with being alone?

Chungha: We contact each other often, but it's rare we have time to meet up because each of us are busy. So I think that's why time like this is so valuable. When I'm with unnie, I get good energy. I learn a lot of things when shooting [with Sunmi] too.

What kind of relationship is it to you two?

Sunmi: It's a relationship where I can show myself.

Chungha: The first program I did together with unnie was <Weekly Idol>. The first meeting was during a variety show shoot, I was in such an excited mood, I remember I sent a heart to unnie while acting really cute. But when we gradually got closer, I too was able to reveal myself easily, like unnie. I can't act cute to unnie for 24 hours like back then. (laughs)

Sunmi: I have two younger brothers, because of that I always wanted a younger sister. So I tend to treat Chungha as a younger sibling here. In my expression it's cute/fluffy, that happens a lot.

Chungha: There's something unnie always does when meeting up. (Kisses in the air) she always goes like this.

Sunmi: Earlier I kept calling her 'princess'. She's my princess. My princess. *T/N: Sunmi said the last sentence in English.*

I have been looking for interviews in the meantime, and there were cases where where you two's answers were similar. To wish to be recognised as 'me' first, rather than a role model, and to pursue unrestrictness on stage.
Chungha: That's right. That's what I said. But what's a little different from unnie, I'm not free on stage yet. So far I think I'm still restricted. Especially during this time's full album promotion, I feel that way more and more, I'm struggling to find my own freedom.
Sunmi: Really? I thought you were really free on stage. You look so excited and free.


What does it mean to be free on stage?

Chungha: It's possible when I'm capable of it, but even without organising a choreography beforehand, I want to look free when expressing whatever I feel on stage. I think I'm stuck in dance. At times it feels like dance is like armor. Reassuring but heavy. I wonder if I can fight well if it was gone. Someday, I want to be free to express myself sufficiently with just vocals.

Another thing you two both have in common, is that you're sometimes called 'diva'. I want to ask if you prefer this word, or if you want to break away from it.

Sunmi: Honestly, that word is a little heavy.

Chungha: To me, I think it's rather a word I do not mind, instead, it's light. It's a word I think I can just blow away and it'll fly somewhere else. When I think of a diva, [names like] Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera come up. So I have thoughts like, 'Me?'.

Although compared to the past it has faded away a lot, still when solo female artists meet up, it's seen as rivalry.

Sunmi: I think it was really harsh before. Whether team or solo, when two people would come out [with new music] at the same time, there would undoubtedly be titles in articles saying 'Get out of the way'.

Chungha: They would say 'Get away, defeat them, put them aside' over and over again. (laughs)

Sunmi: Right. 'One of them will go down'. But I think these days it has changed a lot. I think that's because before, everyone would adjust to the genre or concept that was popular, but right now they try to show what suits them personally.

Chungha: I think it's a period of time where everyone tries to show themselves as they are.

Sunmi: Do you have a rival?

Chungha: I'm my own rival. When looking from the outside, I don't care because I think everyone can encounter being put aside and getting defeated.

Sunmi: That's right. I always think like that. If I prepare, I can surpass my own previous work.

Chungha: I have a friend who's more famous than me. Called 'Gotta Go'. Haha. Even though I'm extremely grateful for that friend, they have become a natural enemy.

I'm curious to what you two think when seeing each other's stages. Do you enjoy being [part of] an audience a lot? Or as a person on stage, are you someone watching from behind the stage?

Sunmi: I'm a bit envious [of Chungha]. There's something Chungha does well, that I can't do. There are a lot of things like that. For example, earlier she said she didn't, but she plays so well on stage. There are a lot of choreographies that would look funny if the gestures and movements were not done with swag, but Chungha makes it look so easy.

There's a difference in lyrics too. Miss Chungha's songs are, except for her most recent song 'Bicycle', more like kind conversations and confessions style, in contrast, miss Sunmi's song lyrics are a little more cynical.

Sunmi: The real me is not a cynical person, but it becomes like that when I write lyrics. I think it's what makes the stages fun. I enjoy playing a person that is not like me.

Chungha: I still haven't found myself [in my artistic style]. As I receive other people's songs, I tend to express them according to each song. In short, as an artist, I have no backbone.

Sunmi: It's not like that, it means that anything is possible.

Chungha: I'm grateful you see it like that.

You two expanded the female musician range that was limited to sexiness and cuteness. Lately, there are frequent appearances of female artists equipped with their own [charms], how do you see this phenomenon?

Chungha: These days, there really aren't any people that feel similar with anyone else. It's really nice. I hope many more female artists [like that] appear.

Are there any other images or areas that you want to create in the future?

Chungha: Rather than creating a new genre or concept, I want to break an existing thought. I always thought it would be nice to change the perspective of calling dancers 'backup dancers'. I think it would be nice if I could tear down the restraints people's thoughts have.

Sunmi talks about continuing to play the cynical charachters that she does, because she enjoys it like that. She says she won't be an artist who talks about pretty love, but outside of her characters, she does like pretty love.

Chungha: Maybe it's because I still haven't had painful love. I'll try [that concept] next after I get hurt some time.

Sunmi: Really? I've been hurt a lot. Haha.

Chungha: (Laughs) I don't think it'll be easy as I tend to accept things calmly. So when I write lyrics, because I have a lot of dull feelings, I'm worrying about how to solve them. In retrospect, I think it's self-defense. I know I'll get depressed if I dig into [those feelings] too deeply, so I don't do it because I'm scared. So if one day I'll come out with music I made myself, I think I would have mustered a lot of amazing courage by myself then.

The day passed while we were talking. Now, what are you going to do when you get home?

Chungha: I'm going to order a late night snack. I don't order just one. I always order and eat several [dishes]. I cherish everything, but the sole thing I do not save on is food. I'm going to order tteokbokki and pizza and eat it until the morning.

We met up at the end of the day, but it feels like [the day] is rather just starting for you two.

Chungha: I probably won't sleep until the morning. My day is now just starting.

*Translation may contain inaccuracies

*Translation done by LEMON, take out with full credit