“Burdensome…” — Kwon Eunbi Tells All About “Waterbomb”

Kwon Eunbi greatly expanded her public presence as a solo singer through the Waterbomb stage. Especially as the 2023 Waterbomb stage gained attention, her previously released song “Underwater” was re-highlighted. She emerged as a representative face of summer festivals.

However, she did not appear on this year’s Waterbomb stage. Many expressed regret over the absence of the “Waterbomb Goddess.”

In response, Kwon Eunbi explained, “The timing of Waterbomb’s invitation coincided with my company transfer period. It was a time when I had to consider and adapt to the new company.”

Above all, her priority was the new album. She said, “When I moved companies, the most important thing was my first album. Performing at Waterbomb requires a lot of preparation, so I decided to prioritize the album, which is part of why I didn’t participate.”

Recalling her first Waterbomb, Kwon Eunbi said, “When I was first invited, it was the first large-scale event as a solo artist. I had done many during IZ*ONE days, but this was my first time alone. My biggest concern was whether I could fill 30 minutes.”

She added, “I didn’t expect that stage to go viral and receive so much love.”

As Waterbomb continued, her concerns changed. “The second time was different since I already received love, and the third time I worried about showing a similar setlist again,” she revealed. “So I covered some of the songs that were loved.”

She continued, “At first, I hardly had any power to interact with the audience, but by the third time, I felt I developed better communication with them.”

She also left open the possibility of performing on the Waterbomb stage again. “I’m always open to it. It’s a stage that received tremendous love and helped me gain public recognition.”

However, she emphasized, “It’s wrong to say I skipped Waterbomb this year to be recognized for my musicality. Timing was a factor, and I also wanted to show a new side.”

When asked if she creates new songs considering Waterbomb, Kwon Eunbi drew a clear line, saying, “I don’t consider Waterbomb at all when making an album. I don’t work with Waterbomb in mind.”

She added, “Doing the music I want is more important. While I might think it would be fun to perform at festivals, I’ve never approached my work thinking ‘I must have this kind of song for Waterbomb.’”

Regarding the nicknames “Waterbomb Goddess” and “Summer Queen,” she expressed mixed feelings, explaining, “It feels very burdensome and brings a sense of responsibility. I even feel a responsibility toward summer itself. On the other hand, I’m grateful because I received so much love through Waterbomb. Associating me with summer isn’t an easy thing. I’m most thankful for that.”

Still, she said, “I also wondered if it’s time to show something different rather than staying with the nicknames ‘Waterbomb’ or ‘Summer Queen.’ Now that I have the title ‘Summer Queen,’ I think it’s time to focus on albums and be recognized through my songs.”

When asked about a new nickname she wants, she chose “Vocal Tone Queen.” She laughed and said, “If you listen closely, my voice is actually pretty good. I want to hear nicknames related to my voice like ‘Vocal Tone Queen.’”

Regarding dream stages she wants to appear on besides Waterbomb, she said, “I don’t have a specific festival I want to absolutely go to. I wasn’t someone who dreamed of festivals from the start.” She added, “My current situation itself is the image I’ve dreamed of.”

She continued, “I’m grateful whenever I’m invited. My biggest goal is not a specific festival but to continue my entertainment career safely and without accidents. That’s actually a difficult goal, so I want to stay active for a long time.”