Silly Silky is Always Evolving

How different artists, travel experiences, and stage names have influenced her music and mindset.

Photo credit: Instagram

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “Silly Silky is ___” or “Silly Silky’s music is ___”?
“Silly Silky is all about the vibe,” [and] “Silly Silky’s music is [an] experience.”

What three words or phrases best describe your newest EP, silkysmooth 02?
“Three options,” “The process,” and “Your taste.” 

How have your music tastes changed over the years?
I first began to dream of being on stage when I was a fan of SHINee. After SHINee, I became immersed in [the music of] R&B artists like India.Arie and Ne-Yo. These days, I’m drawn to electronic music, especially artists like Chris Lake and KAYTRANADA. Recently, I was also deeply impressed by the DJ sets of Marco Carola, Mochakk, and Armand Van Helden. 

Did going from “YESEO” to “Silly Silky” make you feel like a new artist again? How much did you and your music change when you changed stage names?
Right after changing my name, I didn’t really feel like a new artist. Honestly, I’ve been [feeling like a new artist] more recently. Towards the end of my time as “YESEO,” I went through a difficult emotional period. I created [the name “Silly Silky”] to make music in a healthier way for myself. Back then, I was just making music without really knowing myself. Now, I make songs while understanding who I am. [The name change is] less about genre changes and more about how my mindset has shifted.  

Is it true that you taught yourself to play instruments? If so, was being self-taught easier or harder than you expected? And how long did it take before you started feeling confident in your skills?
I first learned some piano chords - just enough to accompany myself - back in high school when I was a vocal major. Other than that, all of my instrument-playing and computer MIDI work has been completely self-taught. For me, instruments and MIDI have always been tools to write songs. There were moments of frustration here and there, but it never felt overwhelmingly difficult. If I had focused too much on the end results from the start, I probably would have found it harder. As for confidence, it really depends on how much time I’m given. With enough time, I can always make it work, but I wouldn’t say I’m confident enough to nail everything perfectly in a short amount of time.  

I am curious about the cartoon character on the cover of silkysmooth 01 and silkysmooth 02. Will you continue to put that character on future album covers, or is it just for this series? 
The silkysmooth series will continue to feature that character. It’s a piece by the Spanish artist Andrea Diez Nin. The moment I saw it, I just knew, “This is it.” It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes something gives you such an obvious, natural sense of certainty. This was one of those cases.  

What are the main differences between SILLY : Episode 1 and SILKY : Episode 2?
For the first Episode album, I simply chose the three songs I liked [the most] at the time, so they each had slightly different vibes. Originally, I was going to group together songs that were similar, but a friend suggested, “Why not just show all three options?,” and that felt right. For Episode 2, I again picked the songs I felt were the best among what I had. So the biggest difference is really the period in which the songs were written. Personally, I always prefer my most recent work, and I want to share the newest music possible whenever I release something.  

Do you plan to make silkysmooth 03, or is it time for a new series? 
Another release will be coming in early October. This project is meant to be a year-long journey with twelve releases. 

Do you plan to continue making multi-part series in the future?
The 12-part house project will eventually come to an end. When it does, I think I’ll probably gather the songs into an EP or a full album. And if I come up with more fun ideas, I’m always open - please recommend them to me!  

Do you have a fandom name? If not, are there any you are currently considering?
I thought about creating a fandom name, but I honestly don’t know what it should be. I feel like it’s something best decided by the fans themselves. My stage name is “Silly Silky,” but I always ask people to call me “Silky.” So maybe fans could call themselves “Silly”? But honestly, I think fans will have much better ideas than me. So yes, I’m very open to suggestions.  

What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
In the short term, my goal is to make songs that feel truly like myself. It’s not always easy to be completely honest in the moment of creating music, but recently, I realized at the end of the day, it all comes down to how I think and feel. I want to keep writing songs that make me say, “This is so good, I just have to share it with people.” 

In the long term, I want to go on a world tour, to travel to many countries and share my music and [performances] with people. And if I could win a Grammy or make it onto the Billboard Charts someday, that would be amazing. Dream big, right?  

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourself or your music?
This year, I traveled to Bali and Thailand for the first time on vacation. They’re famous as resort destinations, and I heard so many amazing house mixes while I was there. I realized that I actually love dancing and enjoying myself to house music much more than I thought. Being surrounded by great music brought me a new sense of joy and freedom. That’s when I realized I need to share this experience with the people who listen to my music and with those who will discover it in the future. It’s something you can’t really [understand] unless you experience it yourself, and I [feel the need to] become a channel for that. 

Keep up with Silly Silky on Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Twitter/X!

View the Substack version of this piece here!

Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.