Known for her genre-fluid approach and distinctive sonic identity, the former LOONA member Yves continues to redefine her place within and beyond K-pop, crafting a sound that feels both intimate and expansive. Out now via PAIX PER MIL, “NAIL” captures a world in motion, one that pulses, flows, and resists easy categorization.
As she prepares to bring this new era to the stage on her 2026 world tour, including stops across Latin America, Yves continues to build a global connection with audiences drawn to her singular vision and evolving artistry.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Yves and talk about building a sonic world rooted in physical sensation rather than narrative, the hypnotic and body-driven nature of tracks like “HALO” and “it,” how this new project ultimately embodies a forward motion, an invitation to let go of hesitation and simply move, and more.
How did you approach building a sound world around physical sensation rather than emotion or narrative?
For this project, I found myself focusing more on physical sensation than on narrative or emotion. With “HALO” especially, rather than trying to deliver a very specific meaning through the lyrics, I wanted to follow the way a feeling lingers in your body and slowly pulls you deeper in. The melody repeats certain words almost like they’re echoing in your head, and in the final outro, there’s this breathless part that leads directly into the intro of “NAIL.” To make that feeling more real, I even recorded parts of it while running.
Tracks like “it” and “HALO” carry an almost hypnotic atmosphere. What emotions were you hoping to evoke in listeners with this project?
With “it,” the melody itself is very emotional, so I think it naturally brings up different memories or feelings for each listener. Rather than describing one specific situation in the lyrics, I wanted to express the feeling that whatever worries or difficult moments you’re going through will eventually pass and begin to flow again. That’s why I kept repeating the phrase “flow again.”
On the other hand, “HALO” is much more centered around beat and rhythm. I wanted it to be a song that makes your body react right away, something that makes you want to move as soon as you hear it. The lyrics also repeat like something circling in your head, so it’s a track you can feel before you even try to understand it.
You collaborated with Lolo Zouaï and Lexie Liu on this EP. What did each of them bring to the creative universe on “NAIL”?
Lexie Liu has such a beautiful tone, and she carries the emotional flow of “Break It” in a way that feels very natural while adding even more depth to the mood of the song. Lolo Zouaï brings this rhythmic, effortlessly cool energy that fits the world of “NAIL” so well. The moment her part comes in, it changes the temperature of the track and gives it a different texture. I’m very grateful to both of them because they made the songs feel even richer.
Your music resists being boxed into a single genre. Is that a conscious decision or a natural result of your artistic evolution?
I think it’s pretty natural for me. I’ve always liked taking something familiar and twisting it a little so it feels less expected. That instinct naturally shows up in my music too. My creative team is very similar in that way, so I think that shared mindset has shaped me into an artist who can move more freely between sounds and concepts.
Critics and fans are increasingly responding to your music as something that goes beyond traditional K-pop. Do expectations feel more like pressure or possibility?
I’m a Korean artist, and LOONA is a big part of where I come from, so I do see myself as a K-pop artist. But at the same time, I don’t think labels like K-, J-, or C-pop matter as much anymore. What feels more important now is the music and whether an artist has a world and identity that feels truly their own. That said, I am proud if my work helps expand what people imagine K-pop can be and shows that there’s space within it for many different kinds of artists.
This new world tour includes stops in Latin America. What are you hoping for from that connection with your fans at this stage?
Fans in Latin America always bring such huge energy, and I really feel that on stage. By the end of the show, I’m completely exhausted in the best way because it pulls so much out of me. This time I’ll also be performing the new songs there for the first time, so I’m especially excited to see how that connection feels live.
As a former member of LOONA and now an established solo artist, what lessons have shaped your artistic identity today?
I’ve always liked thinking about direction—how to bring things together and make each person shine in their own way. I learned a lot about that during my time in LOONA, and it naturally made me want to be more involved in the creative side as well. Because of those experiences, becoming a solo artist didn’t feel as scary as it could have. In a lot of ways, it actually felt exciting.
If you had to sum up “NAIL” in a single idea or feeling for someone who hasn’t heard it yet, how would you describe it?
I’d describe it with one word: “Go.” It’s about leaving hesitation behind and fully giving yourself to the moment. Even when something feels uncertain, sometimes you just have to move first and trust that feeling.
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