INTERVIEW Rothy's slow yet adventurous musical journey as solo artist

Singer Rothy / Courtesy of Dorothy Company

Growing up with the music of Girls’ Generation and 2NE1, singer Rothy’s childhood dream was to become a member of a K-pop girl group. When she was young, she never imagined she would debut as a solo artist, as she was too shy to perform alone on stage. She loved singing, but she was so lacking in self-confidence that she often hid under a blanket when practicing.

So when she first heard that her current label, Dorothy Company, would hold an audition, she thought she was not talented enough to try out. Since the company was established by award-winning singer Shin Seung-hun, who was known as the “Emperor of Ballads” in the 1990s, she thought it would only look for a hopeful with an extraordinary knack for the art of singing.

But Rothy still threw her hat in the ring to build up experience.

“Instead of singing ballads, I belted out a pop song and danced like a 20-year-old woman in front of Shin,” Rothy, who was only 15 back then, recalled during an interview at a cafe in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, Oct. 10.

“I don’t know why, but Shin was captivated by my performance and I got the chance to have a meeting with him. I first thought I would not join his company because I wanted to become a member of a girl group. However, I changed my mind immediately after talking with Shin."

Shin saw potential in Rothy's unique low voice and offered to train her for three years as a solo artist. He added that she might have to rap or do something that she does not want to do if she becomes part of a group.

His words convinced her and Rothy quickly signed a contract with Dorothy Company where she could polish her singing skills under Shin’s mentorship.

“When I was a trainee, I envied my friends who already started their career as K-pop stars,” she said. “However, when I finally debuted in 2017, I came to appreciate the past three years because I could witness my musical growth. During that time, I learned how to play the guitar and how to sing ballads properly. These are great assets for me, which will become my foothold when I transform myself into a singer-songwriter in the days ahead.”

Singer Rothy / Courtesy of Dorothy Company

It was easier for Rothy to make her name known to the public from the onset, since her mentor was Shin. But this fact also presented a burden, she said.

“I feel the pressure sometimes,” Rothy revealed. “I know his followers and the public have high expectations for me because I am his mentee. But still, it is so great to have Shin as my teacher and I can lean on him.”

In 2017, Rothy debuted with “Stars” and began carving out her own niche as a young balladist. She rose to fame with tracks like “Sullae” (2018) and “Cloud” (2018), but this time, she has broadened her musical spectrum by putting out “Something Casual,” a retro-flavored up-tempo song. Peppered with a disco-funk sound, “Something Casual” revolves around a girl seeking to escape the everyday hassles of life.

“I had a thirst for dance songs,” she explained, adding that it has taken four years for her to drop a dance track since the release of “BEE” in 2019.

“It was pretty difficult to record and sing ‘Something Casual’ as I am mostly familiar with the singing style and rhythms of ballads. I had a tough time handling this song, but Shin helped me overcome the challenge. I think it is a good fit for autumn.”

Now, Rothy’s new dream is to become an "authentic musician."

“When I debuted, I thought my dream had been accomplished,” she said. “But now I know that I still have a long way to go. I have a lot of things to learn and showcase. Even if I look slow, I want to kick off a new chapter in my life, possibly by writing my own songs and collaborating with various artists. I actually have been sharing my self-written tracks on streaming service SoundCloud, hoping that I would be able to release them in the form of an album in the coming days.”