Behind the Music: ShE’s Talks “End of World,” Growth, and Future Aspirations In Exclusive Interview

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Get to know ShE’s as they talk about their latest single, “End of World,” the challenges of live performances, and their journey as a duo.

ShE’s, a rising vocal duo comprising Kwon Eunseo and Park Sunhee, has quickly gained attention for their distinctive blend of vocal charm and powerful presence. Both graduates of Hanyang Women’s University’s Practical Music Department, Eunseo and Sunhee bring their unique musical talents and charisma to every performance. Their impressive skills shine in a diverse range of cover songs, spanning both Korean and international genres. Known for their captivating tones and rhythmic finesse, ShE’s has built a compelling presence across platforms like YouTube and TikTok, where their covers have earned millions of views. Their YouTube Shorts, in particular, have resonated widely, with one standout cover of YOASOBI’s “Idol” amassing over 11 million views.

The duo’s appeal lies not only in their vocal prowess but also in their ability to fuse trendy, rhythmic elements with soulful performances, resonating with fans of all ages. Their cover of Yuuri’s “Betelgeuse” reached 480,000 views on YouTube, proving their ability to connect deeply with listeners through powerful yet nuanced renditions. ShE’s continued to evolve their style and artistry, culminating in their digital single “Tell Me Hello,” released in April 2024, which showcased their skill in blending emotive storytelling with infectious rhythms.

Now, with the release of their latest single, “End of World,” on October 16, 2024, ShE’s dives into new sonic territory, offering a fresh perspective on love, resilience, and hope amidst life’s challenges. In an exclusive interview, Eunseo and Sunhee open up about the inspiration behind “End of World,” their journey together as ShE’s, and how they’ve grown since their debut. Join us as we delve into the creative minds behind this dynamic duo and explore the passion that drives their music.

Hellokpop: Congratulations on the release of your new single, “End of World!” To start, could you introduce yourselves to our readers?

ShE’s: Hello, we are ShE’s, a female vocal duo. We release music, perform live, and share song covers on our YouTube channel. With our unique blend of charming voices and powerful vocals, we’ve created a sound that’s all our own. Our group name comes from our initials—”Sh” for SunHee and “Es” for EunSeo.

HKP: “End of World” has a strong J-rock influence. What inspired you to take this musical direction for the song?

ShE’s: We’ve found that J-pop style music suits our tone the best, but for this release, we decided to explore the J-rock genre, which offers a fresh sound compared to our previous two songs. With this track, we hope to inspire listeners with the energy and power of our voices, delivering something both refreshing and uplifting.

HKP: Can you share a bit about the creative process behind “End of World?” Did you face any challenges while bringing the song to life?

ShE’s: Preparing this song was the most challenging of the three we’ve released so far. First, we didn’t have much experience with the rock genre. Second, we were concerned about whether we could pull it off, especially with the high pitch. Lastly, it was our first time practicing facial expressions and gestures, as it was our debut in a music video. Despite these challenges, all the hard work and practice paid off. Thankfully, recording the song and shooting the music video turned out to be easier than we expected. That’s probably why the release day of “End of World” felt like our proudest and happiest moment so far.

HKP: The title “End of World” feels quite bold and intense. How did you come up with the name, and what does it mean to you?

ShE’s: The first line of the song’s highlight is “End of World.” It’s just three short words, but it makes a powerful impression. We chose this title with the intention of leaving a lasting memory with the audience.

Eunseo

HKP: What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from “End of World?”

ShE’s: If you’re hesitating to confess your love to someone special, we hope this song gives you the confidence to do so. And even if you’re not in that situation, we hope it brings back the sweet memories of a fresh, youthful love.

HKP: Your duo has a unique sound—what are some of your biggest musical influences that have shaped your style?

ShE’s: We’re completely opposite when it comes to our vocal tone and favorite music genres. We’ve spent time finding ways to balance and complement these differences, and that’s how we’ve become the ShE’s you know today. However, we both share a love for the J-pop genre, and we’ve found that our voices fit well within it. This common strength is something we focus on when practicing and releasing our songs, and it’s helped solidify our unique style.

HKP: If you could collaborate with any artist or band, who would it be and why?

ShE’s: We’d love to collaborate with DAY6. They’re one of the hottest bands right now, and we’ve been fans of their music for a long time. We believe DAY6’s sound would complement our style perfectly. We expect we could create fresh songs when a female duo and a male band meet.

HKP: When you’re not working on music, what are some hobbies or activities you both enjoy?

Eunseo: I’ve loved baseball since I was young. I enjoy watching games with my family on TV or going to the stadium to cheer for my team. I also like taking walks while listening to music on my own.

Sunhee: In my free time, I usually exercise, hang out with my friends, or enjoy some delicious food.

ShE’s: Both of us love spending time together, whether it’s enjoying indoor activities or trying out tasty food.

HKP: What’s your favorite part about performing live, and what do you hope to bring to your live shows in the future?

ShE’s: What we love most about live performances is the power they have to convey emotions. It allows us to share our feelings directly with the audience in a way that recorded songs can’t. The best part is receiving an amazing response from the audience right there in front of us.

If we have the chance to perform live in the future, we’d love to not only sing but also dance, and even perform with a band. We think it would be a lot of fun!

HKP: What’s one fun fact about each of you that fans might not know?

Eunseo: I’m not a good dancer, but I’ve never thought of myself as bad at it, either. I enjoy dancing from time to time. This year, during one of our busking performances, I suddenly felt the urge to dance, so I just went for it. I remember that a lot of people really enjoyed it! I’ll definitely do it again at our upcoming buskings, so I hope to see you there.

Sunhee: Sometimes, I wink while I sing. Don’t get the wrong idea—I’m not trying to act cute! I do it as part of my effort to hit high notes by crinkling my eyes and nose while still smiling and enjoying the excitement of the song (laughs).

HKP: If you had to pick one song to describe your personality, what would it be and why?

Eunseo: I chose “Story of a Tiny Little One (키 작은 꼬마 이야기)” by Haha because, well, I’m quite short myself! The lyrics say, “I never die, I never give up,” and I feel like that reflects who I am. No matter what hardships come my way, I never give up and always get back on my feet.

Sunhee: For me, the song “I’ll Show You (보여줄게)” by Ailee represents me best. Just like the song, I have a brave and bold personality, and I’m always ready to show what I can do!

HKP: What’s one food you can’t live without when you’re in the studio or during schedules?

Eunseo: I usually don’t eat much when I’m working, but I definitely crave sweet desserts like chocolate and chocolate snacks to keep me going.

Sunhee: I used to avoid food because I was worried it would make me feel bloated during schedules, but lately, I’ve started having a small amount of carbs to help boost my energy for singing.

HKP: What’s the most unexpected thing that has happened to you while making music or during a performance?

ShE’s: We regularly do busking, and sometimes, excited grandfathers come up close to the stage and start dancing to our songs. At first, we were a bit panicked, but at the same time, it made us really happy to see them having so much fun.

HKP: Looking ahead, what are some goals you have as a duo for the rest of this year and beyond?

Eunseo: This year, I’ll continue focusing on practicing with Sunhee and improving our skills as we always do. We’re working hard so that one day, we’ll be able to hold a ShE’s concert.

Sunhee: I’ll keep working on improving my skills, and alongside Eunseo, I aim to become a more recognized and popular singer.

HKP: Lastly, please leave a message to your fans reading this.

ShE’s: Thank you so much for always supporting and loving us! We promise to keep singing from the same place without ever getting tired, so please continue to watch over us! Let’s stay together and create many more memories. Love you!