Jiselle might be a new name for your ears, but this singer is someone who has worked with various artists and is making a name for herself in Korea’s music scene.
Debuting under Million Market, Jiselle launched her solo career with “Missed Called” alongside Chancellor, whom she credits for getting her into the music industry. Jiselle also released her first EP Therapy Session with songs like “Therapy” and “Butterfly” and found success with hits featuring various artists like Changmo.
Now, Jiselle met with ZAPZEE to discuss her diverse and colorful image as an artist, the identity she is making for herself through music and her various experiences working in the studio with multiple artists. Before digging deeper into the interview, check out Jiselle’s exclusive video greeting for fans and newcomers below.
You’re making a comeback with your new song, “Double Down.” Could you share the message behind the song and how it came together?
Jiselle: I collaborated with the amazing artist Seori for “Double Down” and the term double down is commonly used in blackjack or card games, meaning to double your bet. I simply used this concept in a story of love and relationships. The song conveys the idea of betting everything and putting everything on the line for the relationship.
“Double Down” is about going all in for love. What inspired this track and what part of the process did you focus on the most while working on it?
Jiselle: I mostly focused on the harmony with the featured artist, the melodies and the harmonies. I decided to use the concept of doubling down in relationships because it is always hard to tell if the relationship is going to work out or not. We are almost always taking a big risk when falling in love, so the concept of doubling down and taking lots of risks fell right in place for this song.
Were there any memorable or fun moments while working together with Seori that you’d like to share?
Jiselle: We released a lyric video of “Double Down” which I shot with Seori. Even when we started sketching out the lines of the melodies, it was fun, but we had even more fun shooting the video for our lyric video. It was shot in my studio. We were singing, talking and laughing together which eventually brought out a lovely and warm vibe that goes well with the track.
The Lyrics Video for your new song was fantastic. How is it working with Seori and what moments from the recording process stand out to you when working with artists?
Jiselle: I sketched the hook of the song and I was going to sing every hook at first. However, after listening to Seori’s verse, I figured it would sound much better if she sang the last hook. So we made the last hook with her voice and underneath there were a bunch of harmony lines that were sung by Seori and myself which eventually enriched the track with a deeper and more vibrant quality.
You studied in the U.S. during your childhood and attended college in Japan. Could you share any cultural differences or memorable experiences from living in both countries? Which language feels the most natural to work and sing in?
Jiselle: I went to elementary school and middle school in the States, and university in Japan. I honestly think that without my experience in the States, I would have not started music -especially with an interest in R&B and Hip Hop. I started listening to American R&B in the 5th grade when I moved to the US. In expression of feelings and emotions, English is absolutely different from Korean, it’s much more straightforward and smooth. Both languages have their unique ways of expression, but I use lots of English in my lyrics when I want to be straightforward and use Korean when I’m down to be metaphorical.
You’ve spoken about facing challenges when writing lyrics. How do you overcome creative blocks and where do you usually find inspiration?
Jiselle: I think I mostly get my inspiration from conversations with a lot of different people. With any subject when I’m putting that on the table and start talking about it with people the conversation itself gives me so many dazzling ideas because people think differently and sometimes differences bring so much. So, when I have trouble writing lyrics, I simply call my friends and talk about the subjects or experiences regarding that subject.
You’ve named H.E.R. as a role model. What about her inspires you the most? Do you have a favorite song that resonates with you?
Jiselle: It’s the expression of vocals and lyrical messages with H.E.R and I love the way she portrays herself in the song and the relationship experiences in her music. It makes everything relatable, which is one of the most important things that I consider every song needs – the ability to make the audience relate to the song.
You value connecting with your fans deeply. Are there particularly special or memorable moments for you?
Jiselle: I use my social media or go on live to talk to my fans and it’s always a beautiful moment to share anything with them. It’s exciting to hear what they want to hear from me, or what they like the most out of me. It’s inspirational and also gives me an idea of the direction of which genre or topic I should go with next. Also, sometimes they want me to sing a cover song and I put them on my YouTube channel as well.
2025 seems like it’s going to be an exciting year for you! Can you give us a little hint about what’s in store?
Jiselle: In 2025, there are a lot of things coming, including new genres and new concepts. I plan to showcase collaborations with a band through various performances and highlight Jiselle’s unique style across different genres, including house music.
With that, Jiselle left old and new fans alike with something more to expect in the upcoming year. The beauty of solo artists like Jiselle is their ability to be free to explore new concepts and craft songs that can tickle everyone’s fancy and pique the interest of various fans.
Jiselle will continue to surprise us with various artist collaborations and hopefully, we can expect another song about love and relationships we can all relate to in the future. If you want to hear more of Jiselle’s stylish tracks, be sure to check her out on Instagram. Don’t forget to follow ZAPZEE on Twitter and Instagram for more news and exclusive interviews.
