Bold Beats & Magnetic Presence: An Exclusive Interview with SUMMER CAKE

Get to know singer-songwriter SUMMER CAKE in this exclusive interview.

SUMMER CAKE is a force to be reckoned with, captivating audiences with her unique R&B POP sound and magnetic presence. As a singer-songwriter and composer, she's lent her talents to an impressive array of 13 original soundtracks and 9 digital singles, showcasing her versatility and undeniable skill. Her music transcends genres, blending catchy melodies with introspective lyrics that resonate deeply with listeners.

Beyond her musical accomplishments, SUMMER CAKE is a breath of fresh air in an industry. She's genuine, kind, and passionate, a true role model for aspiring artists. She embraces her femininity with confidence, empowering others to do the same. With each new release, she pushes boundaries and challenges expectations, proving to be exactly what we call an exciting and innovative artist in Korea's music scene.

In an exclusive interview, SUMMER CAKE opens up about her latest single, "Squat," a bold and addictive summer track anthem that's sure to get stuck in your head. She shares the inspiration behind the song, her creative process, and the message she hopes to convey to her fans. Get ready to dive deeper into the world of SUMMER CAKE and discover the heart and soul behind her music.

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Hi, SUMMER CAKE. Thank you for the interview! Could you please introduce yourself to our audience and tell us a bit about your musical journey?

SUMMER CAKE: Hello! I'm SUMMER CAKE, an R&B artist from Korea. I'm so excited and happy to be interviewed by Hellokpop like this!! I'm overwhelmed that my independently prepared music has been released after 1 year and 4 months, and I've brought music with a different texture from my previous musical style! As I've had a long break, I plan to let you hear various types of music frequently! I'm really looking forward to it.

Congratulations on your new single, "Squat," released on August 4! How does it feel to have this new track out in the world?

SUMMER CAKE: I wrote this song last year and saved it to release in the summer. I'm really glad it came out at the right time, and it feels so fresh. When I was about to start my solo career, I had huge concerns about my direction, so I went on a month-and-a-half trip to the U.S. without any plans. I think I had a lot of inspiration, thoughts, and changes during that time. It was also a time when I became certain about what kind of music I should approach you with in the future. This album is a challenge for me, and it's really just the beginning from now on!

What inspired you to choose the stage name "SUMMER CAKE"? Is there a particular meaning or story behind it?

SUMMER CAKE: My slogan is: "Hot like summer Sweet like cake." My real name is Kim Min-kyung, but because Min-kyung is such a common name in Korea, I wanted to have a unique name that wouldn't bring up anyone else when searched on portal sites! While thinking about a unique name that everyone knows the words for but no one else has, I thought of summer and dessert, which I like, and combined these two words (laughs). It's quite simple, isn't it?

Your debut single, "Love Villain," was released in December 2021. How would you describe your musical evolution since then?

SUMMER CAKE: During my previous activities for about a year and a half, I released a lot of songs, including OSTs, totaling about 13! Around the time of my activities, a video of me singing a song by coach Sung Si-kyung acapella on the audition program "Voice Korea 2020" became a hot topic, and since that song was a ballad, I had a lot of concerns about whether I should pursue ballads. It was a time when I received a lot of love, so I think I was also very confused about my musical identity.

My previous music had a bit of a kitschy feel. I think I released songs that could be easily listened to in a cool way, but in my future albums, I'm trying to include everything about me as a person - what I often listen to, what I like to wear, and what I think! So I brought this song with the keywords "feminine + sexual"! I want to make music that matches my voice tone and allows you to rhythmically and sexily groove anywhere. I hope that when you listen to this music, you'll feel your own sexiness and mood.

Can you describe your songwriting process? Where do you typically find inspiration for your lyrics and melodies?

SUMMER CAKE: My process involves various styles. Sometimes, I start by writing a story, like an essay or a letter, and then create a track that fits it. Other times, I make the desired beat first and then write the topline (melody line) on it. I want to be recognized in the vocalist's realm and also pursue sophistication in the overall mood. I'm developing my own style to blend these two aspects well!

Let's dive deeper into "Squat." What's the story behind this song, and how does it reflect your current artistic direction?

SUMMER CAKE: When writing this song, I first focused on keywords. One day, I went to the gym to work out, and everyone who exercises knows the squat position, right? So, I thought it would be good to have an easily accessible word repeated in the chorus to make it catchy.

I've been really into SZA and Chris Brown lately, and I think I got a lot of inspiration from their vocals. I rap in a whispering style in the middle of the song, which was a new challenge for me, but I think the lyrics and vibe turned out great. Recently, a video of me covering Chris Brown's "Under the Influence" got 1.73 million views on TikTok! I reinterpreted the song in my own style, so I was really happy to see it get so many views. (laughs)

When I listen to West Coast music and Afrobeats, my heart races, and I get excited. So, for this song, I approached it with an Afrobeats rhythm and a pop topline! I hope you can feel the same heart-pounding excitement and energy that I felt when creating it!

As both a singer and composer, how do you balance these two aspects? Does one influence the other?

SUMMER CAKE: When I work on idol music or music for other artists, I tend to focus on the direction and style that would suit them best. But during that process, I also discover what kind of music suits me!

Because I clearly defined my own musical direction during my break, I don't think working on other artists' music confuses or negatively impacts my own music creation. On the contrary, I find the process of trying out various styles enjoyable, and it allows me to experience more genres, which definitely adds to my experience and skills! (laughs)

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?

SUMMER CAKE: I absolutely love The Weeknd! As I mentioned earlier, I've been listening to a lot of SZA & Chris Brown recently. I think they are artists who do a great job of combining sophisticated beats with top lines that showcase their vocal abilities, so I get a lot of inspiration from them. Their music is incredibly polished and energetic and has a clear vibe that they want to convey. In short, it's powerful.

I'm also very inspired by their music, which delivers explosive energy in live performances. I want to perform a lot and give that kind of energy to the audience, too!

What's been the most challenging aspect of establishing yourself as a soloist in the music industry?

SUMMER CAKE: Even now, I feel like I'm still in the process of finding my place. Since I'm working independently, it hasn't been easy managing everything from concept and music to distribution with just my A&R friend Woni and producer Notmixedyet. There's so much to do.

I want my music to go viral and reach more people through various content and performances, but I feel like I lack opportunities for that, which is a bit disappointing. That's why this interview opportunity is so precious to me. I especially want to communicate more with international fans, so I even started a Twitter account at the request of my Creamies (laughs). I hope to meet you all more often in various places in the future!

What is a song (written by you or someone else) that holds special significance for you?

SUMMER CAKE: Since I was in middle and high school, I've been a huge fan of Mariah Carey. I practiced my English pronunciation a lot, and even though I couldn't reach her high notes (laughs), I tried my best to learn from her and emulate her style.

There's a song by Mariah Carey called "Hero." I remember singing "Hero" at my high school festival and receiving recognition from my friends and teachers. I still can't forget the cheers and applause from that stage.

To me, Mariah Carey was like a wonderful vocal teacher!

Outside of music, what's a hobby or interest that your fans might be surprised to learn about you?

SUMMER CAKE: I recently picked up a new hobby of decorating vintage diaries. Choosing and pasting pretty colored paper, decorating, and jotting down my thoughts feel like I'm creating another form of art, just for myself. And I like how it helps me organize my thoughts in the process!

Also, as you might have seen in the music video, there were many outfits that emphasized my body lines (I did the styling myself), so I kind of had to be really diligent with my diet and exercise! Now, it's become a habit, so I think I'll continue to exercise regularly for my health and to manage my condition.

What's your ideal way to spend a day off when you're not making music?

SUMMER CAKE: I love watching science content, and travel variety shows while enjoying delicious food. It makes me feel so happy.

When I hear about the vastness of the universe, I feel grateful for every single thing in my life as a human being - listening to music, creating music, and feeling the love from my fans. I spent a long time preparing for my debut as part of a group. I was a trainee for about 8 years, and in Korea, trainees have many restrictions.

So, I get vicarious satisfaction from watching travel content about countries I haven't been able to visit. It makes me dream about going on a world tour, performing with my beloved Creamies (my fandom name is Creamie because my name is Cake (laughs), and traveling together. I want to make that dream come true.

Looking ahead, what are your goals for your music career in the next few years? Are there any genres or musical styles you'd like to experiment with in the future?

SUMMER CAKE: To give you a little spoiler, I think my next album will have a West Coast hip-hop rhythm? (laughs)

And I want to release more Afrobeats music, too!

I want to be a performance-oriented artist, so I want to make energetic music that everyone can groove to and enjoy together at concerts.

And at the end of the year, I want to release a calm song that focuses on my vocals.

I'll work hard to prepare so that everything goes according to plan!

Lastly, please leave a message to your fans reading this.

SUMMER CAKE: From the moment you started liking my music, you became my Creamies. I really want to communicate with you all a lot. I see all your interest, comments, and messages of support, and I want you to know that they always give me great strength in my musical activities!! I will continue to communicate with you through various social media activities, so please continue to support me until the day we meet at a concert!

Thank you always, and I love you, Creamies.

Connect with SUMMER CAKE on Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok. 

Listening to her discography on Spotify or Apple Music.

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*Special thanks to SUMMER CAKE for this exclusive interview.