The Artsy Korean Soul Singer LeeHi – Not Your Conventional K-pop Star
The South Korean solo artiste brings a bold and sophisticated new face and sound to the genre the world knows as K-pop. Get ready to be charmed by her magic.
LeeHi – one word, capital “L” and “H” – is not the typical female K-pop star. In fact, to categorise her as such would be a misnomer. In an industry dominated by carefully manufactured, highly stylised, synth-backed idol groups, the 25-year-old is a solo artiste who in the past year or so has seemed less bound by such glossy trappings – and refreshingly so.
Take for example her single HOLO released last July – her first under the independent hip-hop record label AOMG after having left one of South Korea’s largest entertainment companies at the end of 2019.
A soothing piano ballad with a rousing chorus that shows off her natural vocal chops (one of the most common things said about LeeHi is that she can seriously sing), it’s accompanied by a tender, slice of life-style video featuring her as a guardian angel to a little girl. No fancy sets, few costume changes, no hyper-slick choreography – and it still got netizens excited and has become a cult favourite.
Her follow-up single For You – a duet with her long-time friend, the South Korean R&B singer Crush – is equally honest and feel-good with a live recording in a studio all decked out for Christmas for a video.
LeeHi says of the song, which was released last month: “I love listening to warm carols throughout December, but in 2020, I completed the song with the wish to sing one instead of listening to one. It will sound warmer if you listen to it with your loved ones in the cold winter.”
Ten years after bursting onto the scene as a baby-faced teenager with remarkably soulful vocals and a dream to be a musician on the reality programme K-pop Star, it’s clear that LeeHi has evolved.
Tweed jacket, matching skirt and metal necklace, Chanel
“I am getting to know more clearly what I am good at and what I want,” she tells FEMALE. “I’ve been wondering about how I can show the true me through my music and, as a result, express more and more parts of my emotions through it.”
It helps too that AOMG is less restrictive a record label, she says, working on an “artist-based” system that sees its musicians involved in every part of the production and promotion process.
“In the past, I sometimes felt like I was wearing someone else’s clothes and stood on the stage a little awkwardly,” says LeeHi. “Now I think my music has become more like myself.”
Even on the image front, one gets the sense that inside her lies a passionate and poetic artist who’s unafraid to break the mould. At this shoot with FEMALE, she actively weighed in on the styling and art direction.
She cites Sabrina Claudio and Jorja Smith as musician whose look she loves and even singles out the latter’s image in her video for the 2017 single Beautiful Little Fools. “She comes out in a lace dress with a shaved head, red lip and bold accessories, and I can’t help but love everything about the song,” says LeeHi.
This all only adds to the anticipation of her upcoming album, which is targeted for release this year. Through it, she wants to portray a “more diverse image”, she reveals. (“Maybe you’ll see me in more exciting looks,” she teases.) And while her latest singles have been slow romantic crooners, she reminds that the songs that she is most confident of have a “rhythmic” side.
“Instead of focusing on being influential, I think I should work harder and continue to create music that is honest and allows me to reveal myself,” she says.
And then comes the kicker delivered with a cheeky grin: “If I try to unravel my own story more and more clearly, I believe that a more diverse genre of music will be loved within K-pop.”
All grown up – the 25-year-old LeeHi hopes to show a more diverse side to her sound and look with her upcoming album.
Tweed jacket, matching skirt and metal necklace, Chanel
Doraemon x Gucci nylon blouson with hoodie and cotton T-shirt, and viscose blouse (worn underneath), Gucci
With her doll-like features and ability to flit from looking pretty to edgy to artistic, LeeHi is fast becoming a favourite with luxury fashion houses and most recently fronted a lipstick campaign for Nars.
Wool jacquard vest, matching pants, and metal choker and bracelet, Gucci
Cotton gabardine trench coat, wool knit vest, cotton shirt and wool skirt, Burberry
LeeHi’s personal musical tastes veer towards soul icons such as the Bee Gees, Anita Baker, Marvin Gaye and the ’80s family act Debarge. On her playlist recently: Victoria Monet’s Jaguar and Jamaican-American musician Masego’s Polygamy.
Viscose halter top and embossed leather skirt, Givenchy
Cashmere sweater, lycra sports bra, and lace and tulle skirt, Miu Miu
Doraemon x Gucci wool intarsia sweater and canvas beauty case, and linen skirt and embossed leather boots, Gucci
Tulle dress and polyester mesh top, Miu Miu
Photography Cho Giseok Fashion Direction Chia Wei Choong Styling Lim Jin Hair Holy In Giihee Makeup Kimminsun Casting & Production Seraphic Studios
A version of this article first appeared in the January/February 2021 Art & Music Edition of FEMALE