For this Ode To The Artist we’re featuring the ever lovable Sunmi. This queen has consistently blessed us with bops pretty much from the start of her solo career in 2013. So she definitely deserves it.
Beginnings
Sunmi, aka Lee Sun-mi was born in 1992 and started her career in 2007 with her role in the girl group Wonder Girls. If you want to know more about Wonder Girls, you can listen to our podcast here.
For today I really want to focus on her solo career, though I do want to share one of my favorite songs from when she was in Wonder Girls.
Her first solo release was ‘24hours’ and honestly what a bop right from the get-go.
This debut solo song immediately won an all kill on the Korean music charts. So, a certified bop even.
Then in 2014, she released her first EP that included the single ‘24hours’ and came with the iconic ‘Full Moon’ as title track.
Sunmi even had a collab with Jackson Wang on the EP ‘Full Moon’. This underrated R&B ballad needs more attention.
Wonder Girls disbandment
After her EP, she went back to join Wonder Girls for a couple of years until they officially disbanded in 2017.
In the same year she released the single ‘Gashina’ that really solidified her solo career and was referenced by everyone in the industry because of its iconic dance move. I feel like this also reiterated her mature and sexy image and we STAN. She also has co-writing credits on this one.
In 2018, she dropped the single ‘Heroine’ and honestly I love this song so much. It fits her timbre so well and deserves all the love it got.
Sunmi also came out with her second EP in the same year and my god, that was a success. Her title track ‘Siren’ is still a bop to this day.
One of my personal fav from this EP ‘WARNING’ is the single ‘Black Pearl’, I was quite obsessed with it for a while. The soprano sax had me shook. She has full credits for the lyrics and even co-composing credits.
IN 2019, she released the two singles ‘NOIR’ and ‘LALALAY’, both fantastic bops with a rather dark undertone.
Earlier this year she released the single ‘pporappippam’ and the colour scheme was so, so pretty.
In her latest release, she collabbed with the one and only Jay Park. The entire thing caused one of the most hilarious Instagram moments as of late.
Not only is her music fantastic, she also seems like a really sweet person. I came across the hello82 video and Sunmi really connects with her fans in such a kind way. It’s utterly adorable.
Go ahead and check out her music on Spotify here. Also go follow her on Instagram.
