Since the dark days of early 2020, everyone has experienced their fair share of quarantine dysfunction. Musically speaking, perhaps nothing embodies the struggle we’ve all undergone better than the Reddit-breaking “I’ll Just Dance,” a song and video that was posted in May. Su Lee, a bedroom pop singer and producer based in Seoul, is the force behind that pandemic sensation, which was hilariously subtitled “What My Mental Breakdown Sounds Like.”
Her new single, “All the Noise,” is a beautifully melodic romp with ample reflection—it speaks to the desire for connection in a time all but devoid of such a virtue. You can hear it below (and save it here), and read on for a Q&A providing her perspective on what the song means, both to her and to her audience.
“All the Noise” is a lot more melodic and serious than “I’ll Just Dance,” which was more lighthearted and comedic. What sort of music influenced your style and approach on this new single? What have you been listening to lately?
The most influential element that determines the style of my song is the mood I’m in. For “All the Noise,” I was in the mood to create something more sincere and purposeful than “I’ll Just Dance.” Having said that, I’ve recently been listening to a lot of bedroom pop music. It really helps me embrace my own style and flaws as a bedroom musician myself.
You write, record, and live in a really small space in a rather crowded city. Have you become more comfortable in that space in the months since you’ve been restricted to it?
Practically speaking, yes. I got used to finding ways to live and work in the same room fairly quickly. The emotional part, on the other hand, is still a big challenge. I find myself missing living with housemates or going to work or school where I can openly socialize and meet up with people.
This may not have been intended, but the lyrics sound like they speak to our current state of pandemic-era fatigue. It also seems to touch on social media vanity during the COVID-era. What did you have in mind when you wrote the lyrics?
I think “All the Noise” can naturally feel more relevant during the pandemic, because people are spending more time on social media than ever. But I really just wanted to address an inherent aspect of social media that’s existed long before the pandemic started. I wanted to speak through this song to never let what you see on social media (or anywhere else, really) persuade you into covering up your own uniqueness and story.
The song is excellently produced and your vocals really fit well into the mix. Even though it may have been conceived and produced in a 10’ x 10’ room, it still sounds very rich and professional. From conception to completion, how long did the song take?
It took around a month to finish the song. Writing the lyrics and melodies take the shortest time—around two to three days max. The rest of it is production, mixing, and engineering.
You went viral on Reddit and became somewhat of a meme earlier this year. Was there a desire to move away from viral songwriting and into more serious, poppy territory?
I try not to put too much distinction between “serious music” and “non-serious music.” As long as each song stays true to its emotion and story, I’m happy with whatever direction the song takes me. But I do want to keep evolving and experimenting with different styles, sounds, and concepts—I think that’s really the most exciting part about being a musician and artist.
