Blackpink's Jisoo on Fame, Mental Health, and (Maybe) Going Solo
"I listen to music when I’m going through a hard time, or don’t want to think about anything — I hope our music can have the same effect on many others"
Within Blackpink, Jisoo Kim is known as the funny one. She’s quick with a joke and loves a good prank, like the time she hid Lisa’s cellphone in the fridge during their trainee days. But Jisoo also has an introverted side, and on this April afternoon, sitting in a conference room at the headquarters of YG Entertainment, Blackpink’s label and management company, she’s in a serious mood, pondering big questions while sipping an iced coffee, wearing a cap that says “As time goes by it will be better.”
In Blackpink, Jisoo is the lead vocalist and an expert harmonizer. She loves making music, loves building a song from scratch with an expert team. But international fame isn’t always easy. Speaking in Korean, she talks of how she sometimes envies her past self: the sleepy, carefree high school girl from Gunpo, South Korea, who dreamed of traveling the world. At the same time, she also knows the life-changing force of the music she and Blackpink make.
(In celebration of Blackpink’s appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone, we’re publishing individual digital covers with each member of the group; check back throughout this week for more.)
Not too good. I didn’t sleep well. I fell asleep around eight this morning. After this interview, I have to go to the hospital because my leg hurts. I bumped into a door really hard; it’s not broken or fractured, but it’s been hurting for the past month, so I need to get another X-ray. Luckily, we’re not done with recording [for Blackpink’s upcoming album], so I don’t need to use my legs yet. The choreography comes after the songs are done. I hope to heal quickly before then.
What are you up to these days?
My life these days is not too busy, because we’re not actively performing yet. I want to come back with music quickly. I live alone, but my parents are in the same apartment building, so we share meals together.
You grew up in Gunpo, a relatively small city. Then, with Blackpink, you experienced an immense world. How has that changed your perspective on life?
You know, not too differently. My mom and dad are proud of me, but I don’t feel like a world star. I’d go to see a play with friends, and they’d say, “Can you move around like this? You’re Blackpink!” Others say all the time, “Hey, this is a huge deal!” It doesn’t resonate with me much. I’m the same person that started training in high school. My social standing may have changed, but to me, I’m just . . . too me.
Jisoo photographed in Seoul, South Korea, on April 9, 2022.
Photograph by Peter Ash Lee for Rolling Stone. Fashion direction by Alex Badia. Produced by Katt Kim at MOTHER. Set design by Minkyu Jeon. Styling by Minhee Park. Hair by Lee Seon Yeong. Makeup by Myungsun Lee. Nails by Eunkyoung Park. Dress by Alexander McQueen. Shoes: stylist's personal item
What do you love most about making music?
We don’t just receive a completed song. We’re involved from the beginning, building the blocks, adding this or that feeling, exchanging feedback — and this process of creating makes me feel proud of our music. If we just received premade songs, it would feel mechanical. I feel more love for the process, because we say, “How about adding this in the lyrics? How about adding this move in the choreography?”
You’re the only Blackpink member who hasn’t released a solo single. There’s buzz that you will this year. How would you approach your solo music?
I’m not sure how much I want to go solo yet. The music I listen to, the music I can do, and the music I want to do — what should I choose? I love songs with lots of instruments. I love different bands and rock music. What do people want from me? There’s a chaos of conflicting questions. So I’m still tilting my head in confusion. I’m not sure what will happen with my solo plans this year.
The questioning seems completely understandable.
Right. It’s not easy. Honestly, I didn’t know I’d be doing something like this. My high school friends, who know me well, are still baffled that I’m doing this job, and doing it well. They thought I’d live simply, freely, doing whatever I want.
Back then — I don’t know what I was thinking — but on some days, if I didn’t want to go to school, I just didn’t. And my parents let me! I’d wake up one morning grimacing because I didn’t want to go to school. My dad would say, “What’s up? Why the long face?” I’d say, “Dad, I’m so tired, I just want to sleep.” “OK, don’t go then!” Then the next day, my teacher would ask, “What are you going to do with your life?”
I can’t believe your parents let you skip school.
It’s not that they gave up on me; I think they adored me, especially because I was the youngest kid. They were more liberal with letting me do what I wanted. So it was hard for me to transition to [YG], where there were many rules. I had to grow a sense of patience and endurance.
Jisoo photographed in Seoul, South Korea, on April 9, 2022.
Photograph by Peter Ash Lee for Rolling Stone. Dress and bustier by Dior. Shoes: stylist's personal item
