Singer Chuu, Photo courtesy of| ATRP

Singer Chuu's new song is distinctive. It depicts humans and love through an AI perspective. It is a cheeky idea, but on reflection, it feels sad because it cannot be fulfilled.

“Love has been changing in line with today's digital era, right? In the past, if people expressed love through physical affection or hugs, or with words, these days they send emoticons instead of words and express love online instead of physical contact. I wanted to put that into this album. In particular, the title track ‘XO, My Cyberlove’(XO, My Cyberlove) presents love from an AI’s point of view. As it learns love from humans and comes to love, I translated the emotions that arise into lyrics, and as you listen, it becomes sad. Because it is a love that cannot be realized.”

On the 7th, in a meeting with Sports Kyunghyang, Chuu talked about the excitement of working on and releasing her first full-length album ‘XO, My Cyberlove’(XO, My Cyberlove), her ambition to become a musician beyond being an idol, and even her goals for this promotion.

Singer Chuu, Photo courtesy of| ATRP

■“As soon as I heard ‘XO, My Cyberlove’, I sensed it was the title track”

The first studio album ‘XO, My Cyberlove’ delicately captures shifts in relationships in an era where reality overlaps with the virtual, packing in nine tracks including the title track, ‘Canary’, ‘Cocktail Dress’, ‘Heart Tea Bag’, and ‘When the First Snow Falls, Meet Me There Then’.

“I wanted to include various ways of loving that have changed with the digital era. In particular, ‘Canary’ refers to a very small yellow bird used in old European coal mines to detect dangerous toxic gas. Noting how it protected people by sacrificing its frail body, the lyrics say that when a fragile being protects love, it can show powerful strength. And the fan song ‘When the First Snow Falls, Meet Me There Then’ expresses my way of loving, wanting to do anything for my fans.”

Singer Chuu, Photo courtesy of| ATRP

She says she knew ‘XO, My Cyberlove’ would be the title track the moment she heard the demo version.

“I thought it would be the song to anchor the album. So the album track list was put together around this song. Because the theme of this track is love, I wanted to gather songs that contain various forms of love. I sang with a focus on connecting the emotional arc so that when one song ends, you want to hear the next.”

Her goal for this round of promotions is clear.

“I do not usually set a specific outcome I want. This time, though, I want to be a little ambitious. It is to win first place on music shows. Because this is my first full-length album that I am presenting with my utmost effort, I put in a great deal of care. I want to earn good results and bring it to a close on a high note.”

Singer Chuu, Photo courtesy of| ATRP

■“My way of loving is ‘The Giving Tree’, and I do not feel it is a waste”

As much as she sings about love, we also asked her what ‘love’ is to her.

“I think love floats even in the air. Noticing it and turning it into the driving force of my daily life is also a fun task. Love is something people cannot live without, right? It is the same for me. I especially want to make myself feel like a comfortable nest to the other person. Even if I love more, giving unstintingly is my way of loving.”

She says she is not disappointed even if she does not receive as much as she gives.

“I dislike love that calculates. Whether with friends, family, or someone I love, it is the same. The moment you calculate what you will get back, it does not feel like love. So from a young age, when I feel affection, I give unstintingly. I want to do that. I have childhood friends I love. I even try to do everything they want for them.”

She said two childhood friends are the axis that supports the Chuu of today.

“It has been more than a dozen years with one friend from elementary school and one from high school. To me, they are like the axis of rotation that centers the Earth as it turns. I did not have many friends when I was young, but thanks to these two, I was able to spend a happy childhood, and even now, they become the reason I sing. There were many difficult moments, and each time, they were the ones I could lean on. What truly thankful people they are?”

‘XO, My Cyberlove’ is available on major online music platforms nationwide.