Sometimes, the answers one seeks are found by looking within. You wanders far and wide only to find that no one other than yourself has the answer. ELLUI gains inspiration for her music by engaging more deeply with herself and attentively listening to others’ stories. With radiant cheerfulness and a firm belief in ‘goodness,’ she meticulously weaves her unique musical world. Here, we delve into her narrative about life and beauty, embroidered with music.

I’m a singer-songwriter affiliated with SEL Records, established by CEO Jung-gi Ko. I create my own music and write songs for idol albums.

My focus seems to shift depending on the task or situation at hand. During periods when I’m drawn to the aesthetic beauty of music, I concentrate on composing, whereas during times when I need to enhance my physical capabilities, I focus more on vocals. I tend to lean into lyric writing when I aim to express my artistic world or create something new. While in my younger days, I might have concentrated on vocal techniques to produce a more powerful sound, these days, I strive to remain faithful to the essence of music.

It changed after I began composing. As a singer-songwriter, I must draw stories from within to present my music. So, I constantly think about conveying these stories in a way that isn’t overwhelming yet resonates with the audience. Recently, while producing an EP¹⁾and exploring my musical world, I’ve been focusing on lyric writing and contemplating how to encapsulate my journey. I am also challenging myself to delve deeper into writing to refine my artistic identity.

1) Extended Play, An album that is positioned between a single album and a full-length album

I’d say it closely aligns with brightness and cheerfulness. Music is a genre where a person’s character naturally seeps through. Even with similar voices and singing techniques, the way music is expressed can significantly differ depending on whether a person is extroverted and energetic. No matter how gloomy I feel, my music tends to emerge bright. That’s why I think being able to provide bright and cheerful energy is both my image and my strength.

I believe the foundation of all human relationships lies in each person’s inherent goodness. When I look at others with a kind eye first, I can see their strengths, and we can contemplate the good things together. Thus, I think the essence of synergizing in all relationships is rooted in goodness. I derive a lot of happiness from my interactions and conversations, and I see pursuing and emulating this goodness as crucial in my life.

Music was so naturally integrated into my daily life that it was inevitable for me to dream about it. Since childhood, I have been involved in music at church, singing in the choir, and playing instruments. I enjoyed the applause and attention I received when singing. From a young age, I recognized, ‘This is something I am good at; this is something people enjoy when I do it.’ My family also enjoyed music, which naturally kept me close to it. Recently, I looked back at my middle school records and was amazed to see that my career aspirations for all three years were to be a singer or a music director.

Playing in bands had a profound impact. A thrill comes from making eye contact, listening to each other, and showing a bit of consideration during ensemble performances. These experiences seem to apply to the concept of ‘goodness’ I hold dear. How we communicated through music without needing to speak directly influenced me, transferring that energy I felt in music to myself.

In high school, my parents were firmly against it. I topped my class in the high school entrance exams and even went on to university because they promised to let me pursue music. While studying English Literature in college and exploring careers that matched my interests and skills, I kept asking myself what I truly enjoyed and found that only music fit the bill. It felt like a very natural progression for me. Now, my parents are proud to see me doing what I love and are my most prominent and steadfast supporters.

The song, titled ‘Like a Star,’ carries the message of shining like a star beside a struggling lover. The inspiration came to me during a solitary nocturnal walk, looking up at the stars. Mainly, I drew from the North Star, which guides navigation and finding one’s way. The song revolves around the theme of long-distance lovers; it speaks to being a constant, luminous presence, akin to a star visible from anywhere on Earth, for someone wandering alone in solitude. I have endeavored to infuse the track with my positive and bright energy, hoping it brings happiness to those who listen.

Listen to ELLUI’s ‘Like a Star’ (click)

The agony of creation, I believe, is its charm. It demands continuous introspection and questioning — about who I am, the stories I want to tell, and how others perceive them. Emotions vary from person to person. Learning about one individual’s world is, in a sense, a form of study for me. Although expressing and creating based on what I explore is challenging, the satisfaction that comes from eventually bringing creation to fruition defines the allure of an artist’s life. I still find the process complicated and have much to learn, but despite the more significant pain, there’s plenty to enjoy in this life.

My greatest musical inspirations come from ‘relationships’ — the interactions between people. Therefore, the people around me seem to influence me more than any specific place. I recently started a blog, and even the everyday details in my friends’ blogs inspire me, as does literature. By reading, I experience the lives of characters I couldn’t otherwise know, deeply empathizing with them and providing ample material for my music. I seem to draw much inspiration from books and the people around me.

My drive is fueled by watching videos of musicians I aspire to emulate. Seeing them perform at concerts revives my sometimes dormant passion. Imagining myself on stage, the joy overwhelms me. I continue to take vocal training weekly and practice my vocalizations daily. Although dancing feels awkward, I persist because I want to perform live flawlessly, deliver songs precisely as I wish, and fully experience the moment when people sing with my music without any constraints. Thus, imagining and looking forward to such moments drives my dedication to music.

In music, where there are no definitive answers, it’s easy to feel frustrated when things aren’t clear on how they should be done. Unlike academic studies, music is an endless adjustment without a clear goal or endpoint. However, I know I can improve by investing more time and research. So, I remind myself, ‘There is no achievement without effort; everyone struggles, and it’s a process we must go through; it’s not because I’m inherently bad at this.’ This mindset is more potent encouragement than reassurance, such as ‘It’s okay, it’ll work out.’

Yes, it has. I often find myself in situations where I need to be photographed or filmed, so I’ve always focused on external aspects like weight management and makeup, never considering internal beauty. The notion of ‘Can inner qualities be beautiful?’ was something I pondered for the first time. Consequently, I’ve reflected deeply on the standards and definitions of beauty. Is it beautiful to be just, or can one still be beautiful if not just but true to their desires? The interview prompted these philosophical inquiries about beauty. My conclusion so far is that the aspects of my inner self that I cherish are truly beautiful.

The New Beauty campaign has influenced my values and prompted me to contemplate what kind of artist I want to be and who I am as a person. I feel like I only know about 50% of myself. Moving forward, I plan to ask myself more questions and continue filling out the personal statement of my life. The answers may change daily, and my current responses will likely differ from those I’ll give in my eighties. Therefore, persistently questioning and seeking answers seems like my ongoing task. I want to discover more of myself that I haven’t yet uncovered, and I hope music will be the means to do so.