240417 Jennie for Vogue Korea May 2024 Issue | “Jennie, Jennie we still don’t know”

Jennie. It’s a name that seems to be on the rise these days. You describe your independent label, Odd Atelier, as “a space to create attention-grabbing newness,” and you’ve made attention-grabbing and newness the focus of your personal endeavors.

> As someone whose every move is in the public eye, it’s my job to put on a new face every time, and I’m always thinking, “What can I do differently this time?” I wanted to create a space where I could immerse myself in that.

Now that you’re a leader, do you have any guiding principles for leading the company?

> Whenever anyone comes up with a new idea, they share it, and everyone is happy where they are. I believe that when the two meet, there will be a good synergy, and a good synergy will create attention-grabbing newness.

What’s the most memorable thing your mom, who is always giving you advice, told you about starting a new business?

> My mom is very supportive of whatever I do, and we’ve talked a lot about it this year, and it’s been really helpful for me to hear that I don’t have to worry about it, that I can just be ‘Jennie’ and it will shine through.

In March, you released a surprise single, “Slow Motion,” a collaboration with American singer-songwriter Matt Champion. You said, “I’m excited to finally share my heart and message on this song with you.” What was it like working with him and what memories do you have of the collaboration?

> I’ve always loved Matt’s group, Brockhampton, and I’ve always loved his voice in particular, so we just kind of stumbled into each other and started hanging out in the studio and writing songs. We had an amazing chemistry and had a lot of fun working together. It was a seamless process, and I think that’s what made it come out so well. I think the timing of the release was unintentional, but I think the song feels better with the weather and the air right now.

> I thought that the personality described in the lyrics “Cause you know I’m shy for you still/ So bad that it kills/ And I can’t help but feel/ Like we’re moving in slow motion” was Jennie herself, and the seniors who cared about you kept telling you, “Don’t suppress your excitement and nervous moments, it’s more human to act naturally.”

> When I appeared on the first episode of “The Seasons – Hyori’s Red Carpet,” I remember her telling me that I was always worried about not being able to communicate well with strangers, but that my shyness was actually a protective device. I realized that shyness was a barrier that I always had to overcome, but that it could be seen in a different way depending on how you look at it, and that made me feel a lot more comfortable.

Are there any reactions and perspectives on “me” that you’ve heard recently that you’ve found refreshing or interesting?

> With Apartment 404, I think I showed a lot of new sides of myself as a regular on the show after five years, and I got a lot of fun nicknames like “Zen Detective” and “Zen Archie.” (Laughs) I showed conceptual fashion for the different time periods in each episode, and the response was better than I expected, so it was fun to see how the fans reacted to each new episode.

Chanel has been on such an iconic journey for so long, it must be a nostalgic inflection point for you. Have you been inspired by your familiar ‘friend’ Chanel lately, whether it’s through its clothes, fashion shows, archives, or new collaborations and content?

> The Chanel F/W 2024 ready-to-wear collection in Paris was a time of fresh inspiration: the films on the giant screens on the runway were filled with the romantic lyricism of Chanel and the scent of Deauville, Gabrielle Chanel’s beloved city. Maybe it’s because my first journey with Chanel took place in Deauville, and everything about it is so vivid to me: the beautiful sea, the models walking down the runway as if they were actually walking on the bridges there, Penélope Cruz and Brad Pitt in the short film directed by Inez and Beaudoin.

It’s a globe-trotting life. Which city do you feel most similar to who you are now?

> I’ve been to a lot of places, but I always get the most inspiration and drive from the beauty of Seoul, where the city and nature blend together so effortlessly. It’s the city that feels closest to me.

When you’re torn between transforming and “being yourself,” which do you ultimately choose?

> Wow, this is something I struggle with all the time, and I think it comes down to choosing what’s ‘me’. I always try new things because I know my fans will welcome and support every challenge I take on, but the most important thing is that it’s ‘me’. It’s so much more fun for me when I can show what I’m going for without feeling forced, and the results are so much better.

What’s the biggest and smallest decision you’ve made this year that you’re most happy with?

> I’ve been active in various fields since my debut, but as a singer, my desire to communicate with my fans through music has always been my number one priority. However, in the midst of my busy schedule, I sometimes have to give up on what I want to do. This year, I promised myself that I would only think about ‘what I can do with pleasure’ and act on it. I think the beginning of that was the Christmas cover song I released at the end of last year, and I found that there is a joy that can only be felt when communicating through music. I was proud and satisfied that many people liked it.

As someone who knows the importance of rest, have you been taking care of yourself with all of your busy schedule and performances since the beginning of the year?

> I had a really busy year last year, touring all over the world, but after it was all over, I took a long break in Korea to recharge my batteries. I meditated, lay in bed, listened to my favorite music, and just enjoyed the time. I’m always happiest when I come home from the gym and focus on just me.

The world is buzzing around Jennie’s upcoming solo album, which is shrouded in mystery. You can’t talk much about it, but what’s one thing you can promise about the new music?

> I’ve been spending almost every waking hour of my day working on my music lately, and it’s been flying by. I’ve been working hard with more ambition and a desire to share my music with more people, so stay tuned, and I’ll be back in great shape. (VK)

[Translated with DeepL](https://www.deepl.com/app/?utm_source=ios&utm_medium=app&utm_campaign=share-translation)