YOUNA Interview: Behind the Beats of “Escape The Reality”

Originating from South Korea and finding her musical identity in Dubai, YOUNA’s story is one of passion, exploration, and breaking boundaries. With her debut single “Self-Doubt” making waves on Beatport and her event brand SOS: Sound of Sand creating a buzz, YOUNA is on a mission to make her mark on the international stage. This interview peeks into the artist’s creative process, her influences, and the journey that has shaped her unique sound. 

From her unexpected discovery of house music in Dubai to her latest EP “Escape The Reality,” YOUNA’s narrative is a testament to her evolving artistry and the emotional depth of her music.

In this exclusive interview, YOUNA opens up about the profound impact of her time in Dubai on her music, detailing how the city served as both a muse and a launchpad for her career. She delves into the creative intricacies behind “Escape The Reality,” revealing her ambition to craft a sound that captures the essence of deviation and escapism. Beyond her personal artistic endeavors, YOUNA shares insights into her event brand SOS: Sound of Sand, underscoring her commitment to fostering a community around the music she loves. 

Despite the challenges of rapid success and the battle against self-doubt, YOUNA’s vision and dedication shine through, promising more innovative projects and a quest to connect with audiences worldwide.

How do you think your time in Dubai influenced the sound and feel of this EP?

My time in Dubai served as the foundation of my musical journey. In Korea, I wasn’t familiar with the house genre, nor had I ever had the chance to listen to Melodic Techno and Progressive House, which I’m really into now.

So, encountering these genres for the first time in Dubai was a refreshing shock. I felt a myriad of emotions simultaneously—joy, sadness, euphoria, nostalgia—all encapsulated within a single track.

Dubai, in particular, exposed me to many artists performing in this genre. Watching their live sets taught me a lot and provided immense inspiration. Essentially, Dubai became the starting point of my musical journey, intertwining with all aspects of sound, philosophy, and personal growth.

This EP, themed around “escaping reality and deviation,” naturally incorporates the emotions I felt while living in Dubai, especially over the past year. “Deviation,” as the title suggests, aims to convey a sense of escapism through its main melody lines.

Thus, I envisioned creating a main lead that evokes a feeling of precariousness accompanied by the intuitive sounds of synthesizers, like speeding up the highway in the early morning, taking some risks.

Initially, I wasn’t sure how the crowd would perceive this somewhat experimental and rough melody line.

However, after testing this track multiple times at gigs and on my YouTube channel, I was encouraged by the positive reception from many people. So I finally decided to release it.

“Escape The Reality” features a blend of melodic techno and assertive bass lines. Can you talk about the creative process behind achieving this sound?

You’re absolutely correct. The tracks on this EP were intentionally crafted to be assertive and aggressive. The year 2023, during which I worked on these tracks, was one of the most extreme and diversified years for me, characterized by many days of pushing forward without looking back.

So, rather than being emotionally driven, the works reflect my aggressive and racing-like emotional state. In particular, I was fascinated by horn sounds last year.

“Escape The Reality” features spoken words and horn sounds as the main elements rather than melodies. While it might feel simple, I actually struggled quite a lot to find the ideal horn sound that fits the track.

In the end, I’m satisfied with the tune I created. It aligns well with the theme of warning sounds urging you to escape reality. The cinematic sound added to the buildup part and breakbeat add an extra layer of interest to the track.

Your event brand, SOS: Sound of Sand, significantly promotes your music and genre. Can you share more about the vision behind it?

To be honest, it all started just for fun. My first yacht party was meant to celebrate my birthday with about 10 close friends, but suddenly, around 90 people showed up. I went ahead with my plan to play my music and music that I like, and everyone loved it.

Word about our parties spread in Dubai, and people kept asking about the next one, so I decided to make it bigger and organize it properly in the desert.

The brand name ‘SOS’ came from the aggressive warning sound that I’m into, and as I mentioned earlier, Dubai is the starting point of my musical journey, so I branded it with “Sand” to evoke the desert in Dubai.

Honestly, I don’t think SOS has any grand vision as you might expect. It’s simply a platform for me to share the music I love with people who love it too. I never really thought I’d be organizing events, but it turned out to be quite enjoyable.

Having been to other events as a performer, I’ve encountered many shortcomings, especially in terms of set timing according to genres, DJ care and crowd control.

Through these firsthand experiences, I’m glad to be able to create a better vibe and experiences for the DJs and audiences who support us.

You’ve achieved notable success since starting your journey in 2022. What has been the most challenging aspect of your rapid rise in the music scene?

Good question! I believe I’ve had quite a few experiences in various fields—working in offices, running businesses, freelancing—but I find music to be the most challenging. It’s like a culmination of everything I’ve done.

Lately, the hardest part for me has been ‘battling self-doubt’, especially as a music artist where success often seems measured by numbers -How many people you perform in front of and how many monthly listeners you have-.

Social media exacerbates this, showcasing everyone else’s achievements and leaving me wondering if I’m falling behind. Sometimes, I’ll be deeply engaged in making music one day, only to wake up the next morning questioning if I’m any good at it.

I imagine many music artists in similar positions feel the same struggles..haha. That’s why I think having a mentor who can offer encouragement and perspective is crucial, especially during times like these. If I find success, I want to be that person for other beginner artists in the future.

Additionally, I’ve found marketing to be incredibly challenging. Like in any industry, marketing plays a huge role in the music scene today. Whether it’s showcasing the production process through reels or capturing stunning visuals at performances, it’s all part of the game.

However, when I look at my real life, I mostly spend my time in pajamas in front of the computer or caught up in preparations for a show, neglecting the marketing side of things. Still, I try to see marketing as a unique aspect of this industry that can be enjoyed, and I try to do my best.

What’s next for YOUNA after the release of “Escape The Reality”? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you can share with us?

As mentioned earlier, while the “Escape The Reality” EP focused on aggressive and powerful beats, the projects I’m currently working on lean towards more melodic, tranquil, and emotionally driven tracks.

Though there are no actual vocal tracks yet, I aim to convey the intended vivid emotions to listeners through the melodies and titles itself, and I’m considering additional creative and enjoyable expressions beyond music, such as official music videos, to enhance listener immersion.

Additionally, I’m planning a tour starting this year and it begins from the Maldives this March. It will be my first time performing in countries other than Dubai and Korea, and I’m eagerly looking forward to meeting more listeners from diverse backgrounds worldwide!