Sandara Park poses during an exclusive interview with the Hankook Ilbo. Courtesy of Power Entertainment
It’s been a remarkable 22-year journey for K-pop icon Sandara Park, a path that has seen her rise from a budding star in the Philippines to a global sensation with 2NE1, and eventually a multi-faceted solo entertainer. Yet, despite all her achievements, one significant chapter remained unwritten – until now. The seasoned veteran is finally ready to wield her own voice, not just as a performer, but as an artist crafting her own music, shedding the industry’s established formulas for a deeply personal new beginning.
“This is the biggest turning point in my life,” Park shared in an exclusive interview with the Hankook Ilbo. “Over the past 22 years, I’ve worn many hats, from singer and television host to variety-show personality and musical actor. But the one thing I never got to do was create my own music and sing my own songs.” This new venture marks a profound evolution for an artist who has long accumulated stories, observations, and emotions in her smartphone notes and diaries, waiting for the moment to translate them into song.
Crafting Her Own Narrative: The Road to “REPRISM”
For years, the challenge wasn’t a lack of material, but rather how to convey those deeply personal thoughts and emotions to her listeners. “I realized I didn’t know how to turn the thoughts and emotions in my diaries into songs, or even where to begin,” Park admitted. This uncertainty had been the biggest hurdle. The breakthrough came when she connected with a team of instinctively creative songwriters, allowing her to gradually apply what she learned to her own music.
“As I did that, I looked back on all the times I had come up with ideas for concert stages. I realized that, in a way, those experiences had also been a form of producing,” she reflected. “It had never occurred to me to think of them as creative work, but now I’m ready to dive headfirst into the creative process.” Her ultimate dream is a full-length album, brimming with these stories. For now, she kicks off this ambitious two-year project with a two-track single album this fall, with another set to follow next year. “I’ve prepared a lot,” she revealed. “For now, I just hope I don’t burn out along the way, because this is a two-year project.”
“REPRISM”: Unveiling Unseen Colors
The aptly titled album, “REPRISM,” serves as a powerful metaphor for Park’s artistic journey. The name evokes the idea of refracting light through herself, revealing colors and dimensions her fans have yet to witness. “I think everyone has both the person others see them as and sides of themselves they have yet to show. The same is true of Sandara Park,” she explained. “There is the image that fans and the public know, but there are also parts of me that no one has seen yet. ‘REPRISM’ is about discovering those parts of myself and bringing them out for others to see.”
Sandara Park poses during an exclusive interview with the Hankook Ilbo. Courtesy of Power Entertainment
The single album features two tracks designed to introduce this new era. “Festival” reinterprets a familiar song with a bold rock sound, showcasing Park’s versatility. “I wanted to show the world that Sandara Park has a voice suited to rock and a style that works with it,” she stated. The second track, “Nail,” holds particular significance as her first original song crafted with her songwriting team. It marks the true beginning of her journey to infuse her personal narratives into music. “‘REPRISM’ stands on its own, it is also meant to serve as a teaser for where Sandara Park is headed from here,” she added.
Embracing the Unconventional and Defying Expectations
Park readily acknowledges that her new sound might surprise some listeners, especially long-time fans of her work with 2NE1. Her embrace of Japanese-style rock and band-driven music in her 40s is certainly an unconventional move, one she is fully prepared for. “It’s natural for artists to change and take on different genres, but doing it in your 40s? Some people might ask, ‘Why is she doing that now?’ Even people who know me may find the change jarring,” she admitted. “But whether I can turn that reaction into cheers is entirely up to me. That’s why I’m working harder than ever before and giving everything I have to every performance.”
This isn’t the first time Park has made a dramatic pivot in her life. From an unexpected debut in the Philippines to leaving success behind to train as a K-pop idol, and then reaching the pinnacle with 2NE1, her career has been a series of bold choices. However, she distinguishes this moment as the most profound turning point yet. Unlike previous chapters where she seized opportunities, this journey is entirely her own, every decision, from musical genre to artistic direction, resting squarely on her shoulders. “Debuting in the Philippines and moving to Korea were both major moments, but this is the turning point,” Park emphasized. “Now I’m creating something of my own.”
Sandara Park speaks during an exclusive interview with the Hankook Ilbo. Courtesy of Power Entertainment
“In the past, I would feel physically exhausted after finishing all my scheduled activities. Now, the strain is more mental because I have to judge and decide everything for myself. Even so, it’s finally sinking in that I’m creating music of my own.”
Redefining Success and The Unwavering Power of Fans
For years, an exceptionally high bar for success, set during her 2NE1 days, had inadvertently held her back. “After debuting with 2NE1 and consistently topping the charts, there were times when we cried because a song ranked 10th,” she recalled, with a touch of disbelief. “It seems absurd in hindsight. A ranking like that did warrant tears, but tears of joy.” Time and experience have brought a new perspective. While performing on grand stages remains a thrill, Park has found new joy in more intimate settings. Her first solo fan concert at a smaller venue, though initially questioned by some, proved to be a revelation.
“Some people said, ‘Oh, you’re performing at a small venue,’” she shared. “But happiness and success don’t have to mean just one thing. At a large venue, you can barely see the fans’ faces. At a smaller one, I can see their expressions as I sing and even talk with them. That time was so precious and made me so happy that I found myself thinking perhaps it had worked out for the best.”
It is her fans, a steadfast community from her earliest days and new supporters alike, who remain the most powerful driving force. Their unwavering belief fuels her desire to continue creating and performing. “This isn’t something I could do if no one wanted to see me,” she confessed. “When I see the fans waiting for me and cheering me on, even when I’m taking a break, I find myself thinking, ‘What am I doing right now?’ I want to meet them again as soon as possible and let them hear new music. More than anything, I want to make my fans happy by doing what I do best.”
The sheer emotion of connecting with her fans often brings her to tears on stage. Their support, even when she feels her performance falls short, is a constant source of wonder and inspiration, allowing her to return to the stage again and again. “There are fans who have stood by me through the good times and the hard times, and there are also fans who have only recently come to like me,” she acknowledged. “Just because I can’t do everything exactly as I once did doesn’t mean I should give it all up. I don’t think that would be right for them. If I walked away from this work, I knew I would regret it someday.” As she concluded the interview, Sandara Park promised to remain the tireless, dedicated artist her fans have always known. “That’s how it has always been, and that’s how it always will be,” she affirmed. “I want to be an artist my fans can be proud to support, so they never feel embarrassed to say they love Sandara Park.”
