Interview
The K-Nostalgia — Written by Genevieve Torkornoo, August 14, 2026
Your album ICY BABY touches on topics and struggles that can be difficult to navigate. Which parts of these everyday struggles and experiences did you find the most challenging to develop into songs?
Colde: It wasn't so much that it was hard, but there was one thing I kept thinking about throughout the whole album: whether my sincerity would actually come through to the people listening. But as I built the narrative piece by piece while making the album, the structure grew tighter, and I became confident it would come through clearly.
At The K-Nostalgia, we aspire to bridge newer audiences with the older generation of K-pop and Korean music. Is there a Korean artist from the late 1990s or early 2000s who holds a special place in your memories or brings back memories of your youth?
Colde: While working on "SHUT DA FXXKA AND GO," the artist I listened to the most was Crying Nut (song title : “말달리자”) . Their lyrics might look simple at a glance, but the sincerity behind them still resonated deeply with me, even after all this time. If I ever get the chance, I'd love to play "SHUT DA FXXKA AND GO" for them and tell them that their song went on to inspire another anthem of encouragement.
You were able to collaborate with HAHYUNG IS HERE for your upcoming album, ICY BABY. How would you say their designs and style for this album resonate with the evolution of your personal style?
Colde: While working on ICY BABY, I wanted to create a new logo that could represent my identity. HAHYUNG IS HERE is currently doing active work with Verdy as well, and I felt they could sharpen the direction and sensibility I was going for better than anyone, so I reached out to work together. Thanks to them, the direction ICY BABY and Colde were aiming for became a lot clearer.
For your title track, SHUT DA FUCKA AND GO, it was said that you traveled around Thailand to film the music video. What were some of the things you got to experience and see while filming?
Colde: While filming in Thailand, I got to ride all kinds of local transportation with the crew, and I could feel the passion behind their busy everyday lives right alongside them.
In the past, you have produced and collaborated with artists such as BTS’s RM, EXO’s Baekhyun, Chungha, and MAMAMOO’s Whee In. What is something you learned from working with these artists, and how have you been able to incorporate those lessons into your work today?
Colde: There's definitely a different process between working within the K-pop industry and making my own music. In that world, there's a set path to consider, what A&R teams are asking for, what direction producers have in mind, mainstream appeal, and on top of that, I still have to show my own identity. If anything, that gave me a chance to think through more angles, and it made me realize that my own music also needs a clear direction to really connect with listeners. I brought a lot of that thinking into this album.
A large part of youth is taking that first step and being willing to step into the unknown. What advice would you give to people who might be struggling to take those steps?
Colde: Like I mentioned, I had my own struggles too, but I felt like believing in myself was the only way forward. That belief is what eventually built WAVY into what it is today. I hope you'll believe in yourselves too, keep going without giving up. The opportunity does come.
You described filming the music video for SHUT DA FUCKA AND GO as spontaneous. What were some of the most unpredictable moments while filming? Do you believe the techniques used to film the music video embody the rush and unpredictability of youth?
Colde: We filmed in the middle of a hot, humid summer, so sudden rain and intense heat both felt very extreme. I felt that mirrored the temperature shifts across ICY BABY's different facets of youth, so I tried to capture that mood as much as possible with the IDIOTS team. I hope listeners and viewers can feel that same mood fully through the video.
LIFE IS A MOVIE compares youthful love to the love portrayed in cinema. What were some of the biggest differences or misconceptions about love that surprised you during your youth?
Colde: Love really is something you think you understand, until you don't. Sometimes it felt incredibly romantic, but there were also moments where both people ended up confused and struggling. It wasn't really a specific situation, but more the emotion of "love" itself, and the period of "youth" I felt it in, that carried the bigger meaning for me, and I think that's what ended up in the song.
If you had to choose one lyric from your album that represents its central message, which line would you choose, and why?
Colde: I'd have to pick the line "SHUT DA FXXKA AND GO," which is also the title track's name. In the end, it's the one thing I most wanted to say to everyone listening to this album, and the encouragement I wanted to give to youth living through this moment right now.
What was it like sharing the screen with Punchnello while filming the music video for DRIPPY? Were there any particularly fun or memorable moments during filming?
Colde: Working with Punchnello again after such a long time, since our offonoff days, was a really meaningful experience. And having IDIOTS, a longtime friend of mine, capture that moment on screen meant a lot too. Beyond the song itself, I think a behind-the-scenes moment like that is also a big part of what youth is. There was a scene where we did our old handshake together, and seeing that captured on camera made me feel like I'd genuinely gone back to that time. It's a moment that really stuck with me.
Do you feel that some of the struggles you experienced during your youth are culturally different from what young people are facing today?
Colde: Looking closely, there are probably differences, but I think the overall shape of it is the same, whether it's a different era, region, or generation. And I know well that you have to get through it to move on to the next stage. What I want to tell you now, through ICY BABY, is: keep moving forward regardless. If you keep taking it one step at a time without giving up, there will definitely be a result waiting for you, one that lets you bloom.
In the music video for ICY, your first car, a 1994 BMW E34, was featured. What was it like sharing that part of your personal history with your fans?
Colde: When I first bought this car, I have this memory of just driving around the neighborhood aimlessly with friends and having a great time. Bringing that same car back into a music video is a feeling I don't think I'll forget. I hope fans watching this can hear their own story in mine, in a way, through this.
After filming, did you get a chance to take your first car for a drive? What was it like getting behind the wheel of your first car again?
Colde: I got behind the wheel again for the first time in a while while moving the car to set. It's an old car, so the steering felt heavy and maybe a little awkward, but somehow that feeling told me this whole journey was going to be something I'd remember fondly.
What were some of the challenges you faced during your time in Club Eskimo? How did those experiences help you adapt to the music industry?
Colde: Introducing my music to the world for the first time was exciting, but it was also a rough road. It's not easy to make yourself known when nobody knows who you are yet. But I got through that period alongside my Club Eskimo friends, all of us wanting to make genuinely good music, and that feeling hasn't changed to this day. It's been almost ten years now since I started putting down roots in the industry through WAVY, and I think the only reason I made it here is the conviction I held onto back then.
Today’s youth face a variety of challenges, such as a difficult job market, a lack of entry-level opportunities, and technology making it harder to build meaningful connections. What advice would you give to this generation?
Colde: It's a difficult environment, but I believe what makes it possible to get through it, in the end, is the connections between people. While making this project, I got to bring things to fruition through several tough moments, alongside both old friendships and new ones. The shape of those connections will change over time, but if you hold onto them and value them, I think you'll definitely find what you need to get through the hard times.
Stay updated with Colde via social media:
Instagram: @wavycolde | TikTok: @wavy_colde
And follow The K-Nostalgia:
Instagram: @theknostalgia | TikTok: @theknostalgia