Sunmi: Creating a New Genre

In the K-pop world, it’s easier to make it as a member of a group under a popular label. It’s a lot harder to become successful as a soloist, but Lee Sun-mi—known as Sunmi—did just that. After leaving Wonder Girls, Sunmi stood out as a solo artist through her unique blend of music styles, emotively personal themes, and amazing visuals.

 

 

Sunmi first debuted as a member of Wonder Girls in 2007, managed by JYP Entertainment. She left the group in 2010 to study, and then, in 2013, dove into her solo career. Sunmi debuted with her single “24 Hours.” This track set the tone for a lot of her future work, with a sensually haunting feeling to it. 

 

 

Sunmi is known in the K-pop industry for conceptualizing her own music style called “Sunmi-pop.” This style is influenced by elements of pop, disco, rock, and traditional Korean music, with retro and city pop in the mix as well. 

 

Sunmi-pop is full of emotional lyrics and sounds that permeate the listener. A lot of her music has a double meaning and wordplay in the song titles. For example, “Siren” means both a warning sound and refers to the mythological siren.

 

 

In 2015, Sunmi rejoined Wonder Girls and was with them until they disbanded in 2017. She then left JYP Entertainment yet again and joined Abyss Company (formerly Makeus Entertainment). She released “Gashina,” which became her most popular song. In the MV, Sunmi impresses not just with her vocals but with her visuals. The MV is beautiful and full of life. It just looks like Sunmi’s having so much fun in her house as she dances in different outfits.

 

 

And Sunmi is still making music. With energy and grace, Sunmi has truly created a new sub-genre of K-pop as she has infused her music with emotion, fun, and glamor.