Recently, The New York Times published an interview with Kpop idol Rose of Blackpink, before she released her first solo album "rosie", scheduled to be released on December 6.
Rose shared her excitement, saying, "It feels like I've been waiting my whole life to release this album. I grew up listening to a lot of female artists. I used to relate to them, and they really helped me get through hard times. So I've always dreamed of one day being able to have my own album.
But I never really thought it would happen. When I started this process last year, I doubted myself a lot.”
Born in New Zealand and moving to Australia at the age of 8, Rose became a trainee at YG Entertainment in 2012, after passing an audition at the age of 15.
Looking back on her internship years, she describes them as difficult and lonely: "The loneliness I endured was something I didn't fully understand. It was so traumatic that it was shocking, but I got through it."
However, Rose notes that K-pop fan culture puts pressure on idols: “We’re trained to always present ourselves in the most perfect way. Even when interacting with fans online, it’s about giving the perfect answer, saying the right things when I’m ready, and making sure I’m the perfect girl for everyone. It’s the culture.”
During the interview, Rose revealed that “Vampirehollie” was originally her private Instagram account, where she could be herself without worrying about what people thought of her.
But things changed when some fans found out and negative comments appeared: “They tried every way to reach me and eventually they used that account to provoke me. I feel like they are obsessed with controlling me.”
When asked about the online harassment that K-pop artists, especially female artists, face from anti-fans, Rose tearfully said, “I don’t want to get too emotional about it, because I want to say that I’m pretty strong. But when it really affects me, I feel really bad.”
“Number One Girl” was a song Rose wrote in response to negative comments: “That song was written after a terrible night of surfing the internet until 6am, I barely slept. The next day, I walked into the studio feeling grumpy.
I told them, “I’m so exhausted. I’m exhausted trying to please everyone. I’ve tried my best to be the best version of myself, but I feel a little lost and like I’m never good enough. I’m upset with the world, and I wanted to write a song that was just as open and honest.”
But Rose also spoke about the solace she finds in songwriting, describing it as a way to process her emotions and protect herself. "Songwriting comes as a blessing when I really need it. I'll take a big issue into the process, put it into a song, and then it'll leave my heart," she shared.
