Meet Yue. A Chinese American with an extensive background as a dancer, it only seems natural that she became a K-Pop idol and a member of K-Pop’s jewel, Lapillus, at that.
It’s special when we see another side of an artist and experience their creativity and passion, and getting to know Yue was pretty darn special. I sat down with Yue ahead of Lapillus’ Latin America to talk about her journey into K-Pop, how being born in the U.S. influenced her dance background, and more. Get to know her as she answers my questions below.
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Can you introduce yourself?
Hi, my name is Yue. I am in charge of vocals and dance. It’s really nice to meet you!
Tell me about you. Who is Yue?
Well, Yue is a member of Lapillus. I feel like that's very obvious to everyone, but Yue is also kind of like the ideal version of Nancy Yang - that’s my real name. So, I feel like Yue is a different side of Nancy Yang.
So you are originally from California. Can you tell us about your journey to Korea and K-Pop?
Originally, I did K-Pop auditions for the experience and my future. You know, if I want to become an idol or something like that, it was for practice. I didn’t think I would actually pass and become a trainee, but everything happened so fast once I started. I went to Korea and became a trainee for a month to let the company see if I was actually worth it, came back to California to finish high school, and then went back to Korea to become an official trainee. We started practicing every day until we suddenly debuted. Everything was just such a surprise for me. Wow, that’s quite a journey. We are so happy that it worked out and that you are sitting with us.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Oh my gosh! When we have a schedule or a performance or something, it’s a little different. If we don’t have a schedule, we usually wake up in the morning and come to the company for classes like pilates, language lessons, dance classes, and personal practice time. Of course, we like to slide in meal times like lunch and dinner whenever we have time, but it’s different every day.
So, something fun and exciting - hopefully, every day, right?
Yeah!
We read online that one of your hobbies is gaming. Are you playing mobile games? Computer games? What games do you enjoy?
Previously, I frequently played Overwatch on the computer and Mobile Legends on my phone, but nowadays, I don’t have much time. I don’t play many games right now, but I am looking for a new one to play. *hint hint Lapis*
How would you describe your personal style? Has it changed since you've become a KPOP idol?
Before debuting, I really liked comfortable and oversized clothes. Now I am more into a chic look. When we perform, we wear a lot of colorful clothing, jewelry, and other accessories. However, I like to wear simple neutral colors if we don’t have a performance or schedule and are just hanging out in our dorm.
What was it like being backstage, getting ready for your first performance ahead of your debut? Were you nervous? Excited?
It felt like a dream. I remember talking about it with my members and thinking, ‘oh my gosh, it feels like we’re in a movie right now.’ When we went on stage and started performing, it felt like my mind was blank, and my body didn’t feel like my body anymore. It was as though I was part of the audience watching myself because I was so nervous. Afterward, I felt the adrenaline surging through my body and thought, ‘Wow, that was so fun. I hope we can do this every day.’
How different is it from preparing for a music video? Is it more fun?
For performances, it’s like you do it right away, and then you’re done, you know? With music videos, it can take one to two days or longer to film, so it’s definitely harder and more tiring. The good part is our company staff are super nice and kind to us - always cheering for us, making jokes, and helping us smile. We always have a good time together.
What do you do to get yourself energized or get yourself ready?
Ahead of a performance, we like to practice a lot to make sure our performance is perfect and worth watching for our fans. Personally, I also like to put on facial masks and get my skin ready, eat healthier so I don’t look very swollen on stage, and stuff like that.
How has being born in the U.S. influenced your dance style? Did you do any dance training or vocal training here?
I was a member of a few friend-made dance crews. They weren’t super official or anything, so I didn’t get to have the experience of those official crews, but I feel like growing up in California definitely helped. It gave me that free kind of style - the power in my dance, if you will, from my perspective.
Do you help with any choreography or dance moves for Lapillus?
Yeah, we work with our teachers, give them ideas, and make the choreography together as a team.
If your dog Sven could understand one of your songs, which would it be and why?
If my dog could understand my songs, I definitely want him to understand our debut song, “HIT YA!” It shows our passion to debut and become a K-Pop artist, and we worked super hard to prepare for it (“HIT YA!”).
Finish these sentences:
My favorite word/phrase is: You should love yourself before loving others.
I’m really passionate about: Drawing and playing the piano.
The top three places I’d love to visit are: Paris, Mexico, and Thailand.
On a rainy day, you will probably find me . . . In bed, hugging my stuffed animals.
Three songs currently on my playlist are:
“Ditto” NewJeans
“Antihero” Taylor Swift
“The Happiest Girl” BLACKPINK
Lastly, can you please share a message for Lapis.
First, I want to tell them to please stay healthy and be happy every day. Thank you for always supporting us and giving us so much love. We will work even harder to bring better performances for new music, so please look forward to our future promotions. Thank you so much Lapis! We love you much!
You can follow Lapillus on the following platforms: