photo courtesy of dayoung
There aren’t many soloists in the K-pop realm that have had the type of immediate career acceleration that DAYOUNG has. From her debut as a member of WJSN (Cosmic Girls) in 2016 to her re-debut as a soloist just last September, DAYOUNG has undergone what at first looks and feels like a complete 180 from the stage persona she started out with. A deeper look suggests that she might just be one of K-pop’s greatest talents with her ability to thrive on stage in any visual or sonic concept. Her latest single, “FLIRTY,” is an addictive track that also serves as her first collaborative solo release alongside Jay Park. Unclear spoke to DAYOUNG about this buzzy single, her meteoric rise as a soloist, and what it means to be as creatively involved as she is now in her own music.
Congratulations on the release of “FLIRTY!” Do you typically feel more nervous or excited in the build-up to releasing new music? How are you feeling now that this single is out?
DAYOUNG: “Thank you. I think I always feel a mix of excitement and nervousness whenever I release new music. Since I put so much time and care into each project, I’m always curious to see how people will react to it, which makes me even more excited. ‘FLIRTY’ is especially meaningful to me because it’s my first collaborative single. I put a lot of thought and love into the whole process, so more than anything, I’m just really grateful that the song is finally out in the world. Most of all, I hope people enjoy the exciting and carefree energy of the song, as well as the new chemistry between Jay Park and me.”
Can you share a bit about how this collaboration with Jay Park came about?
DAYOUNG: “After the MMA (Melon Music Awards) performance, I heard a lot of people around me say, ‘You and Jay Park would be a great match if you made music together.’ I found myself agreeing, and not long after that, I went to LA, where we started working together and listening to different songs and beats. In fact, I had been working on ‘FLIRTY’ with Jay Park in mind from the very beginning. So when I first heard his vocals on the song in the studio, I immediately thought, ‘This is it!’ It was amazing to hear the sound I had imagined actually come to life. I think our different musical styles came together really naturally, and that’s what gave ‘FLIRTY’ its unique charm.”
With “FLIRTY” being your first collaborative single, did you find the creative process to be different in any specific ways compared to your previous releases?
DAYOUNG: “The biggest difference was the joy of creating something together. When I work on solo music, I usually build the story around my own emotions and thoughts. This time, I spent a lot of time thinking about how our two musical styles could come together naturally in one story. Rather than trying to make our styles match perfectly, I felt it was more important to let each of our personalities shine. Through the process, I was also able to gain new perspectives and come up with ideas that I might not have thought of on my own. This project reminded me how fun and exciting collaboration can be, and it made me want to keep working with different artists in the future.”
Yours and Jay Park’s musical styles differ, but come together exceptionally well to compliment each other in the vocals as well as physically within the music video. What do you feel are the key steps when creating such a palpable chemistry between two artists in a track like this?
DAYOUNG: “I think the most important thing is understanding and respecting each other. While working on ‘FLIRTY,’ Jay Park and I didn’t just think of ourselves as two artists singing a song together. We saw ourselves as the male and female leads in the same story. I wanted people to naturally picture a scene from a movie when they listened to the song. We wanted to capture that subtle moment when two people start to feel drawn to each other and bring that feeling to life through both the music and the performance. So we paid attention not only to the choreography, but also to small details like our facial expressions, eye contact, and the distance between us. We respected each other while still letting our own personalities show, and I think all those little details helped create the natural chemistry you see in the final result.”
What’s your favorite aspect of creating music as a soloist? What made you want to get more involved creatively in the first place, starting with “marry me” on your debut EP?
DAYOUNG: “One of my favorite things about being a solo artist is being able to express my own thoughts and feelings through music. When I worked on ‘marry me,’ I realized for the first time how rewarding it was to tell my own stories through music. After that, I naturally started sharing more of my ideas — not just about the music, but also about the concept, performance, and visuals. I really started to enjoy the whole process of bringing one project to life. Seeing something I imagined turn into a real song, performance, or visual is still one of the most exciting parts of what I do. Moving forward, I want to be even more involved creatively and continue making music that shows my own unique color.”
photo courtesy of dayoung
This year marks a decade since your initial idol debut as a member of WJSN (Cosmic Girls), and your career looks a lot different today. If you could give your 2016 self any advice or reassurance, what would you say to her?
DAYOUNG: “I think the first thing I would tell her is, ‘You don’t have to worry so much.’ When I first debuted, everything was new, and I felt a lot of pressure to always do well. I was probably harder on myself than I needed to be because I was so afraid of making mistakes. But looking back after ten years, I’ve realized that every experience was meaningful and helped shape who I am today. So I would tell my 2016 self, ‘Trust yourself a little more, and enjoy this moment as much as you can.’ There will be so many happy moments and wonderful people waiting for you along the way, so you don’t have to rush. Just believe in yourself and keep moving forward, one step at a time.”
What are some short-term goals on your mind as you continue to carve out your own path as a soloist?
DAYOUNG: “My biggest goal is to become an artist who consistently makes good music. Through ‘FLIRTY,’ I got to experience a new kind of collaboration and discover a side of myself that I didn’t even know was there. Going forward, I don’t want to limit myself to one genre. I want to keep trying different kinds of music and new projects while developing a sound that is truly my own. More than anything, I want to be an artist who always gives my fans something to look forward to — someone who makes them think, ‘I wonder what DAYOUNG will show us next?’ I want to keep growing through new music and performances and continue showing different sides of myself. Ultimately, I hope to be remembered as an artist whose music people can enjoy and love for many years to come, and I’ll keep working toward that goal.”