Dayoung is ready to show the world who she is. Best known as a part of the girl group WJSN—beloved for their glittery, celestial sound—and its quirky subunit WJSN Chocome, the singer has been a mainstay in the K-pop industry for the better part of a decade. A gifted vocalist, she has also lent her voice to K-dramas like Doctor Slump and Love Wave. This September, Dayoung finally re-introduced herself as a full-fledged solo artist with gonna love me, right?,  a record she put together after independently setting off to Los Angeles to seek out collaborators and learn songwriting. After its release last month, the singer sat down exclusively with ELLE Singapore to discuss the record and kickstarting this confident new era.

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In gonna love me, right?, Dayoung sheds the sonic and visual stylings of her past music, opting for a trendy Y2K-inspired release. Led by the flirtatious summer bop “body”, the record has propelled the singer to the mainstream, with fans and casual listeners alike eager to name her K-pop’s new summer queen.

The record is still reaching new heights every day, with its lead single breaking the top 10 on major South Korean charts since our interview. “If I'm gonna do the work / Then I might as well be first / Turning lemons into limelight,” she declares on the 2000s rock-tinged B-side  “number one rockstar”. And from where we’re standing, it looks like her dreams have finally manifested.

Ahead, Dayoung opens up about the process behind her solo debut, her time in Los Angeles and what comes next.

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Congratulations on your solo debut with gonna love me, right?. How did it feel to finally release this project?

I felt so excited because I haven’t put out new music for three years, and it was my first solo album and debut as a solo artist. It means a lot to me and my team, and I worked so hard to put this project together. It makes me so happy to see that my team is happy, and I’m so proud of them.

Why do you think “body” resonates with so many listeners? 

I think people really like the refreshing and dynamic sound. I also heard a lot of people saying that it sounds like the 2000s again. My fans also told me that when they heard my music, they didn’t know why, but it made them feel happy and like they wanted to dance.

Was there anything that surprised you during the process of gonna love me, right? since you were so hands-on?

I think it was a lot of responsibility because I had to be the final decision maker, which was really hard. After the process, I think I grew up as a human and as a person, and I’ll continue to do better after.

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How do you feel about being crowned the new “K-pop Summer Queen”?

It’s really an honour to get that title, Summer Queen, and I really appreciate it. I think I can release more summer vibe songs after, so please keep supporting and watching me!

Your style has evolved significantly for this release. What inspired it?

I wanted to show more of the real, authentic side of me. It was inspired by a lot of 2000s style.

Tell us about a short-term and long-term goal you have?

For my short-term goal, I would say I want to create music that people can relate to and enjoy. My long-term goal is to travel all around the world and see my fans.

Do you have a message for your fans?

Firstly, I plan to keep making music that everyone can enjoy so I can continue to receive all your love. I hope we can continue having fun together, and that we get to talk more. I also plan to keep doing my best with language learning, so that I can talk to fans around the world. I hope you can look over me kindly, and that we can meet often from now on. Please show lots of love to ELLE Singapore, and of course, to me, Dayoung as well. Thank you so much!

*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Digital Editor NAVIN PILLAY
Photographer SYED ABDULLAH
Photographer's Assistant DANIEL OLIVER WEST