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Beyond the ‘Summer Queen’: Eunbi Kwon Wants to Show a More Natural Side
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Beyond the ‘Summer Queen’: Eunbi Kwon Wants to Show a More Natural Side

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Interview Named sources New plan
  • Kwon Eun-bi will release “DEJAVU,” her first new song in 16 months and her first release since joining RBW after leaving Woollim Entertainment.
  • The disco-pop track marks a change from the moombahton-focused music and powerful performances associated with her “Waterbomb goddess” and “Summer Queen” image.
  • Kwon said she wants to be recognised through her albums, explore genres including UK garage and house, and define success as maintaining a long, healthy career.

Kwon Eun-bi wants listeners to hear more than the forceful performer known as the “Waterbomb goddess” and “Summer Queen.” “On stage, Kwon Eun-bi is intense, but off stage I have a bright, refreshing and easygoing image. I wanted to express a more natural Kwon Eun-bi through music,” she said.

The singer, 31, returns on September 3 with the digital single “DEJAVU,” her first release in 16 months. It is also her first new song since she left Woollim Entertainment in April after nearly 10 years and joined RBW.

On stage, Kwon Eun-bi is intense, but off stage I have a bright, refreshing and easygoing image. I wanted to express a more natural Kwon Eun-bi through music.

— Kwon Eun-biShe explained why she chose a different musical image for her comeback.

Kwon became widely known for music built around strong melodies and performances, often in the moombahton style, an electronic genre combining house and reggaeton. “DEJAVU” takes a different route, using rhythmic bass and bright guitar sounds in a disco-pop arrangement. “The intention was to try music that I could like and enjoy more,” she said.

The intention was to try music that I could like and enjoy more.

— Kwon Eun-biShe described the motivation behind the disco-pop sound of “DEJAVU.”

She said RBW appealed to her because the company viewed her as an artist capable of handling more varied concepts. The move, she added, reflected her desire to open a new chapter. Her breakthrough came after her 2023 performance of “UNDERWATER” at the Waterbomb festival became a major talking point and sent the song back up the charts. This year, however, she declined to appear at Waterbomb so she could concentrate on preparing the album.

Kwon said she remains grateful for the affection that followed her Waterbomb appearance and is not abandoning the “Summer Queen” identity. She wants to add something new to it. Her larger goal is to become an artist recognised for her albums, not only for “UNDERWATER.” She plans to try UK garage, house and band sounds, saying she does not want her musical roots fixed in one genre. She also hopes to continue performing for a long time. “More than enormous popular success, I think it is harder to keep working steadily without accidents,” she said. “I want to keep working for a long time with a healthy mindset, getting back up like a tumbler whenever I fall.”

More than enormous popular success, I think it is harder to keep working steadily without accidents.

— Kwon Eun-biShe defined success as sustaining a long career rather than achieving only major popularity.
About this summary

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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