JEONG HANBEE of HANBEE: Keeping Your Individuality
An interview by Georgette Singer.
Jeong Hanbee sits aside a big bay window, with lush greenery and the beautiful countryside of Korea behind her. The quiet and calm musician, far from our own shores, will return home soon, to play her first ever Laneway set in February next year.
Known as hanbee – the sweetheart of New Zealand’s Indie music scene, the Korean-Kiwi hailing from Auckland, joined me to talk about her upcoming Laneway set. We talk about the growth of hanbee’s music career, the differences in overseas music industries and her own journey with self-love.
Her third EP ‘bye my bed’ is a collection of melodic and whimsical tunes, perfect for any occasion. But what’s hanbee’s own recommendations for where to listen to her new tracks?
We found out the answers to all of our burning questions…
Kia ora hanbee, 안녕하세요 (hello) and thank you so much for meeting with us today! From your recent EP ‘bye my bed’. I’m very keen to know if you have a personal favourite track, and why?
I want to say bedrooms, the second title track, that would be my favourite from this EP. That EP was a way of processing things, and that track was at the core of all the things I wanted to get out and say.
You’ve expressed that this new EP is about freeing yourself from an obsession, or a previous part of your life, that you’ve outgrown. Is there a turning point you can remember or a certain point in time, that you arrived to, that helped you to write the album?
Because this album was about a previous relationship, a long-term one, I think it was after a year since the break-up, that I thought “ok I need to unpack all of this”. Prior to that, I didn’t really have the courage or I didn’t really feel like [doing] it, but probably the turning point was after a year.
In previous interviews you’ve talked about turning pain into art. I especially love the lyrics in Cushion: ‘Our riddles and giggles, Are beautiful bubbles, Treasured in our hearts’, is that a nod to self-healing? Perhaps looking back and seeing beauty in past memories?
Thank you, Yeah! That’s really really accurate!
Are there any other lyrics, or do you have a favourite line, hidden in your new EP that capture this heartbreak-to-healing journey? There’s so many to choose from!
All of them are about self-healing and break-ups but I think lyrics from the track number own, that one really focuses on self-love.
It’s a really empowering track! When I first heard it, I could definitely relate to a lot of the lyrics and I thought, “I’m sure everyone can relate to these lyrics in some way”. Was the placement, having the track at the beginning of the EP, for this reason? Because it’s such a powerful track?
Yes, number own had the strongest message I wanted to convey and so placing it at the start of the EP was for that reason!
In preparation for Laneway, what has been the most challenging thing to overcome or prepare for?
I wanted to add more unreleased songs to the set, but unfortunately because of health issues I have had to stay back in Korea for a bit. And I’ll only be able to join my team, back in New Zealand, in January. So, I hope we can still add in a few of these unreleased tracks, but it may not be as many as I’d hoped for.
You were mentioned as one of Rolling Stone ‘Kiwi Artists Tipped to Take Over’. When these moments happen, like being featured in Rolling Stone, or your announcement for Laneway, do you remember where you were or what you were doing?
I think more than the moment, I remember the feeling. I think for Laneway, I actually thought my manager, who I’m close with, was just joking and that he was messing with me! I thought it was one of his pranks, but when I found out it wasn’t, I felt a little… I guess I blanked out for a bit!
And you’ve mentioned you like to daydream a lot, so did it feel like a daydream state?
Yeah! I couldn’t really grasp whether this was truly happening or not happening!
It’s all just so exciting! 축하합니다 (congratulations) on your recent success, we love to see it!
Ah, thank you!
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So, which part of your music process do you enjoy the most? Is it writing songs, being in the studio, or do you prefer performing and making music videos?
I think it’s when there’s a breakthrough in my melodies, when I find something that I really like and then I put my lyrics on top, That’s my favourite process. Making my melodies and writing my lyrics.
Your concepts are very strong on screen. You’ve talked before about bringing a concept to your producer Woo and then building notes and melodies around that. Is it the storyline or the concept and ideas that you always create first? Or is it sometimes the other way around?
The story mostly comes to me first, I think I start with a concept and then the melodies and everything else will follow afterwards.
I’m curious, will this same flow of strong storyline and concepts trickle into the Laneway show and your upcoming stage set? Can we expecting something surprising?
As we’re still in the middle of discussing what we could do, I’m not too sure yet, but I hope it will be a strong set!
Do you love the stage? Do you find the performance part and being on stage hard, or do you find that comes naturally?
To be honest, it’s quite nerve wracking because I am an introvert. I’d love to be able to talk easily on stage. I’d love to have more confidence. At first when I started playing live gigs I was really nervous but as I’ve started to play more live gigs, I’m enjoying it more. But it’s still a little nerve-wracking!
Are there any artists at Laneway that you are personally excited to see, or any you’d like to possibly collaborate with in the future?
I’m a huge fan of RAYE and Suki Waterhouse, so I can’t wait to see them both! I’d love to collab with them, for sure!
Some of my favourite content at the moment is Lee Mujin Service on YouTube, which I would love to see you featured on in the future! Who would be your dream Korean-artist collaboration?
I’m a huge fan of Sam Kim and Adoy, so I really hope I can have some more opportunities to collaborate with some Korean artists too!
Looking back to when you started your music career in Korea, with your band BLEE, were there noticeable differences in the industry over there as opposed to the NZ music industry. Are the two comparable in anyway, any similarities?
I think the New Zealand music industry is very, very supportive of it’s artists, which I am very grateful for. While Korea, I guess, because there are so many different artists in the Indie genre, and there are so many people in general, there aren’t as many opportunities, or any support programmes for these artists to grow from. In that way, the New Zealand music industry is amazing!
As a self-proclaimed bedroom-dweller, do you have any advice for introverts wanting to break into the music industry?
I think it would be to keep your colour, and keep your voice. Keep your pace and no matter how it may seem to others, or how difficult it may be – keep your individuality.
I wondered if you’d be up for playing a Balance Game? I’ve used some of your song tracks and would love to quiz you!
Of course, yes!
- Rainy day inside or a sunny day in a meadow? I’ll choose, a rainy day inside.
- Love or lust? Love.
- Makgeolli (걸리 raw rice wine) or a cozy cup of tea? A cozy cup of tea.
- Seaspray or a forest breeze? Ohhh, for this one I think forest breeze.
- Kiwifruit or Strawberry? I want to say strawberry.
Although your new EP is titled ‘bye my bed’ and is about saying goodbye to that particular room, moving forward into a transformative state; Is the perfect place for listening to your new EP, the listeners cozy bedroom?
Yeah, I think so. I did make the album with that intention so I hope so.
Thanks so much hanbee, we can’t wait to catch your Laneway set this February!
hanbee will be performing as part of Laneway Festival 2024 on the 6th February 2024 at Western Springs in Auckland, alongside such acts as Stormzy, Steve Lacy, Dominic Fike, Vera Ellen, AJ Tracey and many more! Tickets are still available from Ticketmaster but get in quick as they’re selling fast!
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