The producer and songwriter KENZIE recently discussed the differences between Kpop and US-UK music.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, famous Kpop producer and songwriter KENZIE, pointed out the signature features of the Kpop industry as well as its music.
With over 2 decades of experience, KENZIE shared that Kpop melodies are iconic for its “sudden tempo changes” and “quirky productions”, which set Kpop songs apart from other types of pop.
Western (or U.S) melodies tend to maximize the use of one specific melodic motif by repeating it throughout the whole song, KENZIE said.
“In contrast, K-pop melodies certainly have some repetitive aspects, but on top of that, there are also some unexpected melodic changes as well,” she continued. “Compared to other genres, K-pop tends to have more dramatic transitions between each section of the song, more emotional melodies, and rather maximal track (instrumental) layers.”
The music producer also compared the different elements in a Kpop song to a puzzle game, where “there are actually no certain rules or set methods”. However, when it comes to a certain point where all ideas come together, a great chemistry is formed, KENZIE said.
As the creator of various hit songs, KENZIE expressed that she’s always working to find novelty in music, saying: ““I try to overcome it by seeking new song structures, new melodies, new ways to collaborate, and new ways of making music. In terms of the melodies — I tend to care a lot about melodies — we often say that all possible melodies have been made and put out in the world. But I still look for new melodies, something that is different from melodies from the past. Something that would revolutionize the music industry.”
Her ultimate goal in creating is to find this “one special note”, KENZIE disclosed.
“Personally, I feel that every chord progression always has this one special note, which when laid on top, unexpectedly completes the progression and makes it a pleasing phrase that hits our ears. I always dig for this one special note till I get satisfied,” she admitted.
One of KENZIE’s most iconic music is the NCT 127 track “Favorite”, which begins with a crystalline, whistling melody, before plummets into a quirky, hip-trap groove. This is signature for many songs under SM Entertainment, which fully embraces the abrupt yet satisfying style change.
Born in 1976, KENZIE has become a famous songwriter and producer in the Kpop industry, and pillar for Kpop company SM Entertainment. Throughout her career, KENZIE has coined various songs for famous SM artists, from BoA, Red Velvet, Super Junior, to SNSD, and more.
Notable songs of KENZIE include but are not limited to: Milky Way (BoA), Lucifer (SHINee), Humanoid (DBSK), Overdose (EXO), etc.
According to KENZIE, her current wish is to participate in more projects overseas, where she will work as a Korean content creator, hopefully to create iconic OSTs for world-wide cinematic projects.
