i-dle’s Soyeon has opened up about the pressure and self-doubt she experiences as a songwriter, producer, and group leader.
During a September 5 interview on JTBC’s Newsroom, Soyeon discussed the long process behind some of her biggest songs. She said she usually needs at least a month to complete a song, adding that she wrote dozens of tracks over one year before creating TOMBOY.
“It is also a song I deeply cherish because it gave us our biggest results,” Soyeon said.
The singer is preparing to release her first full-length solo album, Amazing Life, on September 7. She described the album as a sincere reflection of herself at 29 and said the title track, I’m Quitting, was created to give listeners a sense of freedom.
Soyeon has previously spoken about the changing income she receives from songwriting royalties. In a 2024 web variety show appearance, she said her monthly royalties had reached as much as 1 billion won at one point, while other months brought in only 100,000 won. She has contributed lyrics and music to many of her group’s hit songs.
Despite her success, Soyeon said she continues to struggle with fear and creative slumps.
“I feel afraid every day, and I go through a slump every day,” she shared. “Whenever I write a song, I wonder, ‘How did I write a song like that before?’ and ‘Maybe I no longer have talent.’”
However, Soyeon said she has learned to continue working through those difficult moments.
“When I endure and keep going, I eventually overcome it,” she explained. “Even when I feel that everything is truly over this time, I keep holding on because I remember getting through it before. I think the person who endures is the one who wins.”
Her comments highlight the ongoing pressure faced by successful creators, even after they have achieved major commercial success.
