INTERVIEW Lim Kim seeks to capture her best form in new single 'ULT'

Singer Lim Kim / Courtesy of Newentry

Last year, dance crew 1MILLION became the talk of the town for staging an intriguing performance featuring singer Lim Kim's 2019 songs, "Yo-Soul" and "Yellow," on the dance competition show, "Street Woman Fighter 2." The performance video — which visualizes the harmony of yin and yang energy in Chinese philosophy — garnered millions of views on YouTube shortly after its release.

With their depiction of the two opposite yet complementary forces, the dancers not only illuminated the beauty of contrast but also provided a snapshot of Eastern aesthetics.

However, there was another big factor that elevated their performance to the next level: Lim Kim's dreamy, ethereal voice that no one else could imitate.

Seeking another chance to show off their musical chemistry, Kim and 1MILLION have teamed up again for the singer's new digital single, "ULT," which came out on Feb. 7. In its performance video, the black-clad crew members dance to Kim's voice under the moonlight, sometimes wielding their swords as part of the choreography to display their queenly sides.

Characterized by catchy beats and eclectic sounds fusing traditional and electronic melodies, "ULT" captures Kim's best form, showing people how she can adeptly mix different sounds while infusing an Eastern vibe.

"ULT is short for 'ultimate,' and it is a track revealing my ultimate status," Kim said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "Compared to my previous releases, it delves deeper into my easy-going side. Everyone has their own stories and characters, and I think I also have something of my own. That's what I am trying to display [through my music]."

"ULT" also has a connection to Kim's 2019 album, "Generasian" — the combination of the terms 'generation' and 'Asian' — that blends diverse genres ranging from electronic to hip-hop to folk music. The album, which attempts to shatter stereotypes of Asian women, reflects Kim's frustrating experience as a woman as both an Asian immigrant in the United States and a singer in the K-pop industry, which does not fully embrace diversity in music.

Composers Ejae and No Identity, who collaborated with Kim for the production of "Generasian," participated in the creative process of "ULT." They are also known as the songwriters behind K-pop girl group aespa's November release, "Drama."

"The first draft of 'ULT' was created when I was gearing up for 'Generasian' a few years ago," Kim said. "But its beats still sounded quite fresh, so I added some lyrics mirroring my own thoughts, and Ejae gave pop melodies to it. After No Identity arranged this song, we succeeded in breathing new life into the 2024 rendition of 'Generasian.'"

Kim, whose real name is Kim Ye-rim, first made her name known to the public in 2011 after her band Togeworl finished third in the third season of the audition program "Superstar K" (2009–). After the show wrapped up, Kim joined Mystic Entertainment, a record label launched by singer-songwriter Yoon Jong-shin, and put out popular songs like "All Right" (2013).

She managed to carve out her own niche as a solo artist, but suddenly vanished from the public radar in 2016. In 2019, she made a surprise return with "Generasian," and later disclosed that she was in need of time to shape her own musical universe where she could freely explore different sounds and styles.

"I will continue to work hard to show people what I can express," she said. "My goal is to keep advancing my career."