From practicing classical violin to performing K-pop and now thriving as an independent artist and manager, Christine Lee has spent the better part of her formative years exploring the many facets of the music industry.
On top of managing multiple artists, Lee, a second-year songwriting and music business combined major at Berklee College of Music, is currently preparing for an EP release later this year. Recording as DAHYUN, she recently completed her Blue Hearts tour in New York City. The EP, titled “Soft Signals,” will hit a lot closer to home than her previous releases and solidify her musical style, she said, which includes soft pop ballads and R&B.
“I would say all the songs in my EP are very personal,” Lee said. “They’re all small moments that I had in my past relationships. To be honest, the music I’ve already released, I feel like they’re not the best representations of my music. However, I feel like the EP that’s coming up is going to be a little more of my style.”
“Soft Signals” comprises four songs: “Waltz with Me,” “dream messages,” “LDR” and “L.O.V.E” — all written by Lee. Exploring the different stages in a relationship, she hopes to capture the raw sincerity and emotional turbulence of young love in a way that is relatable to all ages.
In an interview with The Huntington News, Lee opened up about her musical journey and storytelling, breaking down the process of creating “Soft Signals.”
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
The Huntington News: How did you know you wanted to become an artist?
Lee: I knew I wanted to become an artist way back. I started my musical journey through the violin when I was 3, and then I changed it up around seventh grade. I auditioned for K-pop entertainment companies, got into them, did training for two years. I took a mini break, then went on a K-pop reality TV show and went back into the entertainment industry as a K-pop trainee and did that for another year. I was a senior back then, so it was kind of time to choose, like, are you going to go to college? So I was like, you know what, let’s just go to Berklee summer camp and see how that goes. I met producers, songwriters. I work with them, create music, and now I have a manager who manages me, and we release music together.
HN: As a trainee at a K-pop entertainment company, do you think it helped you grow as an artist?
Lee: I feel like that experience is very based on perspective. In a way, it has prepared me a lot as an artist — I know how the struggles are, how to take care of your voice, how to throw a performance. It taught me a lot about acting, stage presence and communicating with people and working as a team. Of course, we focused on trying to show off ourselves to our CEOs and our investors, but we really focused on working together as a group because at the end of the day, we’re trying to debut together. At the same time, it was really hard. I guess from a young age doing that kind of taught me about motivation and how important my work is.
HN: When you were deciding between school and music, how did you decide that you wanted to go to college?
Lee: A lot of my friends actually dropped out of school — like starting middle school and early high school — to go to companies. I think education is first, at least a high school diploma, just because it teaches you a lot. I went to an international school, meaning it’s probably harder and stricter, and because of that I was able to prepare myself; like, I can do business stuff, I can write essays, I don’t feel left behind. A lot of the girls [at the entertainment company], they haven’t gotten enough schooling, so doing that kind of academic stuff is really difficult for them, and watching that made me feel like I did not want to fall behind. I tried my best to have a good enough balance where I would have a plan B.
HN: You’ve already released some music prior to this new EP; can you explain some of your music and what it means to you?
Lee: I write songs because I really enjoy having that emotional connection. When I write a song and sing it, I feel relieved. It’s just a way for me to release emotions, and I hope that people who are listening to my music can also find that release as well. I write a lot of songs on my Instagram that are actually all, like, real life experiences. Even my music hard drive is called “Diary.” It’s so corny, but I like how my music can be small moments of my life, and I can go back into it and be like, “Oh yeah, I remember at this time I was going through these feelings,” and then I would change the lyrics because probably at the time I wrote a little too emotionally. It’s very cathartic, and it’s my little healing process.
HN: You recently released a single in January, “Rain to My Eyes.” Could you explain the inspiration behind it?
Lee: “Rain to My Eyes” is actually a song I wrote four years ago. I probably put it out on all my socials, but I never released it. “Rain to My Eyes” is about when a person is waiting for someone. So, you know how in movies, people will climb up the window, and then the boyfriend would come in? I really wanted that, but I live on the 20th floor, and I knew that would never happen to me, so I wrote a song about it. I wrote it when I was a trainee because as a trainee you can’t date; like, if I had a relationship status I’d be done, so it was my daydreaming moment. Like, if I were to have a special someone, I would want it to happen like this.
HN: Could you go more into the instrumentals for your music and how that process is, such as how you produce your songs?
Lee: I start off with vocals and guitar, and from there, I take a step up and bring it to a producer because usually they’re the ones who know how to make the sound. I know how to record my sounds and add keys and pads and synths; however, it’s not my forte. For instance, “Waltz with Me” is a song that’s coming out. We first wrote it as an orchestra vibe, and then we had this R&B section that [the producer] made in a different song. I was like, “I love that, I want to incorporate that,” so we decided to change it up at the last course and make it into a whole R&B/orchestra ballad.
HN: For the EP, how did you conceptualize it, and what were your main inspirations?
Lee: It has very romantic songs. For instance, one of the songs is called “LDR,” long distance relationship. We have two other songs, but they’re mostly about hinting to the other person like, “Do you miss me? Do you care? Where are you?” It’s in a very lovey-dovey way, but a little clingy way as well. I wanted to call it “Soft Signals” because it’s not straight out — it’s more of like, “I’ve been doing this and that, so do you want to hear more?” I feel like in a relationship there’s a state where the other person doesn’t care or cares less than they did before, and then you have to catch their attention. I guess it’s like a waiting game? It can be sad in a way, but to uplift those spirits you don’t want it to be a super depressing song, so it’s a nice irony.
HN: How did you choose the four songs for your EP, and what was the process like for producing them?
Lee: I’ve had a 50-song catalogue that I’ve been building for a while now. Out of those songs, I chose four songs that complement each other. It’s kind of like fantasy to more realistic. For instance, “L.O.V.E” is just full-out, straight-up; you’re just singing “I love you,” and then “dream messages” is very subtle and “LDR” is very hinting. “Waltz with Me” is like, “Let’s live in our little daydreamy moment where if we were in a fairy tale, we would be waltzing together.” “Waltz with Me” — a producer brought the beat and he wanted to work on it with me, but for the rest of them, like “LDR,” they were all written through the guitar and piano.
HN: When you’re writing the actual lyrics, do you think of random words and string them together; how does that work for you?
Lee: Usually, I take four chords, and I just repeat. For instance, “LDR,” I wanted to write about a long-distance relationship because I was in one. I remember I wrote down in the lyrics, “I wish you can book a flight, but I understand it’s a little too far.” It was small stuff that I would want to say but couldn’t say, so I wrote them down and they all became a song. “L.O.V.E” — I wrote the chorus first, and then I tried to fit in the rest of the song after the chorus. I wrote “dream messages” because the person didn’t really pay attention, so that’s why I wanted them to, like, “You can sit in my dreams because I’ll sit in your dreams as well.”
HN: What are any goals or aspirations you have, both short- and long-term?
Lee: I feel like my biggest aspiration is to have music released that really represents my voice and my style. I feel like the music I have so far was very everywhere — genre-based and sound-based as well. I kind of want something where people can listen to it and be like, “Oh, this is this artist’s style,” and “Oh, her music sounds like this.” I want to show that unique color, and I probably just have to release more and more songs to really get that embedded in.
