| Choi Yu-ree | |||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 24 November 1998 | ||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Gangwon Province, South Korea | ||||||||||
| Education: | Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts (Department of Applied Music, Composition Major/Bachelor) | ||||||||||
| Years Active: | 2017–present | ||||||||||
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Choi Yu-ree (; born November 24, 1998) is a South Korean singer-songwriter.[1] [2] Choi is known as winner of the 29th Yoo Jae-ha Music Contest (2018)[3] [4] and 23rd CJ Azit TuneUp Musicians.[5] [6] Her most famous single is Wish, original soundtrack of Netflix original series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021).
Choi was born on November 24, 1998, in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, South Korea, and raised there.[7]
Choi went to a piano academy since she was little and naturally singing while playing the piano. She was in humanities class in Pyeongchang High School. When she was in her third year of high school, her mother suggested that she go to music university. Choi entered an entrance exam cram school and learned jazz piano and music theory.
Choi moved to Seoul when she was accepted in Department of Applied Music of Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts. She graduated with Bachelor in Composition Major.[8]
In 2018, Choi competed in the 29th Yoo Jae-ha Music Contest. This competition is called the 'star making' contest due to its success in launching the careers of many accomplished musicians, such as Bang Si-hyuk, Yoo Hee-Yeol, Kim Yeon-woo, Jo Kyu-chan and Sweet Sorrow. Winning a daesang (grand prize) with her self-written piece "Complaint", Choi jump-started her career as a singer-songwriter.
On June 1, 2019, "Complaint" was released as main song in the 29th Yoo Jae-ha Music Contest Album. Choi was only 22 years old when winning this big award, so the music industry saw Choi as one of the best prospects in the pop and indie music market at that time.[9]
In the same year, Choi signed with Shofar Music as a solo artist. Choi chose this label because she used to perform regularly at 'Café Shofar', ever since her first year of college. Every Friday evening, acoustic performances by musicians have been held at Café Shofar, run by artist-type label Shofar Music. More than 100 teams of musicians have participated in this event. On October 24, 2019, her song "Regret" was released as the title track of the compilation album 'In Bloom' Cafe Chopard Compilation Vol.1. In the album, Choi became representative of 'Café Shofar' musicians, along with three bands, Electric Mattress, Yirang and Dali.[10] In 2019, Choi featured on fellow indie singer-songwriter Seong In-chang's song "Letter" (편지).
At the beginning of 2020, Choi took part in the Shofar musicians' collaboration single "Awkward" . It was released on January 9, 2020, as title track of the album Shofar Music Compilation Vol.3, Awkward relationship .[11]
On February 24, 2020, Choi made her official debut with the release of her first extended play (EP) Shape. Composed of a total of six songs, Shape is an work that attempts various genres with the theme of Choi's daily thoughts and actions. The title track Shape is a ballad that mixes popular melodies with traditional indie music style. Two other songs, "Warm-hearted" and "Stay" are harmonization of folk and pop music, and 'Asking everyday' is a pop song with jazzy sensibility. Her song from previously released omnibus albums "Regret" and acoustic song "Complaint" were also included.[12]
The title song 'Circle' was released by Choi through SoundCloud, and many music fans requested an official sound source. After the release of this album, Choi said that her fans responded enthusiastically. She said with a smile, "I wondered whether my fans had waited this long."[13] [14]
On the November 9, 2021, IU recommended two songs from Shape via her official Instagram Story. IU was posting a warm message saying, "Please warm up your heart and go" alongside a streaming proof shot of tracks, "Warm-hearted" and "Stay" This sparked curiosity from many IU' fans into streaming both songs and they became viral on SoundCloud. Choi uploaded a screenshot to her Instagram story along with the message, "Clear love to all of you who like it," and thanked the fans and IU.[15]
On June 4, 2020, Choi released her first digital single "Home", an indie/folk genre song that expresses the warmth of memories of her neighborhood.[16] A few months later, on September 20, 2020, her second digital single "Reply" was released.[17]
Choi released her second extended play (EP), "Only Us" on December 15, 2021. The album contains a total of six songs, including the title track of the same name as her album. On the EP, "Only Us" is a song that expresses the wish that no matter what wounds or painful things happen, we would like to stay here as free as we are. She added that it was also a song that reflects the theme of the album. In addition, the album contains four new songs including 'Pond', 'Old Rain' and 'Talk to Myself'. "Home" and "Reply", which were released as singles in June and September respectively.[18]
On April 13, 2021, Choi released her third extended play (EP), "Two" . This album contains a total of five songs, including the title track "Two" . The other four songs are "Still", "Catch the Tag", "Fly" and "Love".[19]
Choi Yu-ree's first solo concert Prologue was held at Sangsang Madang Live Hall in Hongdae, Seoul on May 15 and 16, 2021.[20] Ticket power was high because all tickets were sold out at the same time as the tickets opened at 6 pm KST on April 19, 2021.[21]
In July 2021, Choi was selected as one of 15 Musician of the Year of 'Muse On 2021', a representative domestic musician nurturing project. 'Muse On' is The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Creative Content Agency representative musician development project that discovers promising musicians in Korea and helps them grow through various online and offline support programs. A total of 418 teams applied in 2021. As part of this project, Choi's third digital single "Let's Stay Well" was released on July 14, 2021. It is also Choi's first remake album, where she rearranged the original song of singer Dark, lyricist Sung Yong-wook, composed by Jo Eun-young and Sung Yong-work.[22]
The online performance 'MUSE ON Day' featured 3 teams of selected new musicians and 4 teams of guest musicians, and was held five times from July until November. Choi performed in MUSE ON Day No. 2 with Yunsae and Wi Ah-young on August 21, 2021.[23]
In the second half of 2021, Choi finally had an opportunity to do her first television soundtrack. Her song Wish was played as background music in the epilogue of episodes 5 and 6 of the highly successful drama series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. The song was praised as perfectly matching the mood of the scenes, with a great success in maximizing viewers' immersion. Choi, who sung, wrote and composed the song herself, explained that Wish was "a song that contains the heart of wanting to love and be loved in poverty, taking lightly the feelings that become heavy because of love." Stone Music Entertainment released Wish as single and instrumental track on the Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha OST Part 4, album on September 25, 2021.[24] With the song, Choi was nominated in Best OST at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards.[25]
On October 5, 2021, Choi released her fourth extended play (EP), "Journey" with double title track songs, "Live goes on" and "Took" . The other three songs are, "The End", "Who are you?" and "Dejavu" .[26] Just few months later, Choi made a surprise new digital single album "Journey Epilogue" on December 16, 2021. The concept was taken from the conclusion of the previous EP "Journey" and includes a new song, "Enable" .[27]
In 2022, Choi Yu-ree was selected as one of six final winner of the 23rd Tune-Up musicians by CJ Azit with fellow musicians Kwak Tae-pung, Kim Jae-hyung, Yoon Ji-young, ID:Earth and Off the menu. From 727 musicians teams applied, 73 teams were selected in the first screening.[28]
In March 2022, Choi contributed to the soundtrack for the JTBC television series Thirty-Nine with the song "That's All" . The OST captures the heartbreaking feeling of Jung Chan-young (Jeon Mi-do), who's terminally ill and slowly preparing for a farewell with the people she loves. It makes people realize the importance of the present together with family and friends. Choi commented, "I can only do this all the time, but in fact, that's all I am, so it's no different from giving my all."[29]
On May 3 2022, Choi collaborated with Han Jae-wan, a composer from O'PEN music, in Shared Office Hookup OST "No Encore Request". The song was remake of song released in 2012 by indie band Broccoly, you too?. Expectations are high in that Choi Yu-ri's emotional voice and Lofi sound are combined to be reborn as a new version.[30]
On May 26, 2022, Choi released her fifth mini-album, "To the Other Side of Greed". Five songs were recorded that contain Choi Yuri's warm story of her past regrets and her efforts to escape from her greed.[31]
Choi contributed to the soundtrack for the television series drama Shooting Stars with single "Won't give up". Shooting Stars OST Part 5 was released on June in various online music sites. On top of the emotional acoustic sound, the lyrics seem to warmly soothe the tired heart of life and give listeners comfort.[32]
In September 2021, Choi participated in the soundtrack for the television series drama If You Wish Upon Me with single "I'll Hide You in My Arms". The OST is a pop ballad song that begins with a gentle piano performance and continues with a heart-touching guitar performance. It contains a message of consolation that embraces the pain in the heart, telling all those who are going through hard days every day that they are never alone, and saying, 'It's okay if you don't do well, everything will pass'.[33]
Through her various television soundtrack releases, Choi began to gain popularity.
| Title | EP details | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape (동그라미) |
| |
| At Least Only We (Korean: 우리만은) |
| |
| Us (Korean: 둘이) |
| |
| Journey (Korean: 여정) |
| |
| To the Other Side of Greed (욕심의 반대편으로) |
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [34] | |||||
| As lead artist | |||||
| "Complaint" (Korean: 푸념) | 2019 | — | The 29th Yoo Jae-ha Music Contest (Korean: 제29회 유재하 음악경연대회) | ||
| "Regret" (Korean: 후회) | — | In Bloom Cafe Chopard Compilation Vol.1 (In Bloom Korean: 카페쇼파르 컴필레이션 Vol.1) | |||
| "Stay" (Korean: 굳은살) | 2020 | — | Shape (Korean: 동그라미) | ||
| "Shape" (Korean: 동그라미) | — | ||||
| "Reason" (Korean: 매일을 물어요) | — | ||||
| "Warmhearted" (Korean: 모닥불) | — | ||||
| "Home" (Korean: 동네) | — | Home (Korean: 동네) | |||
| "Reply" (Korean: 답장) | — | Reply (Korean: 답장) | |||
| "Pond" (Korean: 연못) | — | At Least Only We (Korean: 우리만은) | |||
| "Mom" (Korean: 옛날비) | — | ||||
| "At Least Only We" (Korean: 우리만은) | — | ||||
| "Monologue" (Korean: 혼잣말) | — | ||||
| "Still" (Korean: 그래도) | 2021 | — | Us (둘이) | ||
| "Hide and Seek" (Korean: 술래잡기) | — | ||||
| "Us" (Korean: 둘이) | — | ||||
| "Be My Day" (Korean: 날아) | — | ||||
| "Love" (Korean: 사랑) | — | ||||
| "Let's Stay Well" (Korean: 잘 지내자, 우리) | 151 | Let's Stay Well (Korean: 잘 지내자, 우리) | |||
| "And" (Korean: 끝) | — | Journey (Korean: 여정) | |||
| "Life Goes On" (Korean: 살아간다) | — | ||||
| "I Owe You" (Korean: 당신은 누구시길래) | — | ||||
| "Dejavu" (Korean: 데자뷰) | — | ||||
| "Soothing" (Korean: 툭) | — | Muse On 2021 Compilation | |||
| "Try" (Korean: 감당) | — | Journey Epilogue (Korean: 여정 에필로그) | |||
| "Sleepless Nights" (Korean: 답답한 새벽) | 2022 | — | My Swedish Laundry (Korean: 나의 스웨덴세탁소) | ||
| "Lost" (Korean: 미아) | — | To the Other Side of Greed (Korean: 욕심의 반대편으로) | |||
| "To the Other Side of Greed" (Korean: 욕심의 반대편으로) | — | ||||
| "Do My Best" (Korean: 노력) | — | ||||
| "It's Me" (Korean: 나야) | — | ||||
| "Friend" (Korean: 단짝) | — | ||||
| "Forest" (Korean: 숲) | 68 | Stroll (Korean: 유영) | |||
| "Ocean" (Korean: 바다) | — | ||||
| "You May Live in Happiness" (Korean: 그댄 행복에 살텐데) | 20 | ||||
| Collaborations | |||||
| "Letter" (Korean: 편지) | 2019 | — | |||
| "Awkward" (Korean: 어색한 사이) | 2020 | 116 | Shofar Music Compilation Vol.3, Awkward relationship | ||
| "Stay with Me" (Korean: 스웨덴세탁소) | — | ||||
| "Love Flows" | 2021 | — | Come with Me | ||
| "Tonight" (Korean: 연락하고 싶은 이 밤) | 2022 | — | Tipping Point Part One | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [35] | |||||
| "Wish" (Korean: 바람) | 2021 | 97 | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha OST Part 4 | ||
| "That's All" (이것밖에) | 2022 | — | Thirty-Nine OST Part 3 | ||
| "No More Encore" (앵콜요청금지) | — | O'PENing Shared Office Hookup OST | |||
| "Won't Give Up" | — | Shooting Stars OST Part 5 | |||
| "I'll Protect You" (나의 품에 숨겨줄게) | — | If You Wish Upon Me OST Part 6 | |||
| "Night Sea" (밤, 바다) | 2023 | 58 | Trip: Playlist OST Part 2 | ||
| "Last Minute" | 2024 | — | Exchange 3 OST Part 5 | ||
| "Promise" | 115 | Queen of Tears OST Part 9 | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||
Choi is registered as an songwriter with the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA), with the registration number 10023084 and registration name (Choi Yu-ree).
| Publishing date | Song title | Album title | Performer | Lyrics | Composing | Arrangement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2019 | "Complaint" (Korean: 푸념) | The 29th Yoo Jae-ha Music Contest (Korean: 제29회 유재하 음악경연대회) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| October 24, 2019 | "Regret" (Korean: 후회) | In Bloom Cafe Chopard Compilation Vol.1 (In Bloom Korean: 카페쇼파르 컴필레이션 Vol.1) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| February 24, 2020 | "Stay" (Korean: 굳은살) | Circle (Korean: 동그라미) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| "Shape" (Korean: 동그라미) | ||||||
| "Reason" (Korean: 매일을 물어요) | ||||||
| "Warmhearted" (Korean: 모닥불) | ||||||
| June 4, 2020 | "Home" (Korean: 동네) | Home (Korean: 동네) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| September 20, 2020 | "Reply" (Korean: 답장) | Reply (Korean: 답장) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| December 15, 2020 | "Pond" (Korean: 연못) | At Least Only We (Korean: 우리만은) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| "Mom" (Korean: 옛날비) | ||||||
| "At Least Only We" (Korean: 우리만은) | ||||||
| "Monologue" (Korean: 혼잣말) | ||||||
| April 13, 2021 | "Still" (Korean: 그래도) | Us (둘이) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| "Hide and Seek" (Korean: 술래잡기) | ||||||
| "Us" (Korean: 둘이) | ||||||
| "Be My Day" (Korean: 날아) | ||||||
| "Love" (Korean: 사랑) | ||||||
| July 14, 2021 | "Let's Stay Well" (Korean: 잘 지내자, 우리) | Let's Stay Well (Korean: 잘 지내자, 우리) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| September 25, 2021 | "Wish" (Korean: 바람) | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha OST Part 3 | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| October 5, 2021 | "And" (Korean: 끝) | Journey (Korean: 여정) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| "Life Goes On" (Korean: 살아간다) | ||||||
| "I Owe You" (Korean: 당신은 누구시길래) | ||||||
| "Dejavu" (Korean: 데자뷰) | ||||||
| November 1, 2021 | "Soothing" (Korean: 툭) | Muse On 2021 Compilation | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| December 16, 2021 | "Try" (Korean: 감당) | Journey Epilogue (Korean: 여정 에필로그) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| March 16, 2022 | "Sleepless Nights" (Korean: 답답한 새벽) | My Swedish Laundry (Korean: 나의 스웨덴세탁소) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| May 3, 2022 | "No More Encore" (Korean: 앵콜요청금지) | O'PENing Shared Office Hookup OST | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| April 13, 2021 | "Lost" (Korean: 미아) | To the Other Side of Greed (Korean: 욕심의 반대편으로) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| "To the Other Side of Greed" (Korean: 욕심의 반대편으로) | ||||||
| "Do My Best" (Korean: 노력) | ||||||
| "It's Me" (Korean: 나야) | ||||||
| "Friend" (Korean: 단짝) | ||||||
| March 3, 2022 | "That's All" (Korean: 이것밖에) | Thirty-Nine OST Part 3 | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| August 24, 2022 | "Forest" (Korean: 숲) | Yoo-young (Korean: 유영) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| "Ocean" (Korean: 바다) | ||||||
| September 7, 2022 | "I'll Protect You" (Korean: 나의 품에 숨겨줄게) | If You Wish Upon Me OST Part 6 | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| October 5, 2022 | "Tonight" (Korean: 연락하고 싶은 이 밤) | Tipping Point Part 1 | Choi Yu-ree, Lee Min-hyuk | |||
| November 30, 2022 | "Trace" (Korean: 흔적) | Afterglow (Korean: 여운) | Choi Yu-ree | |||
| "A Breath" (Korean: 한 숨) | ||||||
| "Hey" (Korean: 저기야) | ||||||
| "What Do You Think of Me?" (Korean: 어떤가요) | ||||||
| "Sudden Worries" (Korean: 걱정의 문득) |
| Publishing Date | Song Title | Album Title | Performer | Note(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 24, 2019 | "Awkward" (어색한 사이) | Shofar Music Compilation Vol.3, Awkward relationship | Choi Yu-ree (with BOL4, Vanilla Acoustic, Sweden Laundry, 20 Years of Age, Letter Flow, Kim Ji-soo, WH3N, Boramiyu, Yuri) | MV | |
| June 4, 2020 | "Home"(Korean: 동네) | Home (Korean: 동네) | Choi Yu-ree | MV | |
| September 20, 2020 | "Reply" (Korean: 답장) | Reply (Korean: 답장) | Choi Yu-ree | Live clip | |
| December 15, 2020 | "Pond" (Korean: 연못) | Only Us (Korean: 우리만은) | Choi Yu-ree | Live clip | |
| "Old rain" (Korean: 옛날비) | Live clip | ||||
| "Only Us" (Korean: 우리만은) | Live clip | ||||
| "Soliloquy" (Korean: 혼잣말) | Live clip | ||||
| April 13, 2021 | "The Two" (Korean: 둘이) | The Two (둘이) | Choi Yu-ree | MV | |
| July 14, 2021 | "Let's get along, we" (Korean: 잘 지내자, 우리) | Let's get along, we (Korean: 잘 지내자, 우리) | Choi Yu-ree | MV | |
| October 5, 2021 | "Live goes on" (Korean: 살아간다) | Journey (Korean: 여정) | Choi Yu-ree | MV | |
| November 1, 2021 | "Soothing" (Korean: 툭) | MUSE ON 2021 Compilation | Choi Yu-ree | ||
| December 16, 2021 | "Try" (Korean: 감당) | Journey epilogue (Korean: 여정 에필로그) | Choi Yu-ree | Lyric video | |
| March 7, 2022 | "That's All" (이것밖에) | Thirty-Nine OST Part 3 | Jeon Mi-do, Son Ye-jin, Kim Ji-hyun | MV | |
| March 16, 2022 | "Stuffy Dawn" (Korean: 답답한 새벽) | My swedish laundry (Korean: 나의 스웨덴세탁소) | Choi Yu-ree | MV | |
| April 13, 2021 | "To the other side of greed" (Korean: 욕심의 반대편으로) | To the other side of greed (Korean: 욕심의 반대편으로) | Choi Yu-ree | MV | |
| June 23, 2021 | "Love flows" | Come with me | 20 Years of Age, Choi Yu-ree | Live clip | |
| June 2022 | "Won't Give-up" | Shooting Stars OST Part 5 | Lee Sung-kyung, Kim Young-dae | MV | |
| August 24, 2022 | "Tree" (Korean: 숲) | Yoo-young (Korean: 유영) | Choi Yu-ree | Lyric video | |
| "Ocean" (Korean: 바다) | Lyric video | ||||
| October 5, 2022 | "Tonight I want to keep in touch with you" (Korean: 연락하고 싶은 이 밤) | Tipping Point Part 1 | Choi Yu-ree, Lee Min-hyuk | MV |
| 2020 | Choi Yu-ree' first solo live | Cafe Unplugged (Hongdae) | ||
| May 2021 | Choi Yu-ree' first solo concert: Prologue | KT&G Sangsangmadang Hongdae Live Hall | [36] | |
| August 2021 | MUSE ON Day No. 2 | [37] | ||
| 2021 | Post-in by Yun Dahn Dahn | Sogang University Mary Hall Grand Theater | [38] | |
| November 2021 | Choi Yu-ree' EP album release commemorative concert 'Journey' | KT&G Sangsangmadang Daechi Art Hall | [39] | |
| February 2022 | Tune Up Stage [Sweet Love: Choi Yu-ree' X WH3N] | CJ Azit Gwangheungchang | [40] | |
| May 2022 | Beautiful Mint Life 2022 | Olympic Park | [41] | |
| June 2022 | Choi Yu-ree' EP release commemorative solo concert 'To the other side of greed' | Shinhan pLay Square Live Hall | [42] | |
| August 2022 | The CJ Cultural Foundation 'Dear My Playlist' | CJ Azit Gwangheungchang | [43] | |
| October 2022 | 'LIVE. ON' Day 2 | [44] | ||
| December 2022 | Choi Yu-ree' solo concert 'Aftertaste' | Yonsei University Centennial Hall Concert Hall | [45] |
| Year | Category | Nominee | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | 2021 | Best OST | Choi Yu-ree — "Wish" | |||
| 29th Yoo Jae-ha Music Contest | 2018 | Grand Prize | Choi Yu-ree — "Complaint" | [47] | ||
| Brand Customer Loyalty Award | 2024 | Female Vocalist Award | Choi Yu-ree | [48] |