[Exclusive Interview] LIYVZ: One Year Later with the Viral Indie K-Pop Artist

Hi LIYVZ! Glad to have you back. Why don’t you introduce yourself to our new readers?

Hi KpopWise readers! My name is LIYVZ, and I’m an independent K-Pop singer songwriter. Nice to meet you!

It’s been just over a year since we last spoke to you. What do you think has changed between then and now?

When I did my first interview with KpopWise, I was still trying to figure out my sound and especially my performance style. Back then I was performing with a band, and while that was super cool, I’m really happy to be doing more idol-style performances. I always enjoy myself more when I get to sing and dance.

From your time as an independent K-Pop trainee, what did you learn that you still carry with you to this day?

ALWAYS sing live. I still remember my teachers scolding my group for lipsyncing the chorus of “Whatta Man” by IOI during our mid-evaluation. They made us do it again and told us it made a huge difference— our performance came off much more powerful, we were more present and the audience was much more engaged and impressed hearing us sing our hearts out (though honestly, we were fighting for our lives).

Now that I’m a soloist, it’s a big responsibility to sing the whole song alone from beginning to end but I always keep that lesson in mind. Live music is about connecting with people and letting your voice be heard, which is one of the many reasons I love performing so much.

Tell us about your new song “Bloom” and how you came to create it!

Bloom is a mid-tempo pop R&B song that’s perfect for your summer playlist. It’s a self love anthem that boldly expresses that it’s both mine and your time to bloom.

What inspired this song?

I unfortunately went through a time where I received a lot of hate comments for being a K-Pop artist that doesn’t fit the Korean beauty standards. At first, I really struggled with the things people would say to me. But at some point, I realized that despite what anyone was saying about me, I was still getting new opportunities, having amazing experiences, and growing as a person and an artist. So Bloom was meant to be a thank you letter to myself for enduring all the hard times and stepping into a new era of self love, and to encourage others to live the same way.

You told us before you were inspired by artists such as Destiny’s Child, and K-Pop artists such as Baek Yerin and Sunmi. As an artist, who inspires you these days?

I might have mentioned her last time, but SAAY really inspires me. She’s the artist who gave me the courage to push forward independently— she can write, produce, choreograph, direct, the whole nine yards. Seeing every project she puts out and hearing her work gives me the inspiration to keep pushing my creative limits, especially as a female soloist.

Which song or album is on repeat for you right now?

I’ve been listening to “Candy Paint” and “Big Boy” by Normani non stop lately. I still have to listen to her whole album but so far, no skips. I’ve been a big fan of hers for a while!

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

This question is always so hard for me! At the moment, I would say NVee from BLACKSWAN. She’s one of the best vocalists in the K-Pop scene right now and I think we could make a really cool collab— something along the lines of “The Boy is Mine” by Brandy and Monica or “Somebody” by 15& would be so fun!

You often style yourself – who do you consider a fashion icon?

My mom. The original diva, her style is just so elegant and refined somehow, even when the vibe is casual. Watching her style herself and going shopping together as I grew up is definitely how I got into fashion (and became a shopaholic). I always ask for her opinions on my stage outfits!

What’s one thing outside of music that you’re into right now?

Ballroom culture! The majority of my social media feeds are voguing videos, urban runway modelling, the dolls giving what needed to be gave. I’ve been into ballroom since I was a teenager but right now it’s very present on social media and that makes me super happy!

How did you come up with the name “MYVz” for your fans?

So my stage name LIYVZ means “to live, not survive”. I blended my real name with the airport codes for Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto (YYZ) since those two cities are where I developed my passion for performing. It’s a reminder to myself that I wasn’t meant to just coast through life in survival mode, I deserve to thrive. So, when making the name MYVz for my fans, I based it on the French phrase “ma vie”, meaning “my life”. The life I live as an artist wouldn’t be possible without my fans, so I wanted to recognize them as a big part of my life.

What’s one concept you want to try?

I have two, and I have to share both because they’re polar opposites. 

Firstly, a vogue inspired concept. As I mentioned earlier, I love ballroom culture and would love to incorporate it into my music and performances! Second, a bubblegum J-Pop concept. I have gotten into kaigai idols over the past few years and I really love their high energy performances and adorable outfits! So, I want to try it out at least once, in my own style.

As an artist, what’s your message?

Be your authentic self. I believe our lives are too precious to be spent trying to be what society tells us to be if that’s not what we want. As long as you are safe and nobody is harmed, why not chase your dreams?

What do you want to tell MYVz right now?

I love you all so, so much. Thank you for waiting patiently for my comeback! Whether you’ve been a fan of mine for years or just found me recently, I’m really grateful for your support and I hope I can make you proud as an artist. Again, I love you!

What’s next for you? Can we expect anything soon?

I’m going to be spending some time in Canada over the next few months and am hoping to do some shows there and in the US! I’m always working on music of course, but meeting MYVz in person is always my favourite thing so I really can’t wait to travel to more places and perform for you all.

“Bloom” is now out on all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music so be sure to check it out, and follow LIYVZ on:

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok