Known for her powerful vocals and distinctive musical identity, K-pop artist SWAN is opening an exciting new chapter in her solo career with her digital single “NEW MARK,” out Nov. 13.
The song is about embracing past experiences instead of running from them, acknowledging how they’e shaped her and learning to see them as an important part of her own story, inviting listeners along on a deeply personal journey.
The singer, formerly of PURPLE KISS, opened up to Sweety High about the excitement of going solo, the challenges she has faced in the music industry and the dreams that kept her going even during moments when she considered giving up. She also opens up about her creative process, her dream collaboration with Sunwoo Jung-a and the musical genres she hopes to explore in the future.
Ahead of her first solo fan concert in December, ARTCHIVE 00, she also looks back at where her journey began. Read our full interview with SWAN below.
(Image courtesy of SWAN)
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Sweety High: Hi, SWAN! Welcome to Sweety High! We’re so excited to have you here and chat with you today. First of all, how are you? How have things been going for you lately?
SWAN: Hello, Sweety High readers! I’m SWAN, back as a solo artist. These days my schedule is packed with the release of “NEW MARK” and preparations for my first solo fan concert in December.
But it’s a time when I get to create the stories I want to tell, in my own way, so I’m nervous and happy all at once!
SH: How did the idea for “NEW MARK” first come about? What was going through your mind when you decided to turn this story into music?
SWAN: Even while I was in the group, I had a dream of someday telling my own story as a soloist. When I actually stood at that starting point, I felt that before showing off any polished image, the first story had to be one that carries everything I’ve been through, exactly as it is. Even the scars I once wanted to hide are part of what made me who I am today.
So I set one core keyword for this single and drew a mind map out from there. Not turning away from the time I’ve lived through, trusting myself, and moving forward one step at a time—that was the starting point of “NEW MARK.” And a small note: this one is a digital single rather than a full album!
SH: “NEW MARK,” brings together different elements of folk and country music with a contemporary pop sound. What inspired you to explore this particular style? Did the song undergo any major changes between its initial version and the final release?
SWAN: I felt it was a genre that suits the sense of freedom in moving forward. Early on, the song had a stronger Irish-pop feel, and the final version has a slightly more acoustic touch added to it!
SH: The single also discusses embracing and reconnecting with your younger self. If the SWAN you are today could sit down and have a conversation with the SWAN you were back then, what would you tell her first? How do you think your younger self would feel seeing where you are today?
SWAN: “You’ve finally started the solo career you always wanted! Now that your dream has come true, I hope you enjoy every moment even more and make happy memories with the members. Everything’s going to be okay. Hold on to who you are, and be happy.”
SH: You’ve been in the music industry for quite some time, are are now introducing yourself to listeners as a solo artist. How did you decide that you wanted to become an artist? Was it something you’d dreamed of since childhood?
SWAN: At my elementary school, every Thursday at lunchtime there was an outdoor stage where anyone could show off whatever they wanted in front of the whole school.
That’s where I first felt the joy of expressing myself in front of others, dancing and singing with my friends.
I couldn’t let go of that dream even in middle school, and that’s when I decided I had to become a singer!
(Image courtesy of SWAN)
SH: Have you ever experienced moments when you felt exhausted or questioned whether you could keep going? What do you think has been the biggest driving force behind your journey so far?
SWAN: Honestly, there have been moments when I wanted to quit being a singer. It’s not an easy path, and there were times I couldn’t see what was ahead. What picked me back up each time was the thought, “Still, someday I want to tell my story in my own voice,” and the fans who believed in me and waited.
Looking back now, sticking it out and taking my first step as a soloist is the thing I’m proudest of. In the end, what drives me most is knowing there are still so many stories I haven’t told yet.
SH: When you decided to pursue your solo career, did you ever find yourself caught between other people’s expectations and your own dreams?
SWAN: Since I had actually already started solo work while I was in the group, I never had big worries about going solo or felt like I was taking a different path.
But while touring often with the team, the schedule was so packed that at one point I completely lost my voice—I could barely make a sound even just talking. A lot of stressful things piled up around the same time, and that was the first time I ever wondered whether I should stop being a singer.
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SH: How do you approach changes in a constantly evolving music industry ? Do you enjoy keeping up with current music trends, or do you prefer to follow your own instincts when developing your musical style?
SWAN: I enjoy keeping an eye on trends, but when I make my own music, I ultimately trust my instincts more. In a world overflowing with creative work, I think the most important thing is to keep believing in what’s yours.
That doesn’t mean I’m closed off, though. For example, I’d never really listened to EDM or electronic pop, let alone thought about trying it, but lately I’ve been thinking it could be fun to give it a go someday. I want to keep my center while always leaving the door open to new sounds.
SH: When you start working on a new project, which part of the creative process excites you the most?
SWAN: The most exciting moment is when I set the core keyword and start drawing the mind map. From that one keyword, branches spread out—genre, hair, makeup, even the composition of the photos—and a whole world takes shape. I find that process really fun.
In everyday life, whenever something catches my eye—while reading, watching a movie or just walking—I jot it down in my phone. When I start a new project, pulling out those notes and choosing “what story to tell this time” is always the first step.
SH: You also took part in writing the lyrics for “NEW MARK.” Would you like to take on an even bigger role in songwriting in the future? Do you have a dream of creating an album entirely written by you, while also being actively involved in its production?
SWAN: I think that’s probably my ultimate dream. But it doesn’t have to be only my own work from start to finish. If I did that, I might end up trapped inside my own world, so I’d rather collaborate and express my ideas in an even cooler way, through even better music.
SH: What are you usually like during studio sessions? Do you prefer to have everything planned out and prepared beforehand, or do you enjoy experimenting with spontaneous ideas that come up while you’re in the studio?
SWAN: I decide most of the details before I go in. I work at a fairly fast pace when recording, and I try to focus and get all the good takes done in a single day so there’s nothing to fix on another day.
My vocal tone shifts subtly depending on my condition, so I really have to nail it on the first day, haha.
SH: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from the music industry? If the SWAN you are today could give one piece of advice to the SWAN at the beginning of her career, what would it be?
SWAN: The biggest lesson is: don’t compare yourself to others—believe in what’s yours and keep going. In a world overflowing with creative work, what lasts in the end is your own story.
If I could say one thing to the SWAN at the start of her career: “The times you’re fumbling and lost right now will all become your path. So it’s okay to trust yourself a little more.”
SH: If you had the opportunity, who would you love to work on a duet or a musical project with, and what kind of sound would you like to explore together?
SWAN: Sunwoo Jung-a. I especially love her album Neomeo (너머, meaning ‘Beyond’)—I bought tickets to her concert myself, and during PURPLE KISS tours I’d have it on endless repeat on the plane.
She’s someone I’ve always looked up to, so working with her would be a dream come true. Something acoustic would be lovely, and I’d also like to make a jazzy track that’s easy and comfortable to listen to.
(Image courtesy of SWAN)
SH: Who is SWAN outside of the stage and the recording studio?
SWAN: Since the group’s activities ended, I’ve moved back home and I’m living with my family, so lately chatting with them is the most fun part of my day. I’m also going to driving school to get my license—I can’t wait to get it!
SH: . Before we wrap up, is there anything you’d like to say to Sweety High readers and your fans who have been supporting you along the way?
SWAN: Thank you, Sweety High readers, for reading all the way to the end! My new journey has just begun. I’m truly grateful to the fans who always believe in me and wait for me, and I’ll be a SWAN who repays your love with good music and fun activities.
Please listen to “NEW MARK” a lot, and look forward to the second single coming in December and my first solo fan concert, ARTCHIVE 00. Thank you, and I love you!
For more K-pop interviews, check out MEOVV On Exploring New Sides of Themselves With GO HARD and Heo Chan on His Musical Theatre Debut in Badugi and Seri.
