Would you consider yourself more of a hip hop artist than K-pop?

CL: “I don’t like to categorize myself or 2NE1. We are just 2NE1 and I am just CL, and I just want to have fun with what I do. Every time. 2NE1’s sound is very different from K-pop too, and when people want to listen to K-pop specifically, I am not sure that our music is the best representation of it. We aren’t the K-pop standard, except that we sing in Korean. It’s just different now, for me, because I am doing it in English. I love it, it’s new.”

What artists are you listening to right now?

CL: “I’m listening to my own songs [laughs]. To be honest, I am doing sessions right now and working on my album, and I try not to listen to other people’s music because I don’t want to copy anyone’s style. I can listen and be inspired by other artists, but not while I am doing sessions. I want to write my own story. I was in 2NE1 before, but going solo, it’s going to be a new sound.”

Who influences you musically?

CL: “Female rappers. I like Foxy Brown, Lil’ Kim, Queen Latifah, Eve…I love that kind of rough vibe. I grew up listening to them. These days, you have YouTube and the Internet, but when I was younger you had to buy a CD. It was harder to listen to the music from [America] and even their style was more rare. They were from a different world, from their look to their voices to the music.”

Why does this feel like the right time to record an English album? Was it your plan from the beginning to debut in the U.S.?

CL: “We have been talking about this for a long time, so for me it feels more like, Finally! We’re doing it. And it’s about time. Everything just fell into place. I grew up listening to English bands and American pop, so it always felt natural for me to sing in English. Now that I have been an artist in Asia for 8 years, I feel like challenging a new crowd.”

Do you feel any pressure representing contemporary music from Asia on a mainstream level in the U.S.?

CL: “I don’t feel pressured, and I don’t want to be. The thing is I have no example. There’s no one in front of me who has done this before. Maybe there were people who have tried, but I can’t really name anyone who was successful enough to be my mentor as an Asian woman. I definitely have a long way to go, but I’m just trying to do what I do and not make it too complicated. And I feel like I have the right people around me, a good team. YG has known me for a long time and they know my color, while Scooter Braun has very good taste.”

There is a running theme of female empowerment in your music, which is impactful in a male-dominated genre like hip hop. Is this one of the main messages of your music?

CL: “I feel like Asian women are especially represented in a certain way all over the world. The image is very timid and obedient, and I’m the complete opposite of that. I want people to know we’re not always like that. When you look at the artists in J-pop or K-pop, there is a standard: 7 girls wearing the same clothes, very cute and shy. I just want to say there are stronger women like me. I like those groups too, but I want to let the world know that that’s not everything. Sending that message through music is what I do best. I want to lead by example.”

What is your WILD Wish?

CL: “To fly.”

Full Interview

Originally posted by DiscoDiva

"When you look at the artists in J-pop or K-pop, there is a standard: 7 girls wearing the same clothes, very cute and shy. I just want to say there are stronger women like me"

KWEEN!!!!!