From sad memories swept away by rain to sweet confessions of love and effervescent message of support for all, CHUU’s rich, colorful words offer glimpses into the deeper side of an idol who’s grown both musically and emotionally. Read on to hear her discuss the feelings she openly explores on her third mini album, “Only cry in the rain,” and some song recommendations that course over her heart like gentle raindrops.

“Only cry in the rain” (CHUU)
CHUU: I think everyone has their own moment where they awaken to their emotions, and I hope this song lines up nicely with how it feels when that “clicks” into place—not overly sad or calm. I tried to have the words and the melody capture the feeling of being emotional when it rains, so hopefully the song can speak for the feeling in that moment. It’s like it’s a rainy day and it’s saying, “It’s okay, you can cry today.”

“Back in town” (CHUU)
CHUU: This song feels like going back down an alley you haven’t been down in ages and suddenly seeing a familiar face in your head—familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time—and the song makes you feel like you’re being embraced by that feeling. I tried to fill it with times when you feel that way and the feeling of falling in love for the first time, too. I hope you’ll search around in your own memories while listening to this song.

“Kiss a kitty” (CHUU)
CHUU: This song just makes my heart melt! It isn’t summer just yet, but this song makes me think of the summertime thanks to the upbeat rhythm, bouncy vocals, and lovely lyrics with cute expressions. I even took a leap and tried rapping on this one, which probably contributed to how fun it was to record. I was laughing the whole time, which made it tricky, but it helped me overcome my fears about rapping in the end, so I’m especially attached to this song. Make sure to give it a listen when you need a pick-me-up!

“Je t’aime” (CHUU)
CHUU: I don’t think you always need to talk about love in grand terms. This song simply talks about feelings in a quiet way, with a continuously repeating “je t’aime, je t’aime, je t’aime.” I sang it with a warm, tender voice. There’s such beauty in those words that I could repeat them forever without growing bored of them.

“No more” (CHUU)
CHUU: You know how sometimes something as simple as, “You’ve got this—you’re an amazing person,” can be hugely encouraging? I wanted this song to feel like it’s saying those things to anyone who listens. Everyone has their own things that make them special, but if you can’t show those things off with confidence, no one will notice them. I think it’s ultimately up to each of us whether we choose to show off our treasures or to keep it hidden. I put all my energy into this song so that it could instill the people who listen with some self-confidence.

“Tell me” (JANNABI)
CHUU: When I listen to this song, it feels like someone’s reaching down somewhere inside me and holding the younger me’s hand. It sort of feels like you’re on a train, and as you come over a hill, you see a theme park full of childhood innocence. It paints a landscape of the feelings you’ve forgotten in your life.

“Beginning” (DOYOUNG)
CHUU: Whenever I listen to this, I can see an animated movie unfolding in my mind scene by scene with every word of the lyrics! It feels like fresh, shimmering soap bubbles softly floating by—making your heart race with encouragement in the form of a silent spring breeze.

“I’m not alone” (Suh Young Eun)
CHUU: I absolutely love this song. Hearing it reminds me of one time as a kid that I had to stand up at the back of the room with my friends during class as a punishment for not getting my homework in. Maybe it was because I wasn’t alone, but it’s not a bad memory—there’s actually something nice about it. Our homeroom teacher liked music from that era and would always play songs from back then every time during break, and this was one of them. This one in particular stuck with me. When I hear those nostalgic lyrics and melody, all those old memories rush back and make me emotional, like it’s reaching a hand back out to me now that I’m older.

CHUU's recommendations:
Chang Kiha - ‘Envy None’
IU - ‘Through the Night’
IU - ‘Knees’
ROSÉ - ‘number one girl’
YEOCH - ‘All the Same’
HANRORO - ‘Let Me Love My Youth’
MAGOLPY - ‘A Delinquent Girl’