Name: Youn Sun Nah
Occupation: Singer, songwriter
Nationality: Korean
Current release: Youn Sun Nah's Elles is out now.

If you enjoyed this Youn Sun Nah interview and would like to find out more about her music, visit her official homepage. She is also on Instagram, and Facebook.  



Do you think that some of your earliest musical experiences planted a seed for your interest in your voice and singing? How and when did you start singing?

From a young age, I was fortunate to be surrounded by music, thanks to my parents. My father, a dedicated choir conductor and founder of the national choir in Korea, my mother, a pioneer of Korean Musicals filled our home with beautiful vocal artistry.

I practically grew up at their concerts, experiencing the magic of the human voice, its ability to reach deep into people’s heart. I believe this exposure planted a seed for my interest in singing, possibly even before I was born.

But surprisingly, the idea of becoming a singer never crossed my mind until, at the age of 26, I made the decision to study Jazz in Paris.

If you're also playing other instruments, how does the expressive potential of these compare to your own voice?

Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something special about the human voice.

Sure, every instrument has its unique expressive strengths, but our voice can channel the full spectrum of human emotions. It’s like our feelings come right out, raw and real, straight into the hearts of anyone listening.

Singing is an integral part of all cultures, and traditions. Which of these do you draw from – and why?

The Korean people are said to have long enjoyed singing and dancing with others. I remember growing up, friends’ gatherings used to turn into endless sing-alongs.

I think the way my culture uses singing to connect people nurtured my passion for music.

What were some of the main challenges in your development as a singer/vocalist? Which practices, exercises, or experiences were most helpful in reaching your goals – were there also “harmful” ones?

My tour schedule sometimes messes up with my warm-up time. So I hum. A quiet hum all day wherever I am, keeps my voice ready without bothering anyone.

Lack of sleep is the most harmful thing for me, so I always pack as many earplugs as possible.

How do you see the relationship between harmony, rhythm and melody? Do you feel that honing your sense of rhythm and groove has an effect on your singing skills?

For me, just like a bland meal missing salt, pepper, or oil that leaves you unsatisfied, music without a balanced play of harmony, rhythm, and melody loses its power to move us.

Developing my rhythmic sense made me freer on stage, and I could have deeper connections with other musicians.

What are the things you hear in a voice when listening to a vocalist? What moves you in the voices of other singers?

I can’t say that I hear only a few things. I try to hear everything.

We singers might not all sound the same, but I think there’s one thing we share. Singing makes us bare our souls. On stage, or in the studio, we give it our all, hoping every note and every word tells the truth.

That’s why every singer moves me.

How would you describe the physical sensation of singing? [Where do you feel the voice, do you have a visual sensation/representation, is there a sense of release or tension etc …]

I feel like transforming into an orchestra with human-like instruments. It might be spooky, but it helps in my singing.

What kind of musical settings and situations do you think are ideal for your own voice?

Intimate settings feel better to my voice, especially in a duo format with any instrument. In this setting, we can spontaneously follow the moment, quickly adapt to the proposals of other musicians, and easily change direction or emotion.

It’s like my voice travels without a map. Each note takes me on a new journey.

We have a speaking voice and a singing voice. Do these feel like they are natural extensions of each other, ends on a spectrum or different in kind?

My mom, my vocal coach over the phone, always says, ‘Sing like you speak’. We know they’re different tools, but the key is the same.

Relax! The more you ease tension, the more your speaking and singing voices can reach where you want them to.

From whispers to screams, from different colours to dynamics, what are the potentials and limits of your voice? How much of your vocal performance can and do you want to control?

I’ve treated the stage as my personal laboratory to explore the potentials of my voice. While there are times I push too hard and it doesn’t work, there are also moments of pleasant surprise that inspire me to try new things.

This is why I appreciate listening to singers from diverse backgrounds with various traditional vocal technics.

When you're writing song lyrics, do you sense or see a connection between your voice and the text? Does it need to feel and sound “good” or “right” to sing certain words? What's your perspective in this regard of singing someone else's songs versus your own?

Balancing the connection between my voice and the lyrics is an ongoing work as a singer. Whether it’s in Korean, English, or French, the words have different colors, even pauses feel different.

I practice hard to make them feel natural, to flow smoothly whether I wrote it myself or someone else did.

Strain is a particularly serious issue for many vocalists. How do you take care of your voice? Are the recipes or techniques to get a damaged voice back in shape?

Unfortunately, I haven’t found a magical solution to eliminate strain. I just accept it and stick to a simple routine, like drinking water and getting some rest.

And before each show, I talk to my strain, ‘Hey, over 30 years together! We’ve seen it all, but we’re still here, and finally, you’ve never let me down.’

How has technology, such as autotune or effect processing, impacted singing? Has it been a concrete influence on your own approach?

Generally, I don’t rely much on technologies, except for specific moment during recording sessions.

I usually collaborate with acoustic musicians. But I’m open to exploring new creative possibilities.

For recording engineers, the human voice remains a tricky element to capture. What, from your perspective, makes voices sound great on record and in a live setting?

I think that the most effective way to achieve this is through diverse musical experience. Going through different situations that may not be satisfying can shape what you want to hear and how to improve your voice.

For me, I actively seek out feedback from musicians and sound engineers. I listen carefully to their critics, and their insights have helped me experiment with new things.
 
Motherese may have been the origin of music, and singing is possibly the earliest form of musical expression, and culture in general. How connected is the human voice to your own sense of wellbeing, your creativity, and society as a whole?

My voice has been my passport to the world, letting me see amazing places and meet incredible people. Singing has shown me that I can communicate with people beyond language.

Through music, I’ve learned to love myself, and treat everyone with the same kindness.