With the release of her latest album Alívío, K-pop star CHUNG HA discusses what it’s like to have full control over her music for the first time, the creative process for her energetic music videos, and more.
Growing up between Texas and South Korea had a profound influence on CHUNG HA’s musical versatility, inspiring her to avoid limiting herself to a single genre. As a result, her artistry is always evolving.
Amassing over 1.1 billion streams across her platforms worldwide, former I.O.I girl band member CHUNG HA delivers her loyal supporters, known as the HAARTs, her newest album. This highly anticipated album showcases her variety as an artist and includes electro-pop, dance, and even R&B tracks. Alívío features the likes of thủy and SUNMI, artists CHUNG HA admires.
Alívío wasn’t originally meant to be an album about stress and empowerment, but as CHUNG HA’s songs began to take shape, they naturally wove together to create this cohesive and relatable narrative. This introspective album reflects CHUNG HA’s personal journey to becoming unapologetically herself.
1883 Magazine recently had a conversation with CHUNG HA, where she shared her earliest musical influences, the release of her adored album Alívío, and the fascinating dynamics of collaborating with other artists.
Your upcoming album Alívío beautifully explores the tension between encountering stress and the peace that comes with overcoming it. What practices do you incorporate into both your personal and professional life to help you navigate a balance?
I’m just like anyone else! Sometimes, I love being a couch potato, spending time at home with my dogs, and binge-watching my favourite Netflix shows. When I need to talk things out, I’ll call my best friends, chat for hours, or hang out in person. It’s all about surrounding myself with people who make me feel at ease.
I also make sure to take care of my physical health because it directly affects my emotional wellness, so I do things like going to the gym, swimming, running, and doing Pilates. Nothing fancy, just the usual stuff. And I’m a big believer in therapy. I think it’s so important to check in with your mental health. It’s a balance of taking care of myself physically, emotionally, and socially to keep everything in check!
Having spent part of your childhood in the United States, specifically Texas, before moving to South Korea, how did this cultural shift impact your musical influences? Were there specific artists or genres that have shaped your style?
I think that’s what makes my music so versatile. My identity as an artist keeps expanding, not changing. I never want to be stuck in just one genre. Whether it’s dance, music style, or even language, I always want to try new things.
Moving back and forth between Texas and Korea had a big influence on that. It made me more open to blending styles and stepping out of my comfort zone. I just want to keep growing and exploring new sides of myself.
Artist-wise, I grew up listening to Beyoncé and Lee Hyori, both queens in their own way! Do you think they shaped my style? I definitely think they had a big influence on me.
The album title Alívío has Spanish origins and is defined as a feeling of relief after emotional or physical pain. Was there a particular moment or experience that inspired this album’s central core?
Alívío really came from a place of needing to process a lot of emotions that I’d been holding onto for a while. I hadn’t fully dealt with them yet, and this album wasn’t made with the goal of saying, ‘this is about stress’ or ‘emotional relief’.
I started with a completely blank slate, just recording whatever felt right and putting it all together like a puzzle. Over time, the pieces came together and ended up reflecting the emotional journey I was going through. The process itself became a way for me to work through those feelings. It wasn’t just about the music—finishing and releasing the album helped me find closure to those emotions. It was like the album and I were healing together.
When performing to a live crowd, like you recently did at the annual Spotify Wrapped event in Indonesia and Thailand, do you have any pre-show rituals that help you get in the zone and calm your nerves before stepping on stage?
I actually perform with my best friends, who are also my dancers, so they’re the ones who help calm my nerves. We’ve practised so much together that it just feels like second nature. It’s honestly like we’re just having fun on stage. With them there, and all the trust we have, I don’t really need any pre-show rituals. We just vibe, and everything feels in the zone!
Your album is divided into two parts, with your first three singles, ‘Creepin’’, ’Salty’, and ‘Loyal’, portraying the burdens of stress while the rest of the album, ‘Beat of My Heart’, ‘Even Steven (Happy Ending)’, ‘Thanks for the Memories’, and ‘Still a Rose’, signifies a sense of clarity that develops after conquering such tense moments. The midpoint single ‘STRESS’ demonstrates a significant turning point that unites the album’s themes together. What prompted your creative decision to split the album like this?
Like I said earlier, I honestly didn’t plan for the album to have this kind of theme from the start. I was just recording songs I liked, and it was really about picking the ones that felt right to me. But when we put them all together, I realised they naturally told this story, like the stress I was feeling and the relief that came after. It wasn’t something I mapped out! It just happened that way. And when we were figuring out the tracklist, I wanted that journey to come through, not just in the title track but throughout the whole album. That’s how it all fell into place!
Your hit single ‘Salty’ with SUNMI delves into themes of self-confidence and empowerment with a fierce electro-pop backing track. How do you feel the song reflects your own journey of embracing individuality?
‘Salty’ is about embracing every side of yourself—strong, sensitive, sweet, and salty. Over the years, I’ve realised it’s okay to have layers and not fit into one perfect mould. The song really reflects my journey of learning to embrace my individuality and be unapologetically myself.
People might see me on stage and think I’m just this flashy, sparkly K-pop performer, but there’s so much more to me than that. Even my friends or my team may forget sometimes. It’s a universal thing, though—I’m human, just like everyone else. I have my emotions and can be a mess too sometimes, but that’s okay. We’re all like that. It’s about owning who you are, even if it’s messy or salty sometimes.
You began your career in the girl group I.O.I, which was formed in 2016 through the competitive reality TV show Produce 101. What did you learn from this experience, and how did it influence your journey as a solo artist?
We were all so young and inexperienced back then, so we never really got to enjoy the moment. We were swept up in the schedules, constantly moving from one thing to the next, and didn’t have time to appreciate the achievements, the fans, or even each other. By the time I realised it, our time as a group was already over. It felt too late to reflect on everything we had accomplished.
Of course, I learned so much about my craft through I.O.I, and it laid the foundation for everything I’ve done since. But honestly, my biggest takeaway from that experience is learning how to appreciate. I appreciate my members—my forever sisters, of course—and I’ve learned to truly value my fans and every single moment. That sense of appreciation is something I carry with me in everything I do now.
While collaborating with notable artists such as thủy and SUNMI on Alívío, do you find that forming a strong relationship with artists before collaborating on a single influences the creative process, and if so, why?
Definitely! I think the best collaborations happen when there’s real chemistry and a genuine connection. With thủy, I’ve always been a big fan of her music—I was even fangirling over her in interviews at one point! Somehow, that reached her team, and we ended up linking up for the ‘hair down’ remix last year. From there, she was so kind to share songs and demos with me, and that’s actually how the first track, ‘Creepin’’, came to life.
And with Sunmi unni, all my fans know I’m a die-hard fangirl! We’ve built such a great friendship over the years, and when I heard this song, I knew she was the perfect person to feature on it. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine anyone else on this track! I probably wouldn’t have even released it if she hadn’t been available!
Your music videos are spectacular, full-on performances showcasing your singing and dancing abilities, especially in your 2025 pop single ‘STRESS’. Can you share what inspired the creative direction behind this video?
For me, performance is just as important as my music—it’s a huge part of my craft. My fans have shown so much love for my voguing performances in songs like ‘Dream of You’, ‘Stay Tonight’, and ‘I’m Ready’, and I’ve always wanted to bring that style to a title track. This time, I made sure to make it happen. I worked with my dream team, Rian from La Chica and LOVE RAN, to create a fun, powerful performance that feels just right for this song.
As for the music video, I didn’t want to do the usual, obvious stress-related scenes like breaking things or pulling hair. I wanted something more unexpected. The director came up with the idea of setting it in a peaceful, almost yoga-like sanctuary, and it ended up being perfect for the concept. We still captured the message of Alívío—relief after stress—but in a fresh, more calming way. I’m really happy with how it turned out because it feels true to the song while offering something new.
When writing a song, do you naturally find yourself envisioning the music video, or do the visual elements come into play later in the process? How do you ensure that the visuals complement and contribute to the narrative of your music?
Usually, the song comes first for me. I really have to be confident in how it sounds and the feeling it gives me before I can start thinking about visuals. Once I’m sure about the track, that’s when I start diving into the performance and production side.
But there are times when I can already imagine a certain vibe while I’m writing, like with ‘Even Steven (Happy Ending)’. Even though we didn’t shoot a video for it, the song gave me this very high-energy, youthful, and carefree feeling that I could already see in my head. As for the overall creative process, I usually like to trust my team to lead the direction. There’s a lot of back and forth, brainstorming, and sharing references—whether it’s for album designs, music videos, or even styling and makeup. It’s never something I can do on my own. It takes a whole team to bring everything to life!
Alívío marks your first experience having full control over an album’s creative process. How did your approach compare to previous projects? Did you encounter any unexpected challenges or differences across the creation of the album?
Before, I was used to the label making the final decisions on my music and albums. It’s not that I didn’t have any creative input, but I didn’t have the final say. This time, though, I really had control over everything—from picking the songs to choosing the title track. I had full ownership of this album, which felt amazing.
But with that freedom came a lot of pressure, too. My team would come to me for approval on every little detail, so honestly, it was a lot of work. I’m lucky to have an amazing team that I trust and have worked with for so long, and in the end, it all came together perfectly. Of course, it’s not always easy to make decisions on your own, but that’s part of the process. It’s worth it when you get to create something true to you!
Finally, what do you want your loyal listeners, the HAARTs, to take away from this album?
I just really hope HAARTs feel seen and understood when they listen to Alívío. This album is all about going through hard times and coming out stronger, and I think we’ve all been there in some way. Whether you’re listening to let it all out, feel empowered, or just vibe, I want this music to be a source of comfort. And honestly, I hope it encourages everyone to be a little more open and reflective—kind of like I had to be while making this project. It’s okay to be emotional and stressed out; we’re all just human beings at the end of the day.
CHUNG HA’s album Alívío is out now.
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