Sunny Choi

[인터뷰] 써니 최, ‘사랑한다’고 말해주는 선율

“Culture is Strong!”

‘2013 세계한인차세대 대회’가 한창인 10월4일, 서울 워커힐 호텔에서 만난 젊은 피아니스트는 인터뷰 부탁에 흔쾌히 응했다. 지난 1999년 캐나다 토론토로 이민을 간 그녀는 차세대 한인 리더 자격으로 이번 대회에 참가했다. 개막식 때 인상적인 피아노 연주로 박수갈채를 받은 피아니스트 써니 최(한국명 최선근, 26세)의 음악과 가족에 대한 이야기를 나눠봤다.

- 6년 만에 한국행이라면서요. 감회가 남다르겠어요.
“가 선정한 차세대 지식리더로 세계지식포럼에 참가한 게 2007년 이니까, 횟수로 7년만이에요. 오랜만에 찾은 모국인데, 너무 많이 변해서 깜짝 놀랐어요.”

- 가장 큰 변화가 뭐였어요?
“한국은 하루가 다르게 빠르게 변화하는, 일종의 ‘진화’하는 느낌이랄까. 한국 사람들이 어느 분야든지 열심히 하기 때문이 아닐까요? 한국에 비하면 토론토는 마치 멈춰있는 것처럼 느껴질 때가 있어요.”

- 사실 인터뷰를 준비하면서 남다른 이력에 흥미를 생겼어요. 생명과학을 전공했는데, 지금은 피아니스트로 활동하고 있잖아요.
“졸업 후 ‘노인의학’으로 진로를 정하려고 했어요. 피아노는 ‘방과 후 활동’으로 4살 때부터 쳤었죠. 대학교 3학년 때 진로를 심각하게 고민하면서 음악에 손을 놓으면 이대로 영영 끝나버릴 것 같았어요. 두고두고 후회할 것 같아서 고심 끝에 결국 제 선택은 ‘음악’이었죠.”

- 양로원, 병원 등에서 공연을 8백 여 차례나 했었다는 이야기를 듣고 ‘뭔가 증명하려 안간힘을 쓴 게 아닌가’라는 느낌을 받았어요.
“쉬지 않고 연주하고 또 연주했어요. 음악을 하겠다고 막상 뛰어들긴 했지만, 사실 저 스스로도 확신을 할 수 없었죠. 주변 사람들의 시선도 부담됐었고. 나만의 것을 찾고 싶다는 생각뿐이었어요. ‘대회에 나가 상을 받고, 정해진 연주를 반복해서 하는 게 무슨 의미가 있을까’ 이런 생각들로 답답했었어요.”

- 연주자로서 어떤 돌파구가 필요했던 거네요?
“비슷해요. 사실 음악을 하고 싶었던 가장 큰 이유는 남들이 내 음악을 듣고 감동을 받는 모습을 보고 싶었거든요. 공감할 수 있는 ‘저 만의 음악’을 통해서 말이에요.”

- 그래서 작곡을 시작한 거군요.
“작곡은 사실 작년부터 시작했지만, 곡을 쓸 때만큼은 ‘운명적인 사랑’과 조우한 느낌이랄까. 물론 처음 작곡을 시작할 때는 ‘답이 안 나오는’ 상황이었어요. 제 마음이 깃들지 않은 곡은 쓰고 싶지 않아서 홍역을 대단히 크게 앓은 셈이죠.”

- 슬럼프는 어떻게 극복했어요?
“가족, 친구와의 인간관계를 다시 시작하면서 마음도 안정되고 곡도 서서히 나오기 시작했어요. ‘깊이 있고 공감할 수 있는 저만의 곡’은 아직 현재 진행형인 셈이지만요.”

- ‘음악적 영감이 사람에게서 비롯됐다.’ 흥미로운데요.
“피아니스트로 활동하기 시작할 때 주변 사람들과 연락을 끊다시피 했어요. 연주에만 몰두하자는 의미도 있었고, 주변의 우려 섞인 시선도 불편했어요. 연주를 통해 이들의 우려를 불식시켜보자는 욕구가 컸고요. ‘관계’에 대한 제 생각을 다시 정립하면서 작업이 풀린 이유는 무엇보다 제 음악이 ‘사람’을 향해 있기 때문이에요.”

- ‘공감할 수 있는 음악’이란 어떤 음악일까요?
“아빠에게 ‘고맙다, 미안하다, 사랑한다’는 말을 잘 못해요. 너무 단순한 말 한 마디인데, 그게 쉽지가 않았어요. 어렸을 때부터 외국 생활을 하긴 했지만, 살가운 말을 못하는 한국 사람의 피가 흐르니까요(웃음). 공감할 수 있는 음악이란 이런 것 같아요. 말로는 못하지만, 음악으로 그 감정을 전할 수 있는 그런.”

그녀는 자신의 음반 ‘Closer’에 수록된 ‘Unspoken love’이 아버지를 향한 마음을 표현하고 있다고 설명했다. 최선근 씨의 눈은 이내 붉게 충혈 됐다.

- 차세대 대회 얘기를 해볼게요. 멋진 차세대 남성들 많이 만났어요?
“글쎄요(웃음). 다양한 나라에서 온 여러 분야의 전문가들과 만나는 일은 즐겁고 흥분되는 일이죠. 참가한 차세대 모두 본인이 원해서 이곳에 온 거잖아요. 의사소통이 안 되더라도 공통분모는 역시 ‘한국’. 해외 생활을 하면 애국자가 된다는 말이 정말 맞는 것 같아요. 한국인이라서 자랑스럽다는 감정을 이곳에서 새삼 확인하게 됐어요.

- 앞으로 어떤 ‘한국인’이 되고 싶으세요?
“연주회나 이런 대회뿐만 아니라, 페이스북과 유튜브를 통해서도 많은 사람과 소통하고 있어요. 이런 소통은 제가 피아니스트로 활동하면서 다양한 분야의 일을 하고 싶기 때문이죠. 제가 어떤 ‘한국인’이 될지는 아직 알 수 없어요. 다만, 외국과 한국의 문화를 이해하고 접점을 찾을 수 있는 사람이 되고 싶어요.” - World Korean Newspaper

I love music. I really do. I’m constantly listening to it and I enjoy (and own) a wide variety of musical genres so, of course, I’m always on the look for new artists or musicians to check out. Yeah, I’ve said this before but it’s true. ^^
So when I was contacted by Sunny Choi, a Korean-Canadian contemporary pianist, I was intrigued. While I tend to listen to alternative or hip hop most of the time, when I’m writing I generally listen to instrumental music – from jazz to New Order’s Substance – so I immediately clicked the link to her SoundCloud profile to check out her new album, ‘Closer.’
I’ll be the first to admit that while I love music, I never studied music (other than the mandatory courses in middle school). I’ve never taken piano. But wow! I love Sunny Choi’s ‘Closer’ and couldn’t stop listening. It was good, enjoyable and for me, very relaxing – the perfect writing music.
Who is Sunny Choi?
She is a contemporary pianist who was born in Busan, Korea and immigrated to Canada as a teenager. In researching her, I was super impressed by her presence on social media and the fact that she maintains her own accounts. It’s always fun for fans to know they are chatting with – or at least reading the words of – musicians (or actors/authors/etc.) they like. Sunny is not only a pianist but also a composer whose music speaks to and about her emotions and feelings. I love the line from her website “We feel music. Not just hear music.” because it reflects my philosophy as a listener. Want to know more about Sunny Choi? Check back on July 25th as we have an interview with her coming up.
Why did I like ‘Closer’
Instrumental music for me, as a music lover but one with little technical knowledge of the music itself, is all about the way it makes me feel. And listening to ‘Closer’ put me in my happy place, the place where the words flow freely and ideas keep popping into my head. It’s beautiful to listen to and because it is, it’s inspiring. For me at least, that’s the best of what any music can offer you – it can touch your creative soul, and make YOU want to create something.
I have listened to the album several times – I never write about any music without listening to it at least 3 times but in this case, it’s been many more – and my enjoyment of the music hasn’t lessened. It’s still beautiful, still relaxing, still inspiring.
While I loved the entire album, I particularly liked the songs Unspoken Love, Sunday Brunch and Away. I think if I had to pick a favourite, it would be Sunday Brunch – it just makes me smile to listen to it.
Do you need some new music to study to? Something to listen to while you write or paint? Then I would recommend checking out Sunny Choi’s ‘Closer’.
Just the facts:
Who: Sunny Choi
What: Korean-Canadian contemporary pianist
New album: ‘Closer’
Buy on iTunes: Closer – Sunny Choi
Genre: Contemporary solo piano
Her influences: Classical music and pop
Social Media
Website
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
SoundCloud
**The entire album is composed and performed by Sunny Choi.**

Upcoming Concert!
But that’s not all! She has an album release concert coming up next week. I’m super excited about it. Why? Well, you’ve heard about how I like the music but I’ll be honest, I’m just as excited because of how Sunny Choi described the concert. She’s going to be talking to the crowd in between the songs about her music and culture. And since you all know how I like Korean culture… how could I not want to go? While different from my usual concert experiences, I think it’s going to be a fun, enjoyable and thoroughly interesting evening with some fab music.
One of the reasons I love attending film festivals is because of the chance to hear about the films from the director. To get that little peek into their mind and their creative process. So having the chance to do the same with a musician? Fabulous! How can one resist the opportunity to know the emotions and inspiration behind the music?

Have I hooked you on the concert yet?
When: Tuesday July 9th at 7:00 pm
Where: Musideum (401 Richmond Street West, Suite 133, Toronto)
How much: They’re only$15.
Tickets: Don’t worry, you can buy tickets here!
And I’ll leave you with a quote about her new album, ‘Closer’. It “is inspired by my personal life journey, specifically feelings and emotions from my past that were not yet freely expressed or held back from my family and friends.” How can you not want to listen to it after than?! - ATK Magazine

Contemporary Pianist Sunny Choi: Using Music as Therapy - Korean Newsweek (Montreal Korean Newspaper)

Sunny Choi is first and foremost a storyteller. With her piano as her voice and the world as her stage, thanks to the help of social media, this sparkling performer from Toronto is a beautiful example of chasing your dream and creating a life that you love. Here we talk about the power of emotions, pop music covers, and the importance of relationships – I think you’ll find this one particularly inspirational.

Who are you and what do you do?
I’m a contemporary piano artist, creating and performing music that everyone can not only listen to but relate to regardless of their age, gender or cultural background. No prior knowledge in classical music is necessary at all to enjoy my piano music.

Tell us about your career in music and how you got started.
While studying Life Sciences in university, I felt the increasing need to do something about the music side of me that I couldn’t let go of. I’ve been playing the piano since I was 4 years old, and I felt that there was so much more that I could do with piano beyond just taking classical piano lessons. I sought out events in my city where piano music was needed, and gradually built my name as a performer and to spread my music. I also uploaded videos on YouTube covering today’s popular music into my unique versions of these songs into piano music, to share my music with the rest of the world.

What do you look to for inspiration?
My inspiration for music comes from stories from different people’s lives. ‘Closer’, my solo piano album is completely based on stories from my personal life journey, specifically feelings and emotions that had not yet been fully shared or expressed with family and friends. These feelings are something that everyone can relate with in some ways as we are all humans. I’ve spoken with many people of all ages and learned invaluable lessons about importance of finding happiness, that primarily comes from maintaining balanced relationships with family and friends.

How have you built up your fan base and online presence?
The initial online presence began with my artistic piano interpretations of today’s popular music on my YouTube channel. Facebook also became an important platform where I started sharing my personal stories, thoughts and photos that have played roles in making my album possible.

Are there any particular challenges that you’ve faced along the way that you could share with us?
Based on my personal challenge I had to overcome not so long ago, I remind myself to be cautious when exciting opportunities arise to work with others. Before evaluating the value of someone’s work, it’s just as important or more to find out what kind of people they are. In the end, we work with people, not things.

How about any special achievements or favourite moments?
Although it only took a month to record my entire album ‘Closer’, it took several years just to realize and learn the significance behind maintaining a balanced life. The day I had my album launch concert and got to share my stories and music felt like I was able to fully exhale for the very first time in my life. Before my album can be called a collection of my original compositions, it is a collection of stories inspired and influenced me that were put together to actually making my album possible.

What tools do you use to manage your online presence?
Online social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube play significant roles when it comes to sharing my music and stories. With just a few clicks, it allows me to be able to communicate with people from all over the world. While I was seeking a platform to can sell my piano scores for music from my album ‘Closer’, I came across Selz that offers incredibly east, fast and modern- looking platform that I feel great about utilizing to sell my music.

What does a typical day look like for you?
Every day is a unique day for me. There are many different activities, ongoing projects and future opportunities that all require lots of work and researching in order for me to ultimately execute another project. As an independent artist, dealing with music and every aspect behind the music at the same time definitely is a handful, nevertheless I feel very much privileged to be doing what truly makes me happy everyday.

What has been the biggest surprise you’ve had along the way?
Despite the number of videos of my performances that are widely spread out on YouTube, I haven’t said a word yet in any of these video clips, simply because I felt that the sound from my music already expresses everything I would and could verbally express. My biggest surprise has been consistently receiving messages from people from all over the world, on a daily basis, sharing their personal stories and struggles after they had heard my music. Google Translator comes in handy whenever I have to translate many of these messages into English, but I’m incredibly thankful that my music is capable of connecting with people’s hearts. I do plan on speaking in one of my videos very soon.

What would you say to other aspiring musicians and creatives who are thinking about taking a similar path?
Whatever interests you in life, never take it for granted and do something about it.
When there’s something that you particularly enjoy doing, grow that passion by seeking out opportunities where you can further explore and grow that interest. Growing up, the thought of living a life as a performing artist had never entered my mind, but active involvement in my community through music, without a doubt contributed towards crafting my musical skills as well as building my sociable personality. To find out what the future holds for you beyond a specific occupational title, seek what you love, not what you can do.

What does the future hold for you?
I feel that I have a duty to fulfill to make our world a better to place to live in. Through my music, I communicate my thoughts and emotions that others can not only hear, but feel, to inspire them to become closer to the ones that love. This year with my new album, I hope to do a concert tour in many different countries. I have a lot to say through my music, and I just can’t wait to share it with the rest of the world.

If you want to find out more about Sunny, head on over to www.sunnychoimusicworld.com or her Facebook page. - Selz

Contemporary piano artist Sunny Choi’s concerts aren’t your typical classical performances. “When you go to a [typical] piano concert, there’s a pianist and there’s a crowd, and you listen to them and when it’s done, you clap,” says Choi. “It’s a very intimidating environment and I never really enjoyed it.”

Choi’s concerts feel like a therapy session in which the audience is encouraged to tap into their emotions and share their stories. She engages the audience, narrating the personal stories behind each piece of music before performing it. “My music is my therapy in life,” says the 26-year-old, whose raw, lyrical style stirs emotions in her audience. “The reaction from the crowd is pretty magical.”

Choi began playing piano in her hometown of Busan, South Korea, when she was four years old, but never imagined she would turn it into a career. When she arrived in Canada at 13 years of age, Choi studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and was always looking for opportunities to play — at churches, ballet studios and in school. “Music was always a big part of my life,” she says.

When it came time to go to university, Choi chose not to study music and instead pursued a career in life sciences with the hope of becoming a geriatrician. But, during her third year of studies, she had a breakdown. “I felt for some reason that if I let go of music I would have regrets for the rest of my life,” she says. She abandoned her goal of becoming a geriatrician and, in 2008, began pursuing classical music as a career. She looked for corporate events and weddings that required piano accompaniment and, keeping up with her interest in geriatric care, began performing at nursing homes. (To date, Choi has visited more than 200 senior homes in Toronto, entertaining residents with her music.)

Her career switch caused a rift with her traditional parents, who couldn’t understand how she could abandon her studies to become a musician. “They were very concerned,” says Choi. While to her parents (her mom is a teacher and her dad an engineer), music was simply a hobby, Choi saw it as an opportunity for personal growth and a chance to use her musical talent to express long dormant feelings. Growing up in a Korean household where expression of emotion was frowned upon meant Choi had suppressed many feelings that became more difficult to contain as she grew into adulthood.

Her first album, Closer, was released in May 2013 and contains nine original songs, each track tied to a specific memory that stirs up sentiments Choi says had been trapped inside her. She holds nothing back now and spills out all of her emotions, good and bad, over the table we’re sharing in a Toronto café.

The album’s first track, called “Closer,” is a piece Choi wrote to reflect her desire to form a stronger bond with her mother. “When people look at [my mom and me], we seem extremely close, but there’s an emotional connection that’s not quite there,” explains Choi. As Choi became more influenced by Canadian culture, she noticed a difference in how emotions were communicated inside and outside her home.

“In Korean culture, if you feel something, that’s good enough,” she says. “I was taught [by my parents] that crying in front of others or showing your emotions is something weak and you don’t do that.” Growing up as a teenager in multicultural Toronto exposed Choi to many different ways of expressing emotion, causing her to call into question her parents’ Korean ideas.

The second track called “Unspoken Love” is soft and poetic, yet, like all of her songs, impassioned; it portrays the struggle between Choi’s need to hear the words “I love you” from her father and his inability to speak them. As a teenager in Canada, Choi was shocked to hear friends say “I love you” to each other with ease. Such powerful words were not even spoken among the people that were most important to her. Although she always knew her father loved her, she suddenly felt the need to have that love verbalized.

Choi tears up as she talks about a family friend from Korea whose father passed away. While his son was giving the eulogy, he said his biggest regret was that he never told his father that he loved him. “He finished the eulogy saying ‘I love you dad.’ “That could have easily been me and my dad,” says Choi emotionally.

Although sensing her parents’ confusion and discomfort with her new open display of emotions, something very foreign to them, Choi felt the need to explore these feelings, playing them out through her music. “[My parents] hadn’t changed, but I was feeling all these things being influenced by growing up here,” she says. Through the making of the album, Choi’s relationship with her parents has improved and although they still struggle to express their emotions, Choi feels they’re able to connect with her music. “My dad now tells me he loves me,” she smiles.

Tapping into long-suppressed emotions was an arduous process for Choi. Although the album only took one month to record, it was about two years in the making. Throughout the process, Choi kept journals of her thoughts and memories from childhood. “Sometimes it just goes on for pages,” she laughs. “Writing the music was the hardest thing [emotionally], but now that the album’s out, the real work begins.”

When I meet her, Choi is fresh off the bus from Montreal; a city she’s become enamored with because of its rich arts history. Since the album’s release she’s been performing at various venues in Toronto and Montreal, sharing her raw, emotional music with anyone who will listen. Her Facebook page, where she posts her songs and videos, has more than 100,000 likes from individuals in more than 40 countries, many of whom are Koreans living abroad who connect with her stories and music and share in the same struggles she’s had. “I get messages every day from people who listen to my music and talk about the struggles in their lives. Some of these stories are so personal I feel I don’t deserve to read their messages,” she says.

Choi credits the creation of her album with living in Canada. “If I only lived in Korea, this album wouldn’t have been possible. I think I would just accept things for the way it was,” says Choi, who has also charted in Billboard magazine under its “Next Big Sound” chart. Being in Canada, surrounded by other cultures challenged her perceptions and taught her how to express her feelings without shame.

Thanks to her album, Choi finally feels she’s struck a balance between Canadian and Korean culture. “I very much appreciate the fact that I have a culture, [but] at the same time, I can learn from other cultures and fuse that into what I grew up with,” she says. While her music is tied to stories about her own personal journey, she hopes other immigrants, in particular those who have faced similar challenges living between two cultures, can connect with her music.

“If I’m able to capture those emotions and put them into music and people feel that, I’ve done my job.” - Canadian Immigrant Magazine