From her time as a member of K-pop girl group A-Daily to carving her own path as a solo artist, Choi Ha Ri (최하리) continues to evolve through music, acting, and performance.
Now stepping into her own spotlight, Ha Ri is embracing a new chapter with her solo releases “Jumper” and “Shooting Now.” Her latest single carries a message of courage, hope, and moving forward despite fear and uncertainty—a reflection of her own journey and the dreams she continues to hold onto.
As both a singer and actress, Ha Ri brings a diverse range of emotions and experiences into her artistry. Rather than being defined by a single genre or image, she hopes to become an artist with many different colors, continually challenging herself while staying true to her own voice.
For City Stories: Singer-Songwriter Edition, we sit down with Choi Ha Ri to talk about her journey from group activities to solo artistry, the story behind “Shooting Now,” her experiences as an actress, the dreams that continue to inspire her, and the artist she hopes to become.
Congratulations on the release of your new digital single, ‘Shooting Now’! How do you feel about finally being able to share this song with your fans and listeners?
I’m truly excited and happy that I can finally share “Shooting Now” with everyone. I hope this song can give strength and comfort to those who may be feeling tired from their everyday lives. I also look forward to sharing the energy and passion I put into this song with as many people as possible.
What inspired you to create and release “Shooting Now”? Was there a particular story, emotion, or personal experience you wanted to convey through the song?
“Shooting Now” tells the story of how, even in moments when we feel afraid or hesitant to take a step forward on our own, having someone by our side can give us the courage to move forward. I believe everyone carries a dream in their heart from a young age—the dream of becoming the person they want to be.
Interestingly, the hidden meaning behind the word “together” in this song refers not to someone else, but to another version of myself—the part of me that is still dreaming, rather than the version of myself simply living in reality.
There are many things in life that once felt difficult to face alone, and sometimes the challenges ahead can feel like an incredibly high wall.
The title “Shooting Now” is very striking. What does the title mean to you, and how does it connect to the message of the song?
To me, “Shooting Now” means that we are taking off and flying toward our dreams together, right now, in this very moment.
The title also has the meaning of “we’re filming now.” If someone were watching my life, wouldn’t it almost feel like my life was being broadcast live?
I believe being imperfect is part of being human. When an unfamiliar and difficult road appears in front of us, we can make mistakes while trying to find our way through it. But if someone—or even another version of ourselves—is there to give us strength, we can keep moving forward toward our dreams without hesitation.
That is the message I wanted to put into “Shooting Now.”
For those who haven’t heard “Shooting Now” yet, how would you describe its musical style and overall atmosphere?
It’s a very bright and energetic song. There are moments when an EP sound comes in briefly, almost as if it represents the dreams we sometimes forget about while living in reality.
The song gives you the feeling of running toward a goal or toward a dream that you don’t want to lose. Especially during the chorus, I think you can feel this overwhelming energy, almost as if everyone is making a promise together or cheering each other on.
My small hope is that when people are facing a new challenge or going through a difficult time in life, they can listen to this song and find the strength to overcome whatever they are facing.
What kind of emotions do you hope listeners will feel when they hear “Shooting Now” for the first time?
I hope my energy reaches them the moment they hear the song and makes their day feel even a little brighter. Most of all, I hope it gives them courage.
Especially when someone is struggling or feeling like they’ve lost confidence, I hope they can think, “There is someone by my side. Maybe I can try one more time.”
And I would be even happier if the song naturally makes them think of the precious people who are always beside them.
What was the most challenging part of preparing “Shooting Now,” and how did you overcome it?
Although it’s a bright song, there are moments in the lyrics that express emotions like fear and loneliness. Finding the right balance between those subtle emotions was one of the things I thought about the most.
In the end, I kept reminding myself of the message of the song: that I can find the courage to overcome those feelings. I simply kept working at it until I felt that I had achieved what I wanted.
Did you discover or realize anything new about yourself as an artist while working on this song?
When we are young, we all dream about the future and imagine ourselves achieving those dreams. But as we grow older and experience reality, there are many reasons why we may give up on those dreams or have to adjust our goals to fit our circumstances.
However, I believe that somewhere inside us, there is still that younger version of ourselves—the girl or boy who never gave up on those dreams.
Rather than trying to forget that version of myself, I think there is comfort in continuing to live while remembering the person who once dreamed those dreams.
Even when reality becomes incredibly difficult, perhaps remembering that younger version of ourselves can give us a little comfort and strength.
How would you define your musical identity at this point in your career? And what side of yourself did you want to show through this new song?
If I had to describe my musical identity, I would say it is simply myself, living through my own life in the moments and periods when I sing each song.
I don’t want to limit myself to a single genre. Just as life is filled with countless different experiences and thoughts, I want to become an artist who can use my voice and emotions to tell stories about the feelings I experience.
Through “Shooting Now,” I hope people remember Choi Ha Ri as a bright and confident artist who can bring hope and happiness to those who listen to her music.
When choosing a new song or concept, what is the most important factor that makes you feel, “This project is right for me”?
The most important thing is whether I can personally relate to and connect with the emotions and feelings within the song.
With “Shooting Now,” for example, the story deals with emotions that almost everyone has experienced at some point—fear, hesitation, and the feeling of finding courage again because of something or someone.
I think I become especially interested in projects when I can understand and genuinely connect with the story.
What role do emotions and personal experiences play in the way you create and express music?
I don’t think there are enough words in the world to fully express all the emotions we experience.
We rarely feel just one emotion, such as happiness, sadness, despair, or hope. Most of the time, our emotions are much more complicated and exist together.
I try to experience and understand those different emotions through everyday life. I also tend to separate those emotional experiences and think about them again afterward.
For “Shooting Now,” for example, I drew on the feelings of fear and hesitation that I experienced in everyday life, as well as emotions I remember from moments such as performing on stage for the first time and making my debut.
Is there an artist or musician who currently inspires your musical direction or activities?
I really love Younha’s music. She has been a constant presence on my playlist for a long time.
Whenever I listen to her songs, I can connect with the emotions in them so deeply. I also really admire how clearly she has established her own unique identity as an artist.
I especially respect the way she has continued to create music in her own style over such a long period of time while still showing new sides of herself.
I want to learn from that. Even after many years have passed, I hope I can also be remembered as a musician who has many stories to tell through music that carries my own voice.
Are there any musical genres or styles you would like to explore more deeply in the future?
I would love to explore emotional music, such as ballads, where I can express my feelings in a more delicate and detailed way.
At the same time, I want to continue making music like “Shooting Now,” which allows me to show bright energy to audiences on stage.
As someone who loves dancing, I would also like to challenge myself with music that allows me to express myself through performance and choreography.
Rather than being remembered for just one image, my goal is to become an artist who has many different colors and sides.
Was there a particularly memorable moment during the recording or production of the song?
Although this is a song that I sing alone, the lyrics constantly use the word “we.” So when I was recording it, I didn’t simply imagine myself expressing my own emotions.
Instead, I imagined reaching out to another version of myself—the one who is still dreaming—and running forward together with her.
That was especially memorable for me.
It’s also a song that requires a lot of energy, so recording it was physically demanding at times. I paid particular attention to putting as much energy as possible into the lyrics of the chorus so that the emotions could be delivered with strength.
If there is an artist you would love to collaborate with someday, who would it be and why?
I would really love to work with Lee Young Ji someday.
I love the energy and confidence she brings to her music, but I also admire the way she expresses her individuality and messages so honestly and attractively.
We have very different colors as artists, so I think if we worked together, our strengths could blend in an unexpected way and create something really fun and interesting.
Outside of music, are there any forms of art, hobbies, or experiences that influence your creativity and musical sensibility?
Since I’m also active as an actress, my experiences through acting have helped me a lot when expressing music.
The process of understanding a character’s emotions and communicating those emotions is actually very similar to understanding and expressing the story within a song.
So I often find musical inspiration not only from the characters and roles I play, but also from watching different films, dramas, and other works.
Before going on stage or performing, do you have any special way of preparing yourself mentally or emotionally?
I’m actually someone who gets very nervous, so I tend to worry a lot.
But right before I go on stage, I try not to overthink things. Rather than thinking, “I have to do well,” I tell myself, “Let’s just enjoy this moment.”
It’s almost like giving myself a little cheer, just like the “1, 2, 3, High Five” line in this song, before going on stage.
I always remind myself that I don’t want to finish the performance with regrets. So I simply try to do my best and enjoy the moment.
What is one side of “Choi Ha Ri” that may be difficult to understand just by listening to your music, but that you really want people to know?
I hope people understand that I’m not someone who has only one side to me.
There is Choi Ha Ri the actress, but there are also many other sides of me. I can be bright and playful, but when I’m alone, I tend to think a lot and I’m quite emotional as well.
I hope people can gradually discover these different sides of me—not only through my acting, but also through my music and my journey as a singer and artist.
Over the next few years, what kind of artist do you want to grow into? Are there any goals you want to achieve right now?
I don’t think there is a set time limit for growth. I believe we continue growing throughout our entire lives, all the way until our final moments.
Whether it’s through music or acting, I want to become someone whose name, Choi Ha Ri, makes people think, “I wonder what she’s going to show us this time?”
I don’t want to place limits on myself in terms of genre or image.
I want to keep challenging myself with new things while never losing the qualities that make me unique.
Ultimately, my goal is to become an artist who is remembered for bringing happiness to people.
If you could say one thing to listeners who are discovering your music for the first time through “Shooting Now,” what would you like to tell them?
Thank you so much for listening to my song “Shooting Now,” and it’s truly wonderful to meet you through my music.
While listening to this song, I hope you’ll think about the precious people who are by your side and find even a little courage to pursue something you want to do.
Let’s fly even higher together!
And not only “Shooting Now,” but also my first solo song, “Jumper,” is a very exciting and hopeful song. I hope you’ll listen to both songs together—they might give you twice as much energy and help make your day a little happier!
I’ll continue working hard as singer Choi Ha Ri, so please look forward to what’s ahead. Thank you! 🙂
Finally, is there a message you would like to share with the fans who have supported you so far and everyone who will continue to love your music?
I sincerely want to thank everyone who has always supported me and stayed by my side.
Just like the lyrics of “Shooting Now,” there have been many moments when I felt scared or hesitant because I was facing things on my own. But thanks to the people who support me, I feel that I can continue challenging myself and trying new things.
You have always waited for me, traveled long distances to see me even when I performed on small theater stages, supported me no matter what side of myself I showed, and worried about me more than anyone.
I truly believe that because of our fans, whenever things become difficult or I feel like giving up, I can find the strength to try one more time and keep going.
Just as your support gives me strength, I hope this song can also become a small source of strength for you.
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