HEYOON is drawing in viewers with her solo debut, “Pivot,” featuring Armani White in an all-English track, positioning her as an emerging global female artist to watch.
Born and raised in Korea, HEYOON first gained recognition as a member of the global group NOW UNITED. After nearly two years, she has set foot on her solo career under Universal Music Group Korea, inviting both long-time fans and new listeners to join her in this exciting new chapter.
The track “Pivot” explores a tumultuous relationship, where HEYOON reflects on the shift in her connection with her lover. Initially filled with love and excitement, the relationship takes a turn as she feels her partner is playing games, causing a sense of frustration and emotional distance. The change in dynamics leads to a “pivot” where the love once felt is replaced by confusion and tension. You can listen to it here!
HEYOON aspires to be an artist who bridges the gap and connects deeply with younger generations, empowering them. Her mission and soul’s purpose shined through during our conversation, reflecting her dedication to using her message as a meaningful and impactful medium for connection and understanding.
The Knockturnal had the pleasure of sitting down with HEYOON to discuss her solo debut, her creative process as an artist, and the intricate song-making process behind the stunningly dark, female-led music video for “Pivot.”
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. Check out the full video below!
Staying true to her vision of remaining as global as possible and serving as a bridge between cultures, HEYOON officially announced her signing with Universal Music Group Korea as her home label. Curious about her journey, we asked: What influenced your decision to continue with this label as a solo artist?
HEYOON emphasized how fortunate she felt to have gained experience as part of a global pop group based in a major city like Los Angeles. With each member backgrounded from a different country, the group’s extensive travels around the world allowed her to connect with a diverse, international fanbase – she herself wanted to delve into a label that fits.
HEYOON: It’s such a unique experience, and I just wanted to make sure for my next solo journey, I could carry on that vision of being an international star and speaking to different people. And what is a better company than Universal? It’s one of the biggest companies in the world. I also wanted to come back to my roots, which is Korea. I was born and raised here, and I’m so grateful for the experience of seeing the world from a full-on Korean young woman’s perspective. I wanted to find the right fit for that, and UMG Korea is definitely that. I love my team. I’m so excited and grateful.
In creating “Pivot,” the song was brought to life with a female-led and directed music video packed with striking visuals—dark and moody aesthetics, a bold opening scene, and intense choreography that was amplified by HEYOON’s dancing background. The video showcased so many layers of HEYOONs new image with the direction of the iconic NanyKim.
The Knockturnal: What was it like working on the music video? How did you balance the acting elements while staying true to your dance roots?
HEYOON: I think“Pivot” is definitely a statement piece because I wanted the storytelling behind the song is there. Also, I think fans aren’t used to seeing me like this, there are a lot of sides that are very different from the side of “HEYOON” that people were expecting. I wanted to shock the fans in the best way and show a different side of me.
HEYOON shared that many of her ideas stemmed from her lucid dreaming, which has always been a significant source of inspiration for her. Being deeply connected to her dreams made the creative process feel more intuitive. She noted that, with NanyKim’s direction, she was able to explore her artistry on a much deeper level, describing the experience as incredibly creatively fulfilling.
You can watch the full music video below!
HEYOON wanted to ensure that when people heard “Pivot,” they immediately recognized it as her unique sound and statement, as it set the tone for her solo career. She’s already anticipating fans’ excitement for more music and the universe she’s building with her sound which she describes below.
So, we asked her: What are you hoping to achieve with this debut and the music you’re creating and what inspires you?
HEYOON: I grew up listening to a lot of R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop, and I’m also a dancer, I’ve been dancing since I was a little baby. I wanted to bridge those sides of me into my sound. If you listen to it, “Pivot,” is an Afrobeat-inspired rhythm that keeps you dancing. I also love R&B and I wanted to infuse that into the vocals to create this unique and almost spiritual, ethereal sound as well as the fun dance-y sound. It’s sexy, it’s flirty, and I wanted to make it fun. It’s special and I’m so grateful this was my first song.
In the next part of our conversation, we dove deeper into HEYOON’s evolving sound and the process of finding the perfect balance in her music. She also shared exciting insights about her future with labelmate Armani White, teasing that they have some fun content coming soon!
The Knockturnal: What made you choose “Pivot” as your debut solo? Were there other songs in the vault, and what was it about this one that stood out to you as an artist?
HEYOON: I’m a Libra, I’m all about balance, and Pivot has that perfect balance of the fun, flirty, and goofy side of me and also the serious R&B side of me. I’ve been writing for a while now and I have a lot of music piled up to show to the fans but I wanted to make sure the first song is a statement showing what the taste is going to be like in the universe I am creating now (no pun intended!). By the time I will be able to release my EP and more bigger projects I think if people can think of Pivot as a little taste of that, I think that will be perfect.
The Knockturnal: Let’s talk more about “Pivot”—it also features the talented Amarni White, a label mate of yours! How did the conversation for this collaboration come about, and what was it like working on the track together? Was Amari someone you’ve always wanted to collaborate with?
HEYOON: Armani is amazing! I’ve always been a fan of his music. I had the opportunity to meet him when he came to Korea, two months ago, to perform at a festival here. I got to see him perform, I was blown away. He’s such a performer, he thrives on stage. When you meet him in person he’s just this goofy and funny person, but on stage, he puts on this whole different persona. I’m kind of like that, I relate to that. I was super inspired by that.
When I got to meet him we just had coffee and chatted. He was just so humble and genuine and we clicked right away and became friends, we were just texting one day and I was like ‘Hey, this is the most important thing in my life right now – and I would like to have you one it’ and he was down right away. I am so grateful, he made the song even more special and unique! I am a fan in general, and now we’re friends!
HEYOON recognizes that her journey has been uniquely shaped by incredible experiences. At just 20 years old, she’s had the privilege of traveling the world and witnessing life-changing moments as an artist, expressing, “There is no other artist that has been able to experience that. I am so grateful.”
The talent also feels a deep responsibility to amplify the voices of others who share her experiences, especially those who want to embrace their culture while representing the diverse communities around them. “It’s all about representation and creating community. I want to make sure that with my music and my solo journey, people feel heard, and people feel like they can do it themselves. That’s the ultimate goal.”
The Knockturnal: I wanted to ask you about something you’ve mentioned in past interviews—bridging the gap between Korean and global artists. Are you focused on this in your solo career?
HEYOON: 100%. I want to dive deeper into connecting my roots and the experience I got to have with my life – with traveling with the group – and I love that you said “bridge,” I always use that. When I speak to people I always say ‘If I can bring one brick to that bridge to connect everybody, my job is done.’
The Knockturnal: You’re one of the first Korean female soloists with this global approach. It’s amazing to see. I came across your Instagram, and fans are overjoyed with your announcements. How did it feel seeing all that love?
HEYOON: I cry every day. I look at the comments and I cry every day! I’m just genuinely I’m so grateful. My fans have been so supportive since day 1. It’s been one and a half, two years since I put out new music for them to be so patient with me and me making sure what I give is something that the fans deserve, I wanted to take my time and make it right. The fans understood that. The love I am receiving, I don’t know what to do with it!
HEYOON continued to explain how sees herself as a vessel for creativity, using her music and efforts outside of it to amplify voices that aren’t always heard – a beautiful message. Staying intentional about her actions, and seeking opportunities to collaborate with organizations that support children is something she believes is crucial for specifically the younger and next generation – which you can watch her talk about more in our interview!
Growing up, she didn’t always have access to artistic opportunities, so she aims to support others who may be in a similar position. It is truly a selfless act!
In addition to her music, HEYOON’s involvement in fashion also plays a significant role in her artistry. Just this year she got to experience her first Fashion Week at Lacoste’s Spring/Summer show describing it as overwhelming yet unforgettable, especially since it was her birthday!
For her, fashion is another form of self-expression, just like music. She sees it as an extension of her inner world, helping to convey her current vibe or story. Fashion empowers her, boosting confidence and mood, and she views it as equally powerful as her music in representing who she is as an artist.
As we wrapped up our conversation, we were curious about where HEYOON’s mind was at and where she envisioned her journey taking her now that she was stepping into this new chapter as a solo artist.
HEYOON: I really want to focus on putting out a lot of music and building this whole new journey to me. I’m introducing myself to the world, and also just experiencing life all over again as a solo artist. I’m super excited about that journey. And by the end of the year, I’d love to get out there and see the fans in person. I want to make as many opportunities as possible to perform for the fans and meet them in person!
HEYOON expressed that she is genuinely happy and experiencing the most creative fulfillment she’s ever felt. “Pivot” is more than just a song—it carries a deep artistic meaning, reflected in HEYOON’s dedication and love for her craft.
You can watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel here. We can’t wait to see what else HEYOON has in store.
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