Hwang So-yoon
Hwang So-yoon 황소윤 | |
|---|---|
 Hwang So-yoon performing in 2021 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Hwang So-yoon |
| Also known as | So!YoON! |
| Born | May 23, 1997 Jecheon, South Korea |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Labels | BGBG Records |
| Member of | Se So Neon |
Hwang So-yoon (Korean: 황소윤; born 23 May 1997) is a South Korean singer, songwriter and guitarist. She came to prominence as the lead vocalist of the indie rock band Se So Neon, of which she remains the band's only member. Since 2019, Hwang has performed under the solo moniker So!YoON!, releasing two studio albums and collaborating with artists such as RM of BTS, Silica Gel, Phum Viphurit, Hoshi and Woozi of Seventeen and Park Ji-yoon.
Career
[edit]As a member of Se So Neon
[edit]In 2016, at age 18, Hwang founded Se So Neon with drummer Gangto and bassist Fancy Moon. In 2017, the group had released their first EP Summer Plumage (여름깃), and won Rookie of the Year and Best Rock Song at the Korean Music Awards.
By 2018, both members had left to perform their mandatory military service, with Hwang recruiting Park Hyun-jin and U-su to take their place.[1] In 2020, Hwang and Se So Neon were named Fender's Global Artist of the Year, and were nominated for three additional Korean Music Awards.[2]
After the departure of U-su in 2022, and Park Hyun-jin in 2025, Hwang remains the only active member of Se So Neon.
Solo career
[edit]In 2018, Hwang began to release music under a solo moniker, So!YoON!. Her name was stylized "to build a new character and deliver the energy that's embedded within the way it's written".[3] In July 2018, Hwang appeared on YB's single "Drifting Free". In October 2018, she appeared on Prep's single "Don't Look Back" alongside Shownu of Monsta X.[4]
Hwang's debut solo album So!YoON! was released on May 21, 2019 and includes features from SUMIN, Mid-Air Thief and Sam Kim. The album is a blend of indie rock, electronic and dream pop, and alternative R&B and was designed to show Hwang's musical ability to expand into different genres. In choosing an album cover, Hwang sent a handwritten letter to Australian artist Patricia Piccinini to use her sculpture "The Rookie" as a basis for the artwork.[3]
From 2019 to 2022, Hwang had a string of appearances as a featured artist for various Korean indie artists. She appeared on Avin's studio album TRANCE (2019) in the song "OMW" with Dbo. In August 2020, Hwang featured on "Do Not Disturb" by Woo. In April 2022, Hwang appeared on "Fort" by Kim Doeon.
In October 2020, Hwang released the single "Wings" with Thai songwriter Phum Viphurit.[5] In June 2022, Hwang performed the official Korean version of "Be Sweet" by Japanese Breakfast.[6][7]
On March 14, 2023, Hwang released her sophomore studio album Episode1 : Love. The album includes lead single "Smoke Sprite" featuring RM of BTS, who Hwang met without intending to spark a collaboration with. After sharing their music to each other, they decided to write "Smoke Sprite" together.[8] The album also features guest contributions from Jibin and Park Ji-yoon. In the music video for "Bad", Hwang portrayed a same-sex relationship, telling NME "there are many shapes and forms of love, and I just wanted to best visualize it. I wasn't particularly focused on it being the same-sex relationship, [but] I knew that gender shouldn't hold importance when representing love".[9]
On August 19, 2023, Hwang co-wrote and featured on "Tik Tak Tok" by indie rock band Silica Gel. The song was nominated for multiple awards at the Korean Music Awards, including Song of the Year.[10]
On March 10, 2025, Hwang collaborated with Hoshi and Woozi from Seventeen to release "PINOCCHIO" on the duo's debut single album BEAM.[11]
Personal life
[edit]Since 2025, Hwang has resided in the United States.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Get To Know: 새소년 Se So Neon". The Rest Is Noise PH. 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ "a guide to So!YoON!". daybreak. 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ a b "Se So Neon frontwoman So!YoON! releases debut album - The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ Herman, Tamar (2018-10-25). "PREP Teams Up With Monsta X's Shownu & So!YoON! of Se So Neon on 'Don't Look Back': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ "SE SO NEON's So!YoON! and Phum Viphurit team up for 'Wings'". Bandwagon Asia. 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (2022-07-20). "Japanese Breakfast Shares Video for Korean Version of "Be Sweet"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ Neale, Matthew (2022-07-20). "Japanese Breakfast and SE SO NEON's So!YoON! share Korean version of 'Be Sweet'". NME. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ "SE SO NEON's So!YoON! returns with sophomore album 'Episode1 : Love'". Bandwagon Asia. 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ Yeo, Gladys (2023-03-28). "So!YoON! on new album 'Episode1: Love': "I knew that gender shouldn't hold importance when representing love"". NME. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ Yeo, Gladys (2024-01-26). "Here are all the nominees of the 21st Korean Music Awards". NME. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ Chin, Carmen (2025-03-13). "SEVENTEEN's Hoshi and Woozi drop special video for 'Stupid Idiot'". NME. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ 임수아. "WOMAN, ROCK THE WORLD | 황소윤 화보와 인터뷰". Marie Claire Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-04-24.