CIFIKA talks about being a star in South Korea
Interview conducted on February 20, 2018
By Daniel Locke
CIFIKA recently broke tremendous news via Billboard when she announced the largest ever North American tour for a Korean artist to date with stops in more than 20 cities including a spotlight performance at SXSW on the Korea Spotlight stage. It’s a rather big undertaking as she’s confirmed secondary markets in addition to SF, NY, LA, Portland, Nashville, ATL, Chicago, Detroit & more. Her anticipated EP, PRISM is set for a late February release and will feature CIFIKA singing in English.
“With a seductive falsetto over her sprawling landscape of moody, stylish electronic productions―showcased on her critically-lauded EP INTELLIGENTSIA ― the multi-talented artist has quickly commanded her position as one of the most promising acts in the music scene.” -Billboard
She recently released her collaboration with with Korea’s biggest indie rockstar Hyuk Oh who was featured in VOGUE
Clocking in nearly 700k views and gaining global attention is their multi-sensory ultra trippy video “MOMOM” (“Body & Soul” ) that was released Jan 17.
She’s somewhat of a rarity, rising from the underground in Seoul, CIFIKA is truly blessed and gifted with DIY production skills, and a majestic voice that’s textured as if sung from within a deep cave. CIFIKA composes electronic music that evokes a futuristic dimension and otherworldly sound. Her unique blend of ethereal sonics and deep beats has propelled her from S. Korea’s underground scene and sets her apart as one of the “new wave kids thriving outside of the K-Pop Machine” (VICE). She’s a total DIY producer, writes all of her own lyrics and masters/mixes/produces all of her own material. She’s a true inspiration and voice for the younger generation of DIY’ers to follow your dreams!
She’s very outspoken about various social political topics, brands adore her, and speaks fluent English (She lived in Cali for over 10 years).
What is your background? What got you interested in music?
I was born and raised in Korea, and I moved the US for school when I was 15. I went to an art school and studied graphic design. After I graduated from college, I worked as an art director for a year, and decided to make music on my own. It was very gradual process for me, because I had no intention of making music seriously.
CIFIKA you are about to go on the largest ever North American tour for a Korean artist to date with stops in more than 20 cities. Which city are you most excited to see?
I’m looking forward to perform in Portland. It’s the place where I first started living in the States for high school. I want to relive the nostalgia of my teenage years.
While in the US, you are heading over to SXSW to play at the Korea Spotlight showcase at the Belmont in Austin, TX. What have you heard about SXSW?
I have heard it’s a huge conference for different types of Arts/artists. I’m so honored to be part of it. I get really nervous thinking about it, but just want to have fun with new friends and musicians.
Is K-Pop still huge in South Korea?
CIFIKA (credit: Jin Oh)
It’s huge. Fans of K-pop are very loyal to their artists and I think it’s really interesting to observe how K-pop is influencing Korean culture and moreover the global music industry. I want to take the K-pop aesthetic and make a music video for one of my songs.
Is there a touring band? How did you get the band together?
It will be only me performing. I think band is not necessary for my type of music. I want people to focus on my singing and visuals that will go along with it.
How did you pick the name CIFIKA? Does it mean anything?
It doesn’t mean anything. I got it from PACIFIKA Avenue, and I used to drive by PACIFIKA Ave. a lot when studying in San Jose area.
Your EP, PRISM is set for a late February release and will feature you singing in English. Is not the first time you sung in English? You did so in the video [SUB-WAY] CIFIKA – DOOROOGO. And I am sure you have done it many of times?
I sing both in English and Korean. Those two languages are really different from each other, especially in grammar and use of vocal cords. Sometimes I use English for hooks because it’s catchy and easier to sing a word in just the way I wanted to Korean pronunciation is tricky, because you have to be very clear to pronounce each syllable. I take lots of time coming up with the perfect words and rhymes that make both Korean and English parts cohesive in a single track.
Can you tell me what your video MOMOM” (“Body & Soul”) is about?
It’s about our life on the earth. It manly takes about death, as an end of our journey on Earth. Hyuck Oh (who is featured on the track) thinks we need to let go everything before we physically die. When making the song, we shared our own perspectives of body and soul, and came up with ideas in regard to religions as well. The song may sound like a Buddhist chant, but we actually talk about Christianity, such as how Christian clergy refers to each other as ‘brother.’
You are living in Seoul? What was the music scene like in Seoul?
I moved back here 2 years ago. I think it’s changing very rapidly. Mainstream music has its own scene, where acoustic and traditional ballads are always on top of the charts. The underground scene is getting more attention, though. There are so many talented producers and vocalists, we all need to produce more unique sounds to get global attention. I feel lucky to be a part of the Korean music scene.
Tell me about the development of your musical style?
It’s a broad question. My musical style hasn’t been fully defined yet. I don’t know if it’s because I started making music not too long ago, or is it just that my musical style that will never sound the same as someone else’s? I’m currently listening to a lot of techno and world music, so maybe on my next album I will explore a little deeper on language aspect… I want to make my own language and sing it in my own words. I’m not sure how to let other people understand my that yet, but there should be a way.
What is your music genre?
I would say cyber-psychedelic.
You are the total package with your music. You producer, writes all of her own lyrics and masters/mixes/produces all of her own material.
CIFIKA
A bit of a far cry from the world of K-Pop?
I don’t mix and master.
K-pop is very systematic and comes from huge capital. They are the sign of capitalism. I heard more than 10 producers are making one single track for K-pop artists: melody from one person, hook from another person, drums from another person… It’s very interesting how so many people can contribute to one song. It’s a different process, totally different philosophy from what I do. I don’t think it’s good or bad; but I feel that K-pop artists are selling their IMAGE of FANTASY. I just do all of it on my own, because I’m representing CIFIKA!
Why did you decide to go the route of electronic music instead of the safe route of K-Pop?
It is easier for me to express my thoughts in electronic. K-pop is something that I can never do.
You are only 27 years old, and only two years into your burgeoning music career, you have earned massive media attention (including features with Vice, Hype beast and Dazed) and performed at multiple major festivals including Reeperbahn in Germany. What are you feeling about North Korea?
I wish one day we can unite as one nation like Germany did. I feel deep sorrow when I think about brainwashed kids. But recently I read an article of a North Korean refugee who lives in South Korea now, and she is having the most difficult time living in Seoul. She thinks South Koreans have too many standards and expectations of each other, so she had to live a life to satisfy other people. And too many choices were actually so hard for her to make. She said she wants to be free from all the unspoken rules. I think she said that because being free isn’t something she’s used to living with. North Koreans are used to getting and following orders; their biggest joy is to serve their leader Kim Jong Un. I just wish North Koreans could enjoy their life better, with more choices and freedoms.
Do you have any fans there? As I understand there is a large network of underground radio stations and music cd/dvd which are entering into North Korea?
Interesting question. Even if I have fans in North Korea, I wouldn’t know, because they’re not allowed to communicate with South Koreans in any method. It would be so much fun to find out if I have any fans in North Korea tho.
How do you describe your music?
I would say spiritual and loving… 🙂
What type of music did you listen to growing up?
I used to listen to many Operas and classics because of mom. She played in the morning, night, whenever she was awake, there was always classical music playing in the living room.
Who influences you and why?
People around me, environments around me. I get inspiration from individual people, or sometimes a group of people. I get inspiration from occupations too. I went to a club last night to see Tzu sing play. I got so many inspirations from his music.
CIFIKA (credit: Jin Oh)
What instruments do you used to write your music?
Virtually all instruments, and my vocals.
If someone was listening to you for the first time, what 3 videos or songs would you tell them to look/listen to and why?
Row (on SoundCloud), Ed Rocha (on SoundCloud), My Ego (everywhere). Those songs are fun to listen to. I feel like those songs are very ‘me’ in terms of lyrics and arrangement.
Who is your favorite female singer and why?
Bjork. Everything about her is a huge inspiration for me. She talks about things that can’t be talked about.
What was your first concert and your last concert? Either yours or someone else?
First show was a the Henz club, Seoul. My last show was at Contra, Seoul. Mine. It was a club gig which I loved to perform.
How do you see your band in the next years?
I don’t have a band. Next year I want to be able to make my message more clear by improving my producing skills. I wish to perform in Europe on tour.
Any guilty pleasures your fans would be surprise you listen to?
uhm.. I don’t know… this is so hard to answer…
What is on your bucket list?
To do film score for Sci-fi movie. To build an institution for musicians and young artists in Seoul. To release new album each year.
What is on your phone for music now?
Anything in closing you would like to say?
Thanks for the opportunity. I had fun answering these.
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