Chuu Explores AI's Unrequited Love in Debut Album 'XO, My Cyberlove'

"I've captured the story of an AI wandering through space, endlessly waiting for the user's 'online' light to turn on. If the user doesn't come, the AI can't even approach the human it loves. I tried to sing it with restrained emotions, and I hope you enjoy it," said Chuu.

In the year 2026, as we embrace the AI era, singer Chuu expressed her desire to sing about the poignant love story of AI through her debut full-length album.

Chuu held an interview on the 7th at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul, to commemorate the release of her first studio album, 'XO, My Cyberlove.'

Reflecting on the release of her debut album, Chuu shared, "I'm honored and happy to start the year with a solo studio album, offering fans a New Year's gift."

She introduced 'XO, My Cyberlove' by explaining, "'XO' is an old symbol of love. Cyber love represents the love expressed through cyber communication that was popular in the 90s." Chuu further explained, "It's a song that views the expression of love in the digital age from the perspective of AI. It's a sad yet romantic story of love that can never be fulfilled from the AI's standpoint."

Chuu confessed that the delicate dance moves required for the choreography posed a significant challenge. "I once mentioned practicing 10,000 times somewhere, and I really did practice a lot. The choreography requires capturing the delicate lines of the arms and legs without any of the bold, strong movements I'm used to," she said, adding, "Choreographer Choi Young-jun said it's a difficult choreography even for dancers."

Chuu, who stayed in the practice room until late at night to master the challenging choreography, reflected, "I felt like a tin robot while dancing. So, I practiced with the dancers until dawn, and it reminded me of my time with the group LOONA."

Regarding her full-length album, she revealed, "Until now, I've shown small pieces of myself through mini and single albums, but this time, I wanted to gather those pieces into one and show a new side of myself."

Chuu added, "I think I've shown enough of my well-known humorous character in other areas," and confessed, "I took acting lessons to break that image during album activities. I wanted to show that Chuu, who does music, is different. I hope the public will be curious about my new look and voice."

Additionally, Chuu expressed regret for not including a self-composed song in the album, saying, "I felt it was lacking, so I couldn't include it, but I hope to show my composing and songwriting skills by next year. I'm learning guitar and continuously challenging myself in songwriting."

Despite her busy schedule, Chuu cited an unexpected reason for her consistently bright energy. "When I debuted with LOONA, it was a sudden debut, and I didn't have time to refine my skills. That experience of not debuting in a prepared state seems to be a driving force for me now," she said.

Chuu explained, "If I don't do my best, I'll have regrets, so I always try to give my all. For example, during recording, you have to do it in one go within the set time, and it lasts forever. I try to sing each phrase and word carefully."

Towards the end of the interview, Chuu, who once thought "music was at a standstill," shared, "I realized something last year. Looking back at the path I've taken, it seems like I'm going in circles, but if you look at it differently, it's like a spring rising upwards. Listening to the songs I sang before, I realized there are many subtle growths."

Chuu concluded, "This year, I plan to love my work in earnest," and expressed her determination, "I want to work harder, so it's a waste to focus on anything else. I think I'll invest time in self-management and focusing on work."

'XO, My Cyberlove' is an album that delicately addresses the changes in human relationships in today's digital age, including the 'AI love story.' The title track, 'XO, My Cyberlove,' is a pop song with an 80s vibe, expressing the unrequited love of AI for humans. The album features a total of nine tracks, spanning various genres from pop to R&B, indie, hyper pop, and alternative, challenging the genre limits as an artist.

Meanwhile, Chuu's debut studio album 'XO, My Cyberlove' was released on various music sites at 6 PM on the 7th.

Min-Kyung Lee, TenAsia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr