Neidi’s Natural Instincts

How honest feedback, innovative fellow artists, and general intuition have shaped her style

Photo courtesy of Neidi

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “Neidi is ___” or “Neidi’s music is ___”? 
“Neidi is the one percent.” I believe my music holds a rare sensibility that naturally stands apart.

Who or what first inspired you to pursue a music career? 
I grew up naturally surrounded by music, so it always felt like a part of me. In high school, I performed in a few school festivals and talent shows. I was nervous every time, but being on stage gave me a sense of excitement and thrill that I had never felt before. Even though it scared me, that intense and electrifying feeling stayed with me. That’s when I realized I wanted to pursue music seriously.

What sparked your interest in making music beyond just singing? 
I started as just a singer. I wasn’t strong in composing or songwriting, and I knew my musical perspective was narrow. Instead of staying comfortable, I challenged myself. I trusted my instincts and began creating without waiting to feel ready. That fearless leap is what built Neidi.

What career would you be pursuing today if it could not be music-related? 
If I weren’t pursuing music, I think I would probably be working as a content director or in fields related to fashion and visual arts. I’m very involved in the visual side of my work and usually handle most of my album visuals myself, including videos and photography. I genuinely enjoy working on these aspects just as much as making music, and it feels very natural to me. 

What changed when you went from going by “Hiyeon” to “Neidi,” regarding your music or just your sense of identity overall? 
“Hiyeon” was the first stepping stone that allowed me to start my journey as a musician. At that time, I wasn’t completely sure what I truly wanted to do. I think I often just followed where things naturally led me. As time passed, I began to develop my own musical perspective, and that’s when the identity of “Neidi” started to take shape. I wanted to express myself more honestly and be a little more fearless, so I changed my stage name and began focusing on creating the music I truly wanted to make. 

Please talk about each of these songs: 

“I/o”: “I/o” is a song about the emptiness I felt while living as the version of myself that others expected. It reflects a bittersweet but hopeful decision to live more honestly as who I truly am. The sound is intense and rough, but the lyrics are deeply personal and rooted in my own experiences. I chose to release “I/o” as a pre-release single, [because] I’m currently preparing my full-length album [and] wanted to introduce a new side of myself [to] show how my music has changed.

A song from CRUNCH: The song I have the most love–hate relationship with from the CRUNCH album is probably “FINGER.” It was the most difficult track during the arrangement process and honestly gave us a lot of headaches. Whyahyun and I spent the most time discussing the direction and sound of this song, so it really feels like a track that came out after a lot of struggle. In the end, the arrangement turned out completely different from the original demo, and that unexpected direction actually brought a fresh sense of stimulation and excitement to the process.

“Hide”: “Hide” was the song that made me clearly decide to focus on electronic-based music. It might actually be the release I love the most among everything I’ve put out so far. Before “Hide,” I was still in the process of figuring out what kind of music I wanted to make. After releasing it, I finally felt like I had found my direction. A fun little “TMI” is that the lyrics were inspired by a story from a friend. It came from a joke like, “My girlfriend keeps hiding me,” which turned into the idea behind the title.

“FISH BOWL” (ft. GOYO): “FISH BOWL” is a song I haven’t talked about in a long time. It was truly the first track where I stepped into the world of being a musician. I felt like someone who knew nothing yet, almost like a freshman entering university for the first time. Everything about making music felt fascinating and new to me. I had a lot of shortcomings and went through many emotional ups and downs while making it, but in a way, it’s also the song that helped me grow stronger.

Photo courtesy of Neidi

Who do you look up to in the music industry, and why? 
Recently, the artist who has inspired me the most is Charli xcx. Her album BRAT felt like a refreshing shock. The visuals, the attitude, and every track inspired me a lot and made me think, “I want to be that kind of artist.” I’ve always had a desire to be different from others, and seeing her embrace that so confidently made me realize that it’s not strange to stand out. In a way, she reminded me that expressing myself honestly is what my music is really about.

What are some of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
When I released “Hide,” I didn’t have high expectations for it. To be honest, I even doubted whether people would like the song. There wasn’t much promotion after it was released through the distributor either. But it eventually surpassed ten thousand streams, and many musicians told me they liked my music. Hearing those reactions from both artists and [other] listeners made me realize that I was moving in the right direction. That song gave me the confidence to believe in my own path.

What is the best music-related advice someone has ever given you?
One of the people who has given me the most meaningful advice is my close friend, colleague, and senior, Willy Wally. We exchange a lot of demos and constantly give each other feedback. He’s very honest with me; he doesn’t hesitate to point out the parts that feel weak or unfinished, and I really value that. I try to accept his advice as openly as possible, because I believe honest feedback helps me grow as an artist. I can’t remember one specific piece of advice, since I tend to absorb feedback right away, but I definitely remember the times he scolded me for something! Those moments actually push me to take my music more seriously.

What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
I want to connect with more listeners around the world and communicate more with my international fans. One of my biggest goals is to perform at festivals and go on overseas tours. I want to create stages where people can just lose themselves in the music and go wild together. I really dream about building that kind of energy.

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourself or your music?
I’m currently preparing my full-length album. I’m deeply involved in every part of it, from the music to the visuals, and I’m also lucky to have many amazing people helping me bring it to life. I think it’s something people can really look forward to. I’m planning to stay very active, so please keep an eye on what’s coming next and continue to support Neidi.

Keep up with Neidi and check out her music here!

View the Substack version of this piece here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.