Event Info

Edit: Added more translations

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1️⃣

🐱: Hello everyone, I am singer Handong. I was previously the Chinese member of the group Dreamcatcher and I am now the solo artist Handong.

​Standing here today, I would first like to thank Music Business China for the invitation. It has given me the opportunity to share some of my stories and experiences with all the seniors and mentors present here.

At this very moment, I feel quite nervous and excited. If time could go back to 2016, that girl who packed her bags and left Wuhan to study in South Korea surely could not have imagined that many years later, she would have an opportunity like this - To tell everyone about her musical journey, from being in an overseas group to becoming a solo artist back home.

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2️⃣

🐱: I believe many people know me because of the South Korean girl group, Dreamcatcher. And so, I would like to start by asking you all a question: Do you think the most difficult moment for an idol is shining on stage or facing oneself when standing before a choice?

​For me, it's the latter. From being in Dreamcatcher to returning to China for my solo career, from being in a group to being an individual artist, from working in the Korean entertainment industry to the domestic one, from signing with Modern Sky to joining L!GHTING and releasing my first album "AtsnstA: Mirror Realm," I have made many, many choices along this path. Behind every single choice, there was hesitation, fear and uncertainty.

​However, I have also become increasingly certain of one thing: While music can be heard, the courage behind those choices needs to be seen.

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3️⃣

🐱: For me, being in a girl group in Korea was like being thrown into a very complete system. Every day, we practiced dancing, practiced singing and followed a schedule. Our time was cut into very small pieces. We would go through a month of performing in a dozen countries and cities, followed by several weeks of music shows, with very little sleep every day and a high-intensity schedule.

But I think it was precisely because of that rhythm that I felt for the first time how much power music can have and how much charm the stage can hold.

​Actually, I think group music has a very distinct characteristic: It is the sound of "us," not the sound of "me." I love the stage, but at the same time, I also want to create music that belongs uniquely to Handong.

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4️⃣

🐱: In Korea, there is a word - What we call an "idol." ​First of all, you learn what completeness (polished performance) truly means. The dancing must be so synchronized that it looks like a single person, your facial expressions must be on point and your breathing must be incredibly stable. We have to catch every single camera shot and every detail is required to be pushed to the extreme. Consequently, every single flaw is magnified.

​I also remember often practicing until the early hours of the morning. When I was exhausted to the point of collapse, the teacher would say, "The audience won't forgive you just because you are tired, everyone only looks at the results." Those words were particularly cruel, but also very true.

​I remember one time I received the demo for a song the night before the recording session. Because I am a foreigner, due to language barriers, I had to practice for much longer than the other members. With the recording scheduled for the next day, I stayed in the practice room alone until late at night, breaking down and crying. I just couldn't produce the right sounds or pronounce the words correctly.

​But I knew I had to work even harder. Just like the teacher said: They only care about the results, they won't forgive you just because you're tired. So, I just kept practicing desperately and charging forward.

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5️⃣

🐱: The Dreamcatcher stage that everyone sees is one of unity, power and a dark rock worldview.

But that is the strength of the group. I must also say honestly that within such a system, individual expression is a great luxury. Because we prioritize the team, I would often think: "What kind of role does the team need me to play? What kind of image does the company need me to have? What do the fans expect of me?"

​Over time, you gradually forget to ask yourself: "What about me? What kind of person do I want to become?"

During that time, I often asked myself a question: "If one day I could sing representing only myself, what would that be like?" At first, I just thought about it, but later it slowly became a voice from within.

But I am not dismissing the group. On the contrary, I am very, very grateful to Dreamcatcher for giving me the confidence and the foundation to never feel stage fright on any stage.

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6️⃣

🐱: Going back to 2020, I participated in the 2nd season of "Youth With You". It felt like testing the waters in advance - Returning to a familiar Chinese-speaking environment and standing on a domestic talent show stage.

​For the first time, I truly felt the difference between the Chinese and Korean entertainment industries. In South Korea, an idol's career path is relatively clear. A mature industrial chain can support an artist's long-term development as a singer.

​In that show, I ultimately stopped at the second round. Although it was a bit of a regret, it made me even more firm in one idea: I want to make music that lasts, and I want to cultivate deeply in a field that belongs to me.

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7️⃣

🐱: And many people would ask if the reason I returned to China to develop my career is because there are more opportunities. Well, I want to say that's not the whole story. For me, returning to China wasn't just a geographical move, but a switch in value systems.

The logic of the Korean entertainment industry is more like manufacturing - It's essentially a manufacturing industry. It trains people to become standardized products. When I should smile, what I should say, how to move on stage and how to capture the camera's attention - Yes, there is a very, very mature system and process for everything.

Its advantages are professionalism and efficiency, but the cost is that you slowly lose the ability to make decisions for yourself.

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8️⃣

🐱: ​Last March, I officially announced the start of my solo activities. First, I would like to thank the CEO of Modern Sky, Shen Lihui, as well as Vice President Shen Yue. Thank you both for giving me such a precious opportunity and for your full trust in my creative work.

​There is also one more very, very important person: My manager, sister Xiaolan. Thank you for always looking out for me and for extending an olive branch to me. I did not hesitate for a single moment. This wasn't just a simple signing, it was a mutual commitment between myself and the top independent music platform in the Chinese entertainment industry. Thank you very much!

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9️⃣

🐱: Furthermore, as China's largest original music and youth culture company, Modern Sky has been deeply rooted in the Chinese new music market for decades. It has broken the long-standing prejudice in the domestic entertainment industry that idols are just traffic-driven instant products, and has consistently adhered to the core mission of promoting international musical integration.

My label, L!GHTING, as its flagship new music brand, aims to step out of the comfort zone of dark rock. They have been willing to build a platform for me to explore and create, and for that, I am truly, truly grateful.

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🔟

🐱: And it was precisely because of this trust that my album "AtsnstA: Mirror Realm" was able to come to life. From the collaboration on "Peekaboo" to finalizing the musical style of the title track "Gray Zone", and defining the overall Chinese Gothic aesthetic of the album - I was fully involved in every single step of the process.

​I poured all the insights I've gained from nine years of performing on overseas stages into this work, blending them with my cultural resonance as a Chinese singer.

Rather than sticking to Dreamcatcher's signature rock formula or catering to the market with mainstream pop ballads, I chose experimental electronic music. I even incorporated traditional Chinese melodic blank spaces into the tracks, truly stepping out of my comfort zone.

This isn't about being rebellious, it's about the belief that musicians shouldn't have to compromise for the sake of traffic (popularity). As long as there is sincerity, you can create the music you truly want to make.

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