Enyang Ha
Having worked intimately with the releases of some of the most experimental artists of our time, Enyang’s musical sensibility and need for experimentation align closely with the roster of her impressive clientele. Singing in Korean over tightly knitted backdrops of electronic percussion and symphonic modular blasts, she resolutely refuses to take a single path, using non-traditional compositional methods to reach remarkable sonic vistas.
Enyang, Let's start with your early growing-up phase. How was life growing up as an artist, but not knowing about it? How did you discover your inclinations, Please take us through your early progressing years. How did music happen to you?
Growing up in a conservative family and culture in Korea presented numerous challenges to my artistic inclinations. The very essence of who I longed to be—someone who freely communicated, discussed my interests, dressed in a way that resonated with my style, and simply screamed if that was what I needed to express—was met with resistance. However, despite these constraints, my passion for music began to emerge during my early years.
My journey towards music started with classical piano at the age of 5. I had the opportunity to practice and participate in various piano competitions, which provided a foundation for my musical and performance abilities.
During my childhood around the age of 9, still in Korea, I found myself becoming curious to explore more music from Japan and the Western world led me to delve into the internet, spending hours late into the night downloading albums from Limewire and immersing myself in English websites to explore the lyrics and meanings behind the songs.
It was during my time at a Christian boarding school in Kentucky that I encountered further restrictions on my musical journey. I was 14 and graduated at 18. The school imposed strict limitations on the type of music I could listen to, and where and how we were listening to, allowing only selected gospel music in an open space.
However, as my journey led me to Tokyo and later to Berlin, a city renowned for its vibrant arts scene, I found myself in an environment that fostered my expressions and encouraged diversity in culture and music. It was a turning point in my life, providing me with the freedom and opportunity to explore my true artistic inclinations. The newfound sense of liberation ignited a creative awakening within me, leading me to forge my unique sound, which has since evolved into an innovative blend of electronic, avant-garde, and post-rock elements.
Talk about the importance of being niche and innovative in the current times where we are constantly bombarded with all things pop and mass consuming. I'd like to know about your alignment and constant urge of wanting to introspect and experiment. What is it that you seek when you are in the process and how do you identify with the exact?
I believe that personal growth and introspection have a direct impact on the authenticity, innovation, and niche qualities of one’s music. When you truly know yourself, you understand your individuality, and that uniqueness naturally translates into the music you create. By aligning my journey of self-awareness and awakening with my creative process, I infuse my music with a genuine and transformative essence that resonates with others. It is this deep connection between my personal growth and the evolution of my music that allows me to create meaningful art.
In the current digital era, where AI has taken over and is impacting creative endeavours like never before, What are your thoughts on AI’s influence on creative cognition? Are we becoming more mechanical or are machines becoming more human? What do you call this integration and synthesis?
The influence of AI on creative cognition signifies an era of augmented creativity, where humans and machines collaborate to push the boundaries of artistic expression. This integration and synthesis recognize the unique strengths of both humans and machines, with humans providing emotional depth and contextual understanding, while AI contributes computational power and analytical capabilities. I believe that the future of creativity lies in harnessing the potential of AI as a tool to inspire and augment human creativity, rather than replacing the essential human element in the creative process.
Music is always considered an instant means to transcend, please take us through your very own experiences that lead you to better consciousness or awareness.
Music has played a profound role in my life, because, you know, I've spent most of my time living abroad in all these new and unfamiliar cultures. The presence of language barriers can significantly impede effective self expression and communication. However, I have found solace in the fact that music transcends these linguistic boundaries, providing me with a powerful tool to authentically express myself from the deepest recesses of my heart. This always has been a relief.
In instances where articulating my thoughts and emotions in the local language proved challenging, music became my universal language. Through the melodies, rhythms, and textures I created, I was able to convey the essence of my experiences and emotions, thereby bridging the gap between cultures and establishing profound connections with others.
Music has not only facilitated my self-expression but has also bestowed upon me a sense of belonging and connection in foreign environments. It has become a medium through which I navigate the complexities of cultural diversity, resonating with individuals who find solace and connection through my music.
Let's get on to the video premiere of, Golden Tree, what's the story? How did you start and finish this overall piece? What are your expectations from the listeners and what were your intentions behind this track?
“이제는 이제는 살아다오
Now may it live
이제는 살아다오 이제는
Now may it breathe
이제는 이제는 이제는
Now now now
돌아가는 시간 안에는
In our cycling time
기억을 되살리게 되는 일들이 있어
There are things that remind us from our deepest memory
우리가 만난
Where we meet
우리가 펼쳐내는 이 공간이
Where we unfold our space
처음은 아닐거야
This is probably not the first time
너는 어느새 크고 빛이나는 나무가 되었구나
You have become a big bright tree
온 토양과 하늘에 정기를 물려주는 나무가 되었구나
that inherits vitality to lands and sky
이제는 이제는 살아다오
Now now may it live”
As the lyrics unfold, they delve into the concept of time and memories. The cyclic nature of time is highlighted, suggesting that within the flow of time, there are moments that trigger the resurfacing of our deepest memories. It's through these encounters and connections with others that our deep muscle memories are revived.
With each return to life, one becomes more aware and brighter, evolving into a big bright tree. This tree influences the world, nourishing the soil and sky, symbolising the significance of giving back and making a positive impact on the world around us.
My hope for "Golden Tree" is that it serves as an inspiration to listeners, reminding them of the cyclical nature of life and helping them reconnect with their purpose, passions, and true selves. By embracing this perspective, I aspire for individuals to live more joyfully, experiencing less suffering along their journey.
Your new album, Name of Your Light, is coming out in September. Please take us through the process of this album. How did this happen and what was and is the overall artistic process like?
The album, "Name of Your Light," draws inspiration from the profound concepts of reincarnation and rebirth. It seamlessly reinvents itself throughout, embracing diverse genres while maintaining a central and coherent thread. During the creation of this album, I was both pregnant and raising my son while working as a full-time mastering engineer, an experience that presented me with both challenges and immense inspiration.
The journey of finding a path to be born again is far from simple; it demands unwavering strength and will. It was this recognition that fueled my creative process and led me to craft this album as a tribute to all the spirits who embark on the cycle of returning to life, driven by the purpose they are destined to fulfil.
The album's artistic process began in the spring of 2020. I started by writing the basic melody lines using my bass and my voice from the comfort of my home. With these initial sketches in hand, I later brought them to my production studio in Funkhaus, where I began layering additional elements such as modular synth, piano, and guitar.
Soon after starting with the album, I found myself unexpectedly pregnant during this time and also working as a full-time mastering engineer. As a result, the album's production moved forward slowly. Once my son was born, I faced a period of physical exhaustion and limited time and mental space. At that point, I was quite scared that completing the album would be impossible in this life. However, I soon realized that this fear was temporary.
After a year of focusing on raising my son, he became more independent, and I began to carve out blocks of time dedicated to working on the album. During short periods when my partner and son went on vacations, I utilized these moments of solitude to immerse myself in an intense burst of creative energy. My son's presence can be found throughout every song, from the gentle pulsation of his heartbeat to the melodic chirping and even the heartfelt cries that resonate within the music.
Crafting lyrics that truly satisfied me has always been a significant challenge. Often, I would have the melody in mind, humming along with a vocal line, yet struggling to find the lyrics to match. However, following a post-partum break, an artistic burst occurred, and I experienced a remarkable flow of inspiration that allowed me to write lyrics effortlessly and continuously. This surge of creativity also provided the opportunity to re-record all the vocals, aligning them with the newly crafted lyrics.
Interestingly, the songs transformed the album's production process. Due to the fragmented nature of working in blocks of time, each song progressed in a unique way, deviating from its initial forms.
Since January 2023, I have been diligently working on post-production in my mastering studio located in Funkhaus. Despite the considerable challenges and extended timelines, I believed I needed to take on the roles of producer, mixer, and mastering engineer, overseeing every aspect of the album's production. The intricate shaping of artistic noise and distortion during the mixing stage was an essential component of my album that demanded my personal touch. Entrusting this task to someone else would not have allowed me to achieve the desired outcome that I envisioned. The decision to take on the responsibility of producing, mixing, and mastering this album myself certainly came with its fair share of struggles and extended timelines. However, the outcome undeniably proves that it was all worth it.
I hope to inspire other mother artists to embrace the importance of not rushing during their child's first year. They simply need you. Once they reach a certain level of independence, it will be much easier to rediscover inspiration and motivation to dive back into creative work.
I'm curious to know about the importance and role of technology and AI in your work. Please take us through your thoughts on the importance of technological advancements in better expressions and creative explorations.
AI in my creative work holds great significance, especially in enhancing expression and fostering creative explorations. I frequently utilize AI, particularly for writing, as it allows me to leverage its capabilities in organizing and structuring my thoughts and content.
When working with AI, I provide my initial ideas and content, and the AI assists me in putting them into the appropriate context and structure. However, it's important to note that the best results emerge not from simply copying and pasting AI-generated content, but rather from engaging in a thorough and iterative process of collaboration. This involves asking various questions and refining the input. I carefully curate and extract the parts that align with my artistic vision and re-work this extracted content to achieve the most satisfying outcome.
By collaborating with AI, I can tap into its vast knowledge and computational abilities, which can bring fresh perspectives and ideas to my creative endeavours. It acts as a tool that complements my creative process, helping me uncover new angles and possibilities that I might not have considered initially.
Your work with artists like Arca, Amnesia Scanner, and Deena Abdelwahed to name a few speaks about your skills and sensibilities of understanding craft, mind, art, and humans. I'd like to know about your other parallel skill sets and practices that keep you aligned with your craft. How does your studio feel like? What's the ambience like?
To be more specific, I have had the privilege of working with esteemed artists such as Arca and Amnesia Scanner to master their albums. Additionally, I had the opportunity to produce a remix for Deena Abdelwahed.
My strongest parallel skill set is my expertise as a mastering engineer. Mastering is a crucial stage in the music production process, where I fine-tune the final mix, ensuring optimal sound quality and cohesiveness across all tracks. For me, mastering goes beyond being a mere technical step in music production. It holds a profound artistic and creative significance, breathing life and depth into a piece, and infusing it with greater meaning. A well-executed mastering process has the remarkable ability to draw out the unique persona of a musician, translating their essence into sound.
I prioritize the training of my mind as a parallel practice to stay aligned with my craft. I believe that nurturing the mind is essential for personal growth, cultivating positive energy, and maintaining a balanced and inspired approach to my music and interactions with others. I dedicate time to various practices that promote mental clarity, self-reflection, and overall well-being. Meditation, Buddhist practices, jogging and yoga are integral to my daily routine. While producing and performing music serve as channels for external communication, the act of mixing and mastering allows me to turn inward and explore the depths of my being. It is during these moments that I delve into the centre of my creative essence.
Designed with a timeless, symmetrical layout and crafted from wood, my studio serves as a sanctuary and provides a serene and harmonious environment. The symmetrical layout creates a sense of balance and harmony, reflecting the internal equilibrium I strive to achieve in my music and life.
Last but not least, What new you are currently exploring?
Currently, I am exploring new dimensions of my artistic expression and focusing on the beauty and power of singing. One of the recent ventures I embarked upon involved participating in a piece that involved me singing Korean folk opera, known as Pansori, rendered in spatial audio presented at Callie’s Berlin.
While my upcoming album, "Name Of Your Light," features my vocals in almost all the songs, I am relishing the opportunity to solely focus on singing without the additional responsibilities of producing on the computer or playing synthesizers on stage. This dedicated time for singing is a gift, as it allows me to fully immerse myself in the pure beauty of vocal expression.
I believe that singing is the most direct and intimate way to express oneself. It holds a unique power to convey emotions and connect with listeners on a deep level. While I will continuously enjoy producing and playing synthesisers, I feel a strong desire to delve further into the depths of my capabilities as a singer.
photo MAX HARTMANN
music video SYNTHTATI
interview JAGRATI MAHAVER
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