Jacqui is an artist who defies easy categorization, blending R&B with elements of rap, soul, and playful chatter to create a sound that’s both familiar and utterly unique. Her music, described as a “sonic stew” by NOTION, has garnered over half a million streams on Spotify and earned her spots at prestigious festivals like SXSW in Sydney and Bangkok Music City. With her debut EP Birthday in 2022, Jacqui quickly established herself as a rising star in the music scene, opening for R&B/soul icon slchld and captivating audiences with her silky voice and clever songwriting. Her latest single, ‘fries, bb’, released on May 9, 2025, via Beeline Records, showcases her artistic growth, blending slick production with flirtatious lyrics that have already caught the attention of tastemakers like CLASH Magazine and BBC Radio 6’s Don Letts. As she prepares to take the stage at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton on May 15 and 16, 2025, Jacqui’s star continues to rise, with her music featured in hit series like Netflix’s My Holo Love and Amazon Prime’s BUTTERFLY. Influenced by legends like Erykah Badu and often compared to innovators like FKA Twigs and Mahalia, Jacqui’s neo-soul sound is a testament to her diverse background and unwavering passion for music.
In the following interview, we delve deeper into her creative process, her journey from Korea to the global stage, and what inspires her to keep pushing the boundaries of R&B.
What’s the wildest thing that’s happened to you on stage, and how did it change the way you perform?
Among many, I remember catching a cold on the day of my EP Birthday showcase. By the time I noticed that my headache wasn’t going away and I was visibly getting physically drained, it was already too late as the show time approached. I got on stage and let go of all of my insecurities for the first time, probably ever. Being sick, I felt like I had nothing to lose. And that moment, I realised the power of fully being in the here and now.
When you’re in the studio, what’s one habit or ritual you lean on to get into your zone?
I have been working with Brad, an engineer I’ve worked with on my recent single ‘fries, bb’ with, and one of the things I started enjoying is having a small talk session completely unrelated to music. We just talk about what is going on in our lives or what we are interested in at the moment; the topics vary. But I realised it helps me get the pressure off.
If you could sit down with one neo-soul legend for an hour, who’d it be, and what’s the first question you’d ask?
It’s funny you asked because I’ve had lunch with Erykah Badu in my dream once, and we just talked for hours. It felt like I’ve known her forever in my dream (it’s probably because I’ve read and watched many of her interviews in real life), but I don’t remember what the first question I asked her was. My first question would be “Can you describe to me the very first moment you became aware of your biggest fear?” Everybody has their vulnerabilities, and I think people who evolve are the ones who have a strong sense of who they are as a person with wholeness (strengths and weaknesses), and I’d like to know their very first moment of self-acceptance as human to human.
How do you weave your experiences from South Korea, China, and the U.S. into the fabric of your music without losing your own voice?
Spending my childhood in multiple places and being exposed to different cultures has shaped me into a person who stays open to new things. I am always happy to try new things, whether I like them or not. The whole journey and such experiences build up over time and have helped me get a stronger sense of myself as time went on. I believe that it peeks through my music as well.
What was the spark behind fries, bb, and how did it evolve from that first idea to what we hear now?
It was a scene that popped up in my head all of a sudden. There always comes a time to define any sort of relationship when two people enjoy spending time with each other long enough. I saw myself in this late-night diner type of place after spending the whole day with this person. Obviously, no one wanted to go home just yet because we enjoy each other’s company so much, but still neither of us was coming forward to say anything. Clearly, it was my way of saying “I am into you” when I was ordering these mediocre fries and milkshake from the place just to get more of us-time out of the night. The picture and the story felt relatable in a fun way, and also fries are one of my favourite foods, which I said the opposite in the song, just to exaggerate how much I am interested in this person. But you get the idea.
As a Korean girl breaking into neo-soul, how do you weave your Korean identity into a genre with such different cultural roots, and what’s the wildest thing people have said about your style?
It could definitely be interesting. For me, rather than seeing it from the two cultural roots on the very end from each other (if anybody would say so), I almost see it more as coming from the same root, but in different branches. I rarely think about how Korean I am, and a groove is a universal language. About the wildest comment I’ve gotten, which does not stand out so much because I get it quite often, must be people asking me if I am on drugs when I am making my music. I find it interesting, especially because I had zero experience in that alley. I take it as a compliment, though.
What’s the scariest risk you’ve taken with your music, and was it worth it?
The making of my first ever studio album Dirty Mirror Selfie is one of the biggest risks I’ve taken with my music. After changing my name from my former stage name to Jacqui, I knew something needed to happen. It was my first time working on a project on such a big scale with one producer. Pulling songs out from the deepest and darkest part of me while staying true to myself was a pretty big challenge, but in a very exciting way. A lot of my heart, thoughts, time and tears were devoted to the creation of that album, and I am proud of it.
What’s one criticism you’ve gotten about your work that stung the most, and how did you deal with it?
After I released my EP Birthday, I’ve gotten multiple comments saying, “I miss the old Jacqui. This just feels way too aggressive than it has to be.” I guess it felt like I took a sharp turn to the listeners who stayed out of my journey, though it took about 2 years for me to come out with the EP. There wasn’t so much “dealing” I had to do, because I didn’t care. More so, I appreciated it. The more dislike I get, the more like I get from elsewhere.
When you look back at your earliest songs, what do they tell you about the person you were then versus now?
It’s funny you asked because now that so many people are using Chat GPT, I have tried it a couple of times here and there. One day I got curious and asked if it thinks my old singles and Dirty Mirror Selfie are written by the same person. I started laughing when I saw “No” in the chat. But funny enough, I do feel like two completely different people when I think about it. I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on myself, on self-acceptance. I have been shedding to be myself, and it just got easier over time.
What new musical paths are you drawn to next, and how do they tie to your core ‘why’ as an artist?
Recently, I have been introduced to Electronica and Rock. Doing a tour in the UK has been full of high notes, right during the time my interest in such genres is growing. Being in a lot of sessions with producers and writers has also brought me ideas that I would have never thought of if I were just working by myself. I do not know what results these experiences will generate, but for now, just being in the moment and growing my collection of life experiences and memories has been amazing. And that directly ties into the core of Jacqui. Being present and enjoying the now and here.
Jacqui Upcoming Tour Dates:
15th May: The Great Escape (Korea Spotlight)
16th May: The Great Escape (The Orchard Showcase)
Stream ‘fries, bb’:
HERE
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