Photo Courtesy of Rolling Quartz
Get to know Rolling Quartz, the dynamic all-female K-Rock band from Seoul, South Korea. This interview features Yeong-Eun (drums), Hyun Jung Choi (guitar), Ja Young (vocals), Iree (guitar), and Arem (bass) as they discuss their musical journey and ambitions.
Rolling Quartz debuted with ‘Blaze’ in 2020. Looking back, what are some of the biggest challenges and triumphs you’ve faced as a rookie band?”
Yeong-eun: Shortly after our debut, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, presenting a major crisis. However, we were able to overcome this by using YouTube for online concerts and cover videos, which allowed us to gain fans worldwide, turning the crisis into an opportunity.
Iree: The market for female bands in Korea is practically nonexistent; it’s incredibly small. Yet, we jumped in. Our debut was like declaring that we would blaze a new trail. Our challenge was to simultaneously win over the hearts of the general public and rock enthusiasts.
Can you share a memorable moment or anecdote from your journey as a band that showcases your bond and teamwork?
Young-eun: I feel the greatest synergy happens on stage. Even though we all have different personalities and preferences, playing the same song together and harmonizing as one creates a sense of unity and intimacy that brings us closer.
Hyunjung: Recently, while touring, I’ve felt my friendships with the members deepen even more. Now, just by exchanging a glance, we can tell what each other is thinking. During overseas tours, moving and unloading luggage, I’ve been amazed by the teamwork between our agency staff and the members.
Jayoung: There have been moments during performances where someone made a mistake, but instead of panicking, we adjusted to cover for each other and overcome the mishap. After the show, we’d talk about it and realize we’d been on the same wavelength the whole time. Those moments are so fun—they remind me how long we’ve been together.
What inspires your lyrics? Do you draw from personal experiences, observations, or other sources?”
Jayoung: I get a lot of inspiration from conversations with loved ones, the music I enjoy, and animation.
Areum: Rather than personal experiences, I usually write lyrics based on memorable and impressive things I’ve seen and experienced through various media such as books, media, or paintings.
If you could collaborate with any international artist, who would it be and why?
Yeong-eun: I’d like to collaborate with an orchestra. I think the music would become richer, more majestic, and just cooler.
Jayoung: One Ok Rock and Bring Me The Horizon. They’re artists who have given me a lot of inspiration in my musical life.
Iree: MGK (Machine Gun Kelly). I’d love to see the combination of Jayoung’s vocals and MGK’s rap! I think it would be a great match.
Rolling Quartz recently visited the Philippines! What were your first impressions of the country and its fans?
Yeong-eun: It was my first time in the Philippines, and I found it very welcoming. The Filipino staff were all so kind and took such good care of us; it’s a warm memory. The Filipino fans were also incredibly responsive, and I’m so grateful. I want to go back!
Hyunjung: I also visited the movie ‘Ma’am Chief’two years ago Promoting the film by going around department stores was fun, and the staff were so kind—it’s a great memory.
Iree: When I got out of the airport, the scenery was so exotic. It was exactly as I’d imagined. I was so excited! Exploring a new place felt thrilling. The Filipino fans, like those in other countries, were incredibly passionate. If anything, they were even more enthusiastic. Knowing we had fans there made the Philippines feel even more friendly.
Areum: First of all, the food was delicious, and I’m so grateful to the fans for being so passionate and enjoying the performance with us!
What was the most memorable experience you had during your stay in the Philippines?
Yeong-eun: My first time in the Philippines was for a film cameo appearance—we went for the premiere and promotion. Everything was a new experience, so it was exciting and incredibly fun.
Hyunjung: We had a group dinner, and there were so many new foods to try—it was exciting! And it was much hotter than I expected.
Jayoung: It wasn’t my first time in the Philippines for a rock festival, but when I went for the ‘Ma’am Chief’ film premiere, it was really fun. We all promoted the film at the mall, and then enjoyed an outdoor party at night. The actors were all so cheerful and kind—it’s a great memory.
Iree: After our Pulp Summer Slam performance, we had an autograph session. Some of our fans were there, as well as people who had just learned about us. Among them was the designer who created our Diadem logo! It was so wonderful to meet them.
Areum: Eating mangosteen. It was the first time I tried that fruit, and it was incredibly delicious!
What Filipino food did you try, and what did you think of it?
Yeong-eun: The squid dish I had in the Philippines was delicious, and the fruit was amazing—I want to eat it again!
Hyunjung: I don’t remember exactly, but I think I had a tangy soup, green mangoes, and something like a dipping jam. It was a new and fun experience trying the local food.
Iree: I didn’t have a long time in the Philippines, so I didn’t get to try a wide variety of foods, but some dishes really stand out. There were flavors I’d never experienced before, and others that were similar to Korean food. There were many unique and delicious dishes. Personally, the squid dish I had at a seafood restaurant was really amazing.
Areum: Kwek kwek? It was like a fried fish cake. A festival staff member loved it and provided it backstage for everyone to try. Their kindness was lovely, and the food was delicious!
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who dream of pursuing a career in the music industry?
Yeong-eun: I think it’s important to enjoy the process. There will be times when you feel tired and discouraged while working hard, but I hope you can overcome those times by remembering your initial passion.
I know the power music gives, so I hope everyone finds happiness and great strength through music.
Hyunjung: If I may offer some advice, consistency and hard work seem to create more opportunities to take a chance, even just one more time.
Jayoung: If you have a strong passion and ambition, create your own path. You have to seek it out. I hope you won’t have to give up a wonderful future because of realistic problems.
Iree: You’ll need diverse content to introduce yourselves to people.
Areum: Don’t try too hard to be perfect; just enjoy the process.
What kind of music can fans expect from Rolling Quartz in the future?
Yeong-eun: We still have so much we want to show you. We want to try many different things and show you a wider variety of music and styles. We’ll work hard, so please look forward to it and watch us!
Choi Hyun-jung: We’re going to try things beyond the musical styles we’ve shown you so far. I can’t tell you the details, but please look forward to it and wonder what it will be~!
Ja-young: I think we’ll be able to show you music that’s a bit more upgraded in terms of being accessible to a wider audience.
Iree: New attempts.
A-reum: Energetic music.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your Filipino fans?
Yeong-eun: Thank you so much for making such wonderful memories with us in the Philippines. I really want to go back!! Let’s meet again ♡
Choi Hyun-jung: We’re always grateful to the fans who show interest in and support Rolling Quartz, and we’ll work hard to show you a great performance. We ask for your continued interest, and we hope to have the opportunity to visit the Philippines again. We’re looking forward to the day we can go back!
Ja-young: We’ll definitely go back! Let’s have fun together, just as hot as the weather in the Philippines!!!!
Iree: Hey Filipino Diadems! Thank you so much for sending us your hot passion and love, just like the hot weather in the Philippines. Thanks to your support, we can work even harder. Stay healthy and don’t get sick until we meet again!
A-reum: Thank you for loving Rolling Quartz. We will work hard so that we can visit again someday.
To keep up-to-date with Rolling Quartz’s latest news and releases, please visit their social media pages by clicking the social media icons below.
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