The K-pop genre is in a weird place. The industry has found itself in a rut; recent releases from different groups carry the same sound, ‘noise music’ has become widespread and the charm that made K-pop distinct from Western pop is disappearing. But within this monotony, there are artists who stand out. One such artist channels genres ranging from house to hyperpop in her discography and translates her honesty and vulnerability into her music. Her individuality stands out from the rest. That artist is Yves.
Former LOONA member turned soloist, Yves has found her own unique voice and aesthetic, solidifying herself as a future pop girl of our times, even outside the K-pop industry. After a year marked by a viral online hit and collaborations with artists such as PinkPantheress and underscores, Yves released her fourth EP, NAIL this past April, and is currently performing across North and South America.
In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Yves discusses NAIL, performing, her artistry and more after her Chicago stop on “The Americas” tour.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
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The Michigan Daily: Over the past two months, you’ve performed in eight different countries, with each show having their own unique audiences and energies. How has this experience been for you so far?
Yves: I actually just got back to my hotel room after finishing the Chicago show. The energy tonight felt even hotter than last year, and I think that made me enjoy the performance even more. What made it especially unforgettable was hearing people sing along not only to the older songs, but even to the new ones. And because I’m spending my 30th birthday in Chicago — which feels like a very symbolic age in Korea — I think this show and this moment will stay with me for a very long time.
TMD: “The Americas” tour marks your third time touring the U.S., and your second time doing so as a solo artist. Since you’ve performed in the U.S. both as part of LOONA and as a soloist, have these previous experiences helped you in your preparation for this tour?
Yves: Of course they have. Every time I perform, I end up giving myself a lot of feedback afterward. Sometimes I feel proud, but sometimes I also feel disappointed, and I think a lot about what I did well and what I still want to improve.
So after every tour, I always tell myself, “If I get another chance, I want to come back stronger.” Thankfully, I’ve already been given another chance — and now another one after that — so I feel very grateful. Just being able to keep returning to the U.S. and growing through those opportunities makes me really happy.
TMD: In just about two years, you’ve released four EPs, and listeners have witnessed your artistic evolution from your first release, LOOP, to your most recent, NAIL. As your music continues to evolve with each release, how has your creative process changed over the past two years? And what did this process look like when it came to working on NAIL?
Yves: I think I’ve always been someone who pushes herself a lot. When you hear all kinds of opinions from different people, of course it can shake you. Sometimes it helps me grow, but sometimes it also makes me doubt myself more than I should. But I think over time, I’ve learned that the only real way through that is to keep working and keep trusting myself.
While making NAIL, I tried not to focus too much on how things would be received, and instead focus more on being honest about what I wanted to say. Because of that, I think this album feels more direct and more truthful in the way it expresses me. I also realized during this process that I might have more creativity in me than I used to believe, and that gave me a different kind of confidence while working on the album.
TMD: In the title track “NAIL” itself, a lyric in the chorus goes “Stop thinking ‘bout your nail / I’ve got better things to care.” What stood out to me was the multilingual wordplay going on, as ‘nail’ sounds very much like ‘내일’ (naeil), the Korean word for ‘tomorrow.’ With that in mind, the lyric could be interpreted as “Stop thinking about tomorrow.” Was this layered meaning something you intentionally wanted listeners to take away from the song?
Yves: At first, I just liked the sound of the word “NAIL,” so I kept it as a working title. Then later I realized it sounds the same as the Korean word “naeil,” and I thought that connection was really interesting. While I was working on the song, I suddenly pictured a broken nail, and at the same time I imagined someone just continuing to dance anyway, without caring too much. That image stayed with me, and from there the lyrics came together really quickly, almost like I was writing a short scene. So I think the song naturally became connected to the idea of not getting too caught up in tomorrow, and instead focusing on what you feel right now.
TMD: A large portion of your audience consists of young adults, many of whom are currently navigating periods of uncertainty and transition in their lives. At the University of Michigan, much of the student population falls within this same stage of life. With “NAIL” carrying this message, do you hope that mindset is something that young adults can carry with them?
Yves: Yes, definitely. One idea I really believe in is “don’t become too attached.” Whether it’s a person, a moment or even time itself, I think the more tightly you cling to something, the more it slips away from you. So for me, life is about learning how to accept things, leave some things to time and let them pass through you. Instead of living too much in the past or being consumed by the future, I think all we can really do is focus on what’s in front of us now and keep moving quietly.
TMD: The music video for “NAIL” stands out as one of the most visually bold entries within your music video filmography. I was curious to know your part in pre-production and how the shoot itself went.
Yves: I shared a lot of visual references from the beginning. I wanted the styling and overall mood to feel cool and intentional, but not too dressed up or overly polished. Something a little effortless, but still with a strong attitude. So I was really happy that kind of feeling came through in the final result.
The shoot itself was really fun. We moved through a lot of different sets, and because each one had such a different mood, it felt like I was stepping into a new world every time. I think that made the filming process feel more playful and immersive for me.
TMD: My personal favorite song on NAIL is the closing track, “birth.” Beneath your stunning vocals and the song’s ethereal production, what resonated with me was the lyrics itself. I read that you wrote them after you “saw myself in the mirror.” Could you possibly expand on this?
Yves: There was a period when I really hated myself. I felt like other people didn’t like me either, and when I looked in the mirror, I disliked myself so much that it almost felt like I wanted to deny my own existence. One day I was writing in my diary and I started crying, and I remember thinking, “If I don’t love myself, who will?” That thought felt very lonely. So I told myself that even if it wouldn’t be easy, maybe I could still try to live a little more happily. Maybe I could start by trying to love myself.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I thought, “Let me get up again. Let me leave behind this sad version of myself and be born again as someone new.” After that, I tried to be more grateful, to stop comparing myself so much to other people, and to focus on doing my best with what was given to me. In the middle of that process, I received the track for “birth,” and it felt like the right place to pour all of those emotions.
TMD: One thing I’ve noticed from my years following you has been your appreciation for cinema — from talking about your love for “All About Lily Chou-Chou” to recommending films such as “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” on an album inclusion for I Did.
When the music video for “Ex Machina” released, the cinematic nature of its visuals immediately stood out to me. This made me especially curious: Has your love for cinema influenced your artistry in any way?
Yves: To be honest, I haven’t directly watched a film and then turned it into a song — not yet. But I do think cinema affects me a lot. I really love the experience of watching a film, but I also love what stays with me afterward. Sometimes it’s a feeling, sometimes it’s a line, sometimes it’s just the mood it leaves behind. I like writing those things down and keeping them.
So I think film definitely influences the way I feel and imagine things. Even when I’m not directly referencing a movie, I think that way of looking at emotion, atmosphere and small details naturally stays with me and comes into my work.
TMD: And related to that, as an editor for the film section for the Daily Arts, I was curious to know what films you’ve managed to watch recently, and if any have stood out.
Yves: I haven’t had much time to watch films lately. But the one that comes to mind right now is “My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday.” A few years ago, Gowon and I randomly watched it together at my house, and I still remember us laughing because we were both crying the whole time. What I really loved about it was how beautiful and emotional it felt, but also how quietly heartbreaking it was.
I’m always drawn to stories that make you think more deeply about love and time, and that film really stayed with me in that way. And somehow, whenever I think of that movie, I also think of my dog who passed away a few years ago. So for me, it became a film that holds a very personal kind of sadness too.
TMD: The name for your Instagram photography account Instagram, @aswakii, reads “i wish my eyes could take pictures.” With someone who has such a distinct visual identity, whether it be in the way you dress, curate your Instagram profile or even in your album artwork, I wanted to ask a more open-ended, almost abstract question: What does the world look like through your eyes?
Yves: I think the world can feel very harsh sometimes, and also very lonely. But at the same time, I don’t think people are only made of hate or coldness. A lot of the time, underneath those emotions, I think there’s still a desire to be understood, to be loved or to feel close to someone.
So when I look at the world, I think I see both sides at once. It can feel sharp and heavy, but also very fragile and tender. Maybe that’s why I’m always drawn to small emotions, quiet moments and things that feel easy to miss. I think those are often the most honest parts of life.
TMD: Artists performing at universities is something that both South Korea and the United States have in common. As a college paper, we have to ask — does the idea of performing at schools, whether it be back home or in the U.S., something you would want to pursue in the future?
Yves: A university is such a strong symbol of youth, energy and possibility. So the idea of performing in that kind of space honestly feels very exciting to me. If I ever get the chance, I’d love to be there not just as someone performing, but as someone sharing that energy together with the students. I think it would be really fun to bring my own kind of energy into a place that already feels so alive.
TMD: The past (and first) two years in your solo career has seen you growing significantly as an artist. With 2026 already having the release of NAIL and this current tour, how do you reflect on this journey so far, and what do you hope the rest of the year brings you?
Yves: If I only look back in terms of results or achievements, sometimes it still doesn’t feel completely real, because that was never the only thing I was running toward. But even so, I feel very grateful for everything that has happened. Of course there were difficult moments too, but I think the reason I was able to keep going was because I kept trying to enjoy each moment and move forward quietly, step by step.
I also feel very thankful to the people around me and to my company, who always supported me and helped guide me. I want to keep moving forward without losing that gratitude. I hope my voice can reach even more people, and I hope I can keep growing in a way that feels honest. Of course, I’d be happy if even bigger results come, but I don’t want to live only chasing those things.
TMD: Thank you for taking the time to talk to The Michigan Daily, Yves! As one final question, is there anything you would like to leave with our student readership, for both those fans of you and those discovering you for the first time?
Yves: Hi everyone — I’m Yves.
I’m not sure if I’m really in a position to give advice, because I think I’m still learning too. But if there’s one thing I want to say, it’s that I hope you don’t feel like you have to have everything figured out already. I know a lot of you are probably thinking a lot about the future — feeling pressure about what comes next, struggling with the weight of where you are now and sometimes feeling afraid of the unknown. So if my music can give you even a small moment to breathe, or make you feel a little less alone in those feelings, that would mean a lot to me.
Whether you’ve known me for a long time or you’re just discovering me now, thank you for being here. I really hope you can be kind to yourself, and that there are a lot of good things waiting for you ahead.
Film Beat Editor JC Rafal can be reached at rafaljc@umich.edu.
