Interview: NoSo’s Baek Hwong on Discovering Energy, Consolation, and Liberation By Susceptible Pop Songs

A beacon of vulnerability, introspective songwriting, and luxurious, genre-blurring sound, indie pop artist NoSo is entering into their very own on the highway to their daring and unflinching sophomore album, ‘When Are You Leaving?’ Right here, singer/songwriter and producer Baek Hwong dives into the center and warmth of their newest singles “Sugar” and “Don’t Harm Me, I’m Making an attempt,” opening up about empowerment, evolution, and talking your fact by way of music.

Stream: “Sugar” – NoSo

I’ve all the time been a extra introverted and quiet one who avoids battle, however I feel these experiences throughout the album allowed me to really learn to arise for myself.

* * *

Tright here’s one thing about NoSo’s music “Sugar” that grabs you – by the ears, by the center, by the palms – and doesn’t let go.

Each time we press play, we keep till the final notice – pulled in by a glistening guitar line that sparkles like daylight on morning pavement, lifted increased by the heartbeat of tight drums and NoSo’s radiant, hovering voice. It’s the form of music that has a heartbeat of its personal – achingly intimate and irresistibly candy, with a delicate sting that lingers lengthy after the final refrain fades.

In a field of energy
A mouse is simply too loud
Transfer like a hiker,
Indebted to you now

Two years after their debut LP Keep Pleased with Me launched us to singer/songwriter Baek Hwong’s richly cinematic world of self-reckoning and coming-of-age vulnerability, NoSo returns with one thing larger, bolder, and fantastically assured. Launched in mid-Might, “Sugar” units the tone for the LA-based artist’s extremely anticipated sophomore album When Are You Leaving?, out October 10^th by way of Partisan Information, and marks a strong step ahead – not simply musically, however emotionally.

“My first album principally comprised of daydreaming about what my life could possibly be like if I embraced my id,” Hwong says. Certainly, Keep Pleased with Me was an album of inner reckoning, reconciliation, and intense self-reflection. Its observe “Parasites,” for instance, was initially composed previous to Hwong’s high surgical procedure in 2020, and finally accomplished after they’d healed – written with their previous and current our bodies in thoughts. “Feeling Like a Girl Currently” toed an oh-so-thin line “between empowerment and dysphoria,” as they candidly expressed on the time.

Reflecting on their debut three years later, Hwong shares, “Keep Pleased with Me is the primary physique of labor I’ve ever made that I do know I’ll all the time be pleased with (pun-intended). I understand how a lot I needed to be taught in an effort to make that report, so it can eternally be particular to me.” That sense of self-compassion carries into the whole lot they’ve created since.

In distinction to their first report, there’s a self-assuredness permeating NoSo’s current music in addition to their emotional headspace.

“This report is firmly rooted in actuality and particulars my enlightening and tumultuous experiences head on,” they share.

That grounding is all over the place in “Sugar.” Beneath its dreamy disco groove and gleaming pop exterior lies a uncooked reflection on compassion, boundaries, and the quiet toll of holding house for somebody who’s hurting. “‘Sugar’ is in regards to the delicate dance of interacting with risky, unwell people,” Hwong explains. “It’s a mirrored image on these experiences, aiming to strategy them with sympathy as a substitute of anger. I’ve realized that that is the one approach I can transfer ahead – by not feeding these recollections and giving them energy.”

“This music is a few very weird a part of my life that took me a very long time to unpack,” they proceed. “Previous to it, I attempted writing songs in regards to the scenario however they had been so risky and I didn’t like the thought of humiliating somebody lyrically… As a substitute, this music is jubilant and enjoyable juxtaposed by darker lyrics. I wanted to make one thing that felt mild like this so I can carry out it in a constructive approach, as a substitute of re-living that anger and people recollections each time I carry out.”

Solely in silence
And I fell on your
Waning sugar kindness
And I fell on your
However you wanted to be touched
And I might inform your
Illness had sufficient

That maturity echoes within the music’s glistening refrain, dwelling to a few of its most haunting traces – “Solely in silence, and I fell on your waning sugar kindness… however you wanted to be touched, and I might inform your illness had sufficient.” There’s heat and put on in that chorus, but additionally conviction and readability; a reclaiming of energy by way of gentleness, fairly than retaliation.

“I wrote ‘Sugar’ at a really particular interval of my life,” Hwong provides. “Principally out of frustration from having such an erratic way of life as somebody who thrives in grounded and steady environments. I wrote it primarily in response to my circumstances – it was cathartic for me to make.”

If Keep Pleased with Me was NoSo letting us into their desires, When Are You Leaving? invitations us into their actuality – a brand new chapter of unfiltered self-expression, self-possession, and emotional depth, the place vulnerability meets resolve with refreshing vigor and sonic firepower.

“Sugar” glows with unflinching empathy and unshakable power, the sound of an artist absolutely of their ingredient, pushing ahead with out compromise. It’s gorgeous progress in movement – and if that is any indication, what’s coming subsequent can be much more luminous.

That progress is additional embodied within the album’s second single, “Don’t Harm Me, I’m Making an attempt” – a sonic and emotional fever dream that’s as pressing as it’s aching. “I wrote this music finally about my frustration by the collective lack of care we’ve got for one another,” NoSo explains. “I wrote the guitar instrumental a couple of years again however thought I ought to give it to a rock artist, however then I noticed I don’t should put myself in a tender class. It was enjoyable to discover new sonic territory and push myself to make one thing totally different.”

“These two songs mirror the overlying theme of transferring ahead regardless of the circumstances, and attempting to stay sturdy all through,” they are saying of each singles. “I’ve all the time been a extra introverted and quiet one who avoids battle, however I feel these experiences throughout the album allowed me to really learn to arise for myself.”

This music could also be layered with nuance, however ultimately, it’s as candy as it’s seductive. I’ve been attempting to chop again on sugar in my 30s, however NoSo’s making it actually troublesome. Take into account me hooked.

Maintain the land above me,
carrot on a string
Name me the issue
However you wanted me

Solely in silence
And I fell on your
Waning sugar kindness
And I fell on your
However you wanted to be touched
And I might inform your
Illness had sufficient

:: stream/buy Sugar right here ::

:: join with NoSo right here ::

:: pre-order When Are You Leaving? right here ::

— —

Stream: “Sugar” – NoSo

A CONVERSATION WITH NOSO

Atwood Journal: NoSo, hiya and thanks on your time – it’s been a minute! Whereas Atwood has been overlaying you for years now, I acknowledge that some people could also be simply listening to about you. So for many who are simply discovering you as we speak by way of this writeup, what would you like them to find out about you and your music?

NoSo: Howdy! To anybody unfamiliar with my work, I write about navigating my evolving id and relationships by way of varied environments (equivalent to predominately white cities whereas rising up), with an overarching theme of longing to be really understood.

How does the title NoSo – a shorthand for North/South – proceed to characterize who you, Baek Hwong, are as we speak?

NoSo: I feel NoSo will perpetually characterize who I’m – the genesis got here from my frustration on the query “North or South?” anytime I discussed I used to be Korean, and it appears like reclaiming that a part of my life. I’m a cheeky particular person (and author), in order that stage title embodies my persona and the best way I strategy lyrics – observing others and myself, questioning why I behave in a sure approach, and so on.

Arduous to consider it, however Keep Pleased with Me is strictly three years outdated as we speak! How has your debut album grown with you over time, and what’s your relationship with its songs like as we speak?

NoSo: Keep Pleased with Me is the primary physique of labor I’ve ever made that I do know I’ll all the time be pleased with (pun-intended). Up to now I might be exhausting on myself upon releasing something, however this album taught me easy methods to let go and permit a mission to publicly mark my progress. I look totally different on the duvet, my voice sounds so younger on a couple of of the songs, and I’ve modified tremendously since then. I understand how a lot I needed to be taught in an effort to make that report, so it can eternally be particular to me.

“Sugar” is, no doubt, an enormous musical return. Why break the ice with this music – what makes it particular and lead single worthy, for you?

NoSo: I wrote “Sugar” at a really particular interval of my life, principally out of frustration from having such an erratic way of life as somebody who thrives in grounded and steady environments. I wrote it primarily in response to my circumstances – it was cathartic for me to make.

You have beforehand shared how this music is about “energy dynamics and the fragile dance of interacting with risky, unwell people.” I used to be questioning when you might increase on that – how does “Sugar” relate to you, personally?

NoSo: This music is a few very weird a part of my life that took me a very long time to unpack. Previous to it, I attempted writing songs in regards to the scenario however they had been so risky and I didn’t like the thought of humiliating somebody lyrically (particularly since they had been going by way of their very own points, seemingly). As a substitute, this music is jubilant and enjoyable juxtaposed by darker lyrics. I wanted to make one thing that felt mild like this so I can carry out it in a constructive approach, as a substitute of re-living that anger and people recollections each time I carry out.

To me – and I feel to you as nicely – this music can also be about studying to maneuver ahead and previous these poisonous people who would fairly preserve you of their net. You’ve talked about “not feeding these recollections and giving them energy”… what did transferring on appear like for you, and the way does it manifest on this music? (Sorry if this can be a tremendous heady query!)

NoSo: I feel for me it was spending time with individuals who I like and love me (my household and mates), folks I really feel secure with. Issues felt tremendously lighter for me after that chapter of my life ended; I wanted that point to really feel like myself once more earlier than I might write about it from a much less damaging perspective.

Musically, “Sugar” is a lush, sweetly seductive reckoning. How did you go about recording it, and what had been your goals for it from a sonic perspective? Do you’re feeling such as you achieved your targets?

NoSo: I wrote the music in my room initially and later took the music to Jack Tatum of Wild Nothing in Virginia to co-produce it. I really feel actually grateful he obtained to be a part of the music – I’ve been a fan for a very long time. We referenced the ’80s fairly a bit (my favourite decade for music, his as nicely). It positively achieved my targets – it feels anthemic and enjoyable.

You latterly adopted “Sugar” up with “Don’t Harm Me, I’m Making an attempt,” a sonic and emotional fever dream that’s as pressing as it’s aching. What’s the story behind this music?

NoSo: I wrote this music finally about my frustration by the collective lack of care we’ve got for one another. I wrote the guitar instrumental a couple of years again however thought I ought to give it to a rock artist, however then I noticed I don’t should put myself in a tender class. It was enjoyable to discover new sonic territory and push myself to make one thing totally different.

As I perceive it, this music was written within the aftermath of a psychological well being spiral, and it speaks to each your individual scenario and your remark round how we deal with each other. Do you thoughts sharing extra about that, and the way this music speaks to these (very legitimate) frustrations?

NoSo: I misplaced my thoughts mentally a couple of years in the past when it felt like I used to be stagnant and one way or the other regressing on the identical time. I’m immunocompromised, so I’ve felt a way of grief as a result of I haven’t been snug in public areas for the final 5 years.  I feel making this type of distorted and urgent-sounding music was additionally cathartic, otherwise than “Sugar” was.

How do these two tracks match into the general narrative of your upcoming sophomore album, When Are You Leaving?

NoSo: I feel these two songs mirror the overlying theme of transferring ahead regardless of the circumstances, and attempting to stay sturdy all through. I’ve all the time been a extra introverted and quiet one who avoids battle, however I feel these experiences throughout the album allowed me to really learn to arise for myself.

We’re nonetheless a methods off from When Are You Leaving?’s launch in October, however how would you say this new album compares to your debut? How do you’re feeling you’ve grown over the previous three years, and what most excites you about this new report?

NoSo: I really feel I’ve modified tremendously musically and as an individual. I began writing When Are You Leaving? proper after my first album, however I nonetheless had lengthy hair and didn’t know who I used to be. As I modified identity-wise, the music mirrored that as nicely. I’m very excited for folks to see how I’ve grown for the reason that final report – I used to be studying to supply in the course of the technique of my first report, and I felt way more assured on this one.

What do you hope listeners take away from “Sugar” and “Don’t Harm Me, I’m Making an attempt,” and what have you ever taken away from creating them and now placing them out?

NoSo: I hope listeners take away a way of pleasure and empowerment from these songs, and the entire songs on the report! I do know I did after I was making it. I’ve already seen tales of individuals sharing how they relate to the songs, and it makes me really feel seen too. And I hope folks dance to the songs 🙂 Even the slower ones!

— —

:: stream/buy Sugar right here ::

:: join with NoSo right here ::

:: pre-order When Are You Leaving? right here ::

— —

“Don’t Harm Me, I’m Making an attempt” – NoSo

— — — —

Connect with NoSo on
Fb, 𝕏, TikTok, Instagram

Uncover new music on Atwood Journal

 © Driely Carter

:: Stream NoSo ::