[Anchor]

She is Korea's representative and Asia's top jazz vocalist and singer-songwriter. Marking the 30th anniversary of her debut, singer Woongsan is meeting audiences with a Seoul concert following performances in New York, Osaka, and Tokyo.

Nightline Invitation today (the 27th) is with singer Woongsan.

Q. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of your debut... How do you feel?


[Woongsan / Singer: When it was the 20th anniversary, it felt a bit different, and when I looked back briefly for the 30th anniversary, 30 years passed in the blink of an eye. It felt like a dreamlike moment.]

Q. You are famous for your unique background, aren't you?


[Woongsan / Singer: That's right. Although I didn't officially become a Buddhist nun, I lived a life of ascetic practice. During that period, practicing every day involved abdominal breathing and chanting Buddhist scriptures, which naturally trained my voice. So now, while I make jazz music, I think of music as my second spiritual practice alongside jazz. I prepare for every performance and stage with the heart to communicate with many people through music and help heal them through that communication.]

Q. Your New York concert in September sold out completely... There were many new attempts, right?


[Woongsan / Singer: I have been holding concerts in New York once a year or once every two years since 2016. While preparing for the 30th anniversary, I wanted to be a bit bolder. Director Young-cheon, who does media art, also performed at a theater in Manhattan called La MaMa E.T.C., which hosts a lot of avant-garde performances. The director first suggested, "Why don't we just go all out this time and try all kinds of experimental things?" That gave me some courage, and I wanted to unpack my jazz freely like a bundle. Many Korean fans came to support me, but a lot of local people came too, and I was so, so grateful that they embraced my music so warmly.]

Q. You are also on a Japan tour... You have a deep bond with Japanese fans, don't you?


[Woongsan / Singer: I started my activities in Japan in 1998, and there are many long-time fans. Even after I couldn't visit for four years during COVID-19, they still kept their loyalty and came to find the concert venue. Once they give their love, they seem to stay by my side and support me with one heart for a long time. In fact, Japan is a musical country that helped shape me, Woongsan, into a more mature artist, so I always feel so happy whenever I go there.]

Q. You have a concert in Seoul next month... What kind of stage are you preparing?


[Woongsan / Singer: This stage will comprehensively feature the artists I met and the music I experienced over my 30 years of making music. Hip-hop artist MC Sniper will be there, along with traditional Korean music vocalist Lee Bong-geun, ajaeng player Shin Hyun-sik, and master Baek Kyung-woo will perform the Seungmu (monk dance). I have prepared a time where people can experience everything from soft, autumn-mood jazz standard numbers that make you feel good to free jazz. There is a song I wanted to sing just once on that day, which I wrote and composed myself titled "You Are My Song." I am preparing it as an encore song to share with everyone.]

Q. Breaking down genre boundaries... How do you create "Woongsan's own music"?


[Woongsan / Singer: Actually, this curiosity itself seems to be a gift that jazz gave me. Jazz always makes me challenge myself and want to be freer. Because of jazz, I studied traditional Korean music and also studied Mongolian throat singing. Right now, I've also fallen in love with Middle Eastern music along the Silk Road. So I am continuing my journey into music, and the driving force behind it is undoubtedly curiosity.]

Q. What kind of musician do you want to remain as moving forward?


[Woongsan / Singer: It's something I always think about and repeat to myself. I want to remain a work-in-progress, an unlazy musician, and simply someone who is right in the middle of the journey.]