CL Is Her Own Inspiration HYPEBAE Spring 2022 Digital Cover CL

Is Her Own Inspiration

by: yeeun kim

The badass “unnie” graces the first-ever cover of HYPEBAE.

Unnie. GZB. Cherry. Those who follow musician CL will know that these are just a few signature words to describe the K-pop veteran. And those who grew up with her music, like myself, will know just how much of a trailblazer the former 2NE1 leader has been in the Korean music scene. As a high schooler in the 2010s, I would fill my iPod Touch playlist with almost all of 2NE1’s releases. Amid a K-pop world where women were – and still are, for the most part – portrayed by the male gaze, it was refreshing to see an all-girl group championing female power with tracks like “FIRE” and “I AM THE BEST.” Fast forward to 2013, the group’s leader CL, whose real name is Lee Chae-rin, went solo with her debut single “The Baddest Female,” a key part of her identity to this day. The past couple of years have marked a new era in CL’s artistry. In late 2019, she released some of her first singles as an independent artist since leaving her previous label YG Entertainment. She shortly followed up with hits like “+HWA+,”“+5 STAR+” and “SPICY.” And after some minor delays, last August, CL gifted fans with her first physical solo album, ALPHA.

White viscose dress, Go-To jacket and Fendi First bag from FENDI SS22 Women’s Collection.

Things have changed drastically over the years since her debut in 2009, but what remain consistent in CL’s music are her messages of encouragement and self-belief. This was a recurring theme in our conversation with the star, as we sat down over Zoom after shooting HYPEBAE’s first-ever digital cover featuring herself. “Saehae bok mani badeuseyo ( ),” she greeted me as she sat in front of the camera. “In Asia, we start our year mid-February. So today, when I met my team, I was like, ‘Happy New Year!’” she said. “This shoot marks the beginning of my official schedule for 2022, so it feels good to be back from the holidays. I’m excited to create more this year.” The artist, who just turned 31, is focused on creating and taking care of herself this year. “Usually, I have plans for my birthday, but this year I want to spend some time alone and do whatever I love to do,” she explained during our interview, which took place just a few weeks before her 31st birthday. “Maybe I’ll take a great bath or go for a hike. It’s just that kind of year for me.”

Looking back on her late teenage years and her 20s, CL realizes that putting yourself first is one of the best things you can do for yourself. “It’s always important that you’re in a good mood.” But if she were to give any advice to her freshly debuted 18-year-old self, there isn’t much she would say. “When anyone comes to me for advice, I tell them not to take my advice. I mean, if someone has a question then, of course, I can answer it for them out of my own experience. But at the end of the day, I think the most important thing is to listen to your gut. Really listen to yourself.” This energy is directly reflected not only in CL’s music, but also in her style when it comes to fashion, beauty and visuals in general. “I think my aesthetic has always been the same. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a team around me that can execute my ideas and really listen to what I want to do,” she shared. “I guess my style has never changed, but I think the biggest part for me in developing my identity was – and this also has to do with Very Cherry – leaving the nest that I started in and becoming more independent. That was all what ALPHA was about – being independent.”

"At the end of the day, I think the most important thing is to listen to your gut. Really listen to yourself."

Fendigraphy bag, suit and earrings from from FENDI SS22 Women’s Collection.

This is huge for someone who’s spent her teen years and 20s constantly working and traveling with a group. “As someone who comes from a system, and to be surrounded by one team for a long time, I just wanted to make sure that I learn, experience and live my own life. Having my story and also, learning how to build something on my own.” When I asked CL who her main inspiration was throughout this entire process of finding herself, she nonchalantly answered: “I’m going to be honest. It’s me.” She laughed, further explaining: “I’m not saying that everyone should take inspiration from me, but that everyone should be able to believe in themselves.” She added: “We all live together in a community that’s so connected, that we often forget about truly appreciating ourselves for who we are. For me, I just want to make sure I make the right choices for my life. That’s why I am the inspiration for all of those decisions.” And of course, she aims to deliver this very message through her music, especially on her latest album ALPHA. CL’s concept of independence isn’t just about trusting your gut or believing in yourself, but it is also heavily centered around embracing

your background. She’s one of the first few in the K-pop scene to throw Korean references into her music, whether it be in her lyrics or in her music videos. She calls her fans “GZBs” – short for gijibae, an informal, friendly way to say “girl” or “b-tch.” On her track “+HWA+,” she raps, “Mugunghwa kkoci pieot seumnida ( ),” the Korean version of the Red Light Green Light game now often associated with Netflix’s Squid Game. In the music video for her song “SPICY,” she shows her Korean pride by wearing her Seoul-exclusive Nike Dunks. “I think it all comes back to me being my own inspiration. You know, it’s who I am. It really started to inspire me when I got to travel a lot more as CL, not as my younger self. Not just to represent it, but it was to just be myself more. Reconnecting to who I am, where I come from,” she said. This sentiment is extended to CL utilizing her platform to spotlight emerging artists. She tapped rising hip-hop musicians Lil Cherry, Omega Sapien and sokodomo for a remix version of “SPICY,” and more recently, wore a full ‘00s-inspired denim look by new-gen designer Masha Popova on Vogue.

“It’s because I feel like those people are me when I was younger. If I see my younger self in someone, I’ll feel a connection with them and I’d want to build something with them.” She elaborated on her love and passion for discovering new creatives: “I’m a fan of wearing new designers and graduation pieces, and I love listening to new music all the time. I’ve done that my entire life and that’s never changed. But now, I have the opportunity to give back, and collaborate with and empower those artists.” She told me that she’s working on an exciting project with an emerging artist that has caught her eye recently. “I want to keep it a secret for now. But there are a lot of new designers that I am working with and want to work with in the future.” Could her love for fashion perhaps inspire a coveted collaboration, something we’re seeing so much of in the industry today? As someone who’s well connected in the field (CL is known to be good friends with designers like Jeremy Scott), it would make sense that she would create her own line of clothing. “I get that [question] a lot. Maybe a collab one day. Like I said, I’m a fan of all these things and I mean, never say never, right? I feel like I’m so passionate about [fashion that] at one point, I’d feel like I don’t want to be just the model or the muse of something, maybe. When it’s the right time, I will get there.” But for now, CL wants to work on her music. “At least for a few years, I want to musically get to a point where I feel like I connected enough with my fans.”

Peekaboo ISeeU, white suit and earrings from FENDI SS22 Women’s Collection.

With South Korea extending its COVID-19-related social distancing and travel restrictions, there are just three things that CL wishes for when the pandemic is finally over. “I wanna f-ckin’ go on tour. Honestly,” she said first thing. “And have proper dinner with my friends here in Korea. I’m not someone who loves to go out. I love staying home but I do miss it. I miss traveling with my whole team. It’s just the freedom that I miss, knowing that I can dine out or travel if I wanted to.” Maybe for her 32nd birthday, she’ll celebrate with more people. “Maybe I’ll throw a huge birthday party [when the pandemic is over]!” As we were wrapping up our interview, CL kept on her big smile, one that I now know comes from her taking care of herself, making sure that she is always in a good mood. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Photographer: Mok Jungwook Film Director: Mok Jungwook Videographer: Cho Joonkoo Stylist: Anna Park Makeup Artist: Taeyun Park Hair Stylist: Hye Young Lee Nail Artist: Breathnailz Producer: YeEun Kim Interviewer: YeEun Kim Designer: Jade Chung

Fendigraphy bag and dress from FENDI SS22 Women’s Collection.

"As someone who comes from a system, and to be surrounded by one team for a long time, I just wanted to make sure that I learn, experience and live my own life."