gagyeongs:

Jung Kyung Ho for Marie Claire July 2020

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cr. kukukumrtk4 (on twitter)

[TRANSLATION] 220224 IU MARIE CLAIRE KOREA INTERVIEW

“I, yes, like it now for sure, No, frankly speaking, I want to give up” (Twenty-three) the twenty-three-year-old said. “I think I know myself a little bit now” (Palette) emphasised in 25, “Our ivory-coloured spring climax” (LILAC) in 29. IU has turned 30 after recording how she wandered, hurt and loved herself fiercely during her 20s.

“The instant I turned 30, I felt more excited than I had in a long time.” As soon as I heard those words, I decided not to dwell on and ask questions about her past any further. Her gaze, as expected, reflects one who is in her 30s. I heard her speak about her 30s as musician IU, actress Lee Jieun and as a member of society.

Would you say you are inspired by your age? You turned 30 this year.

Musically so. I think, in terms of music, age is a good subject matter that follows the way you tend to think and feel as it changes. Last year, my full-length album “LILAC” delivered the final send-off to my 20s and to commemorate me being 29 years old. Even before that, a lot of my music has reflected my age, such as “Twenty-three”, “Palette” and “Eight”.

How did you feel as you turned 30? You seem to be constantly aware of yourself, so you must clearly remember how you felt then.

I was watching a year-end ceremony at home. As I was watching absentmindedly, they started the New Year countdown and I felt a sense of excitement well up in me. In the latter half of my 20s, I felt a little weak and weary. It has been a long time since I have felt this excited. I felt so good that it suddenly gave me confidence that I am capable of anything. It could just be because it’s the beginning of the year, but I still seem to have that same feeling.

Did that feeling somewhat influence your plans?

I had this abstract idea since I was in my 20s. I want to open a small studio or concert hall where people can perform and work. Instead of a private work area, I want to create a space to showcase their work to the public. It had always just been a dream, but now that I’ve turned 30, I’ve decided to work on it and am in the process of making it a reality. I think it seems fun.

I expected to hear plans like, “I’m going to start exercising”… I was surprised to hear about this big project! (laughs)

It’s not so special (laughs) As I’m working, many opportunities to perform outside the studio, collaborate with other artists and film video content have fallen through due to (the inability to find a) location. Moreover, due to COVID-19, it has become difficult to rent out a studio space or concert hall, which is why I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be useful if I had this space?” It isn’t as if I’m going to stop working anytime soon.

The first music you released after you turned 30 is “Mother Nature (H2O)” with music director Kang Seung-won.

I have been admiring him since I was younger and he’s such a good senior musician that I was eager to work with him someday. However, I didn’t think it would come out as the first completed project of my 30s. It was originally planned to be announced last year. Looking back, I think, in many ways, it was a good thing that this was the first song released this year. It’s different from the music you’ve heard from me so far. I think it will come across as new and fresh.

I think this must have been a meaningful and special song. Especially for IU who has been admiring that musician from the beginning until now.

I want to do well. I kept repeating that to myself. It was my first time working with this director and I wanted to be praised, so I was delighted when I was given as many praises as I had desired.

Even though you have been consistently talking about your age through music, as an actor, you have taken on diverse roles regardless of your age.

When it comes to making music, I am a producer, and it becomes a good source for me to express and leave behind thoughts I had at those moments of my life. However, acting is not a creation of my own. Therefore, in order to be an actor who can play any role, it would be best if I didn’t restrict myself. However, as I have turned 30, I feel it has become a little more challenging.

What kind of character do you think would be the result if you projected “the current me” in its entirety as an actor, just like you do when making music?

When I receive a suggestion like that, the same character with strong tendencies would usually come to mind. Don’t you think it would be a different character if I were to project myself? Basically, (the character) would feign indifference, but try hard to show affection. That’s how people are by nature. There are times here and there when I want to try creating and acting as a character with that kind of image.

This reminds me of your character in director Hirokazu Koreeda’s movie.

I’ve had those thoughts a lot while filming director Koreeda’s “Broker”. I think I acted freely without limiting myself to how “this character should make this expression, or should react this way.” It was really a lot of fun. Rather than suggesting a fixed way (of acting), the director accepted my suggestions and said, “That part hadn’t crossed my mind, but it’s good that you did that”, which is why I had fun acting it out.

There must be as many people looking forward to the future of musician IU and actress Lee Jieun as there are enjoying looking back at your past works. I’m curious as to what perspective you use to look at yourself.

In the past, I definitely lived putting more of an emphasis on my future. At some point, I realised that planning my distant future would restrict my work instead. I think the present is the most important. We will resume the filming of the movie “Dream” soon. We haven’t finished shooting because of Covid-19, but since we are continuing now, I have to find and connect to the point we left off well. That is the biggest worry I have now.

What kind of image do you hope to portray for the next 10 years, in your 30s? Are there any desires that you don’t want to miss out on?

Thanks to my mother’s influence, I do my best to donate to a variety of causes. Recently I’ve been thinking that although it is essential to support the children and the elderly, the blind spot in providing welfare is the youth. As someone who has experienced that age, I have been working with my mother on how to help people in that stage of life in a more specific way. I think just finding out a way to accomplish that would be enough for me to achieve in my 30s and it would be something fun to do. Also, in terms of being an actor, I want to be an actor that the public is willing to invest their time into. It would be good, as an actor, if they take the time to watch every project of mine as soon as it is released. Simultaneously, I’d like to be a musician who makes you as curious as ever. Anyhow, I don’t have any big dreams. When I was in my 20s I worked much harder than I wanted, and achieved a lot. Now, it would be great if my activities appear comfortable to my fans.

Even though you said you didn’t have a big dream, hearing what you want to do, it sounds like you’ll be very busy.

That’s right. Basically, I am the type of person who can’t rest well. Work is the biggest part of my life. Although it would be great if it doesn’t devour me like it did in my 20s.

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “How long will I be able to make music and act?”

I have. Last year I realized my ears won’t always be the same as they usually are and thought, “What if I won’t be able to make the sounds that I want to make?” which is a concern I had. I’m looking for methods now, but I truthfully felt afraid that I won’t always be able to perform in the condition that I am in now. When I think about it, I am not particularly in good shape and am underweight compared to others, but after working as busily as I had, I thought it was inevitable that I strained my body. I realized that in order to work for a long time, I had to take care of my health. No matter what happens, health is the most important. They said I would think like this when I turned 30 and I’m having these thoughts too. I think this must be science. Haha.

You must take your nutritional supplements well. You must eat well too.

That’s what I mean. I don’t eat well because I can’t be bothered. I’ve decided I just have to do it.

Translated by jieunspoetry for IUteamstarcandy

Kerry WashingtonpourMarie Claire US, Avril 2015.