Artist Spotlight: Hanari and Dealing with Growing Pains for the “FIRST TIME”
Texas-based Korean indie artist Hanari allows herself to be vulnerable amidst the chaos of change. Released on February 6, “FIRST TIME” deals with the pressure of what adulthood truly looks like. With her low tone accompanied by electronic beats, Hanari transports listeners to a retro-future fused soundscape. To learn more about her recent single, EnVi spoke with Hanari in an exclusive email interview.
From Pink Karaoke Dreams to Singer-songwriter Reality
Hanari’s journey to artistry was always fostered under her family’s loving care. “My first memory of falling in love with music was when my dad would set up my pink karaoke machine in the living room and let me try singing Alicia Keys or Adele songs,” she recalls. Readily armed with a pink mic, what started as fun quickly became passion. Hanari went on to credit her father as the catalyst for pursuing her music career, building her confidence with not just her voice, but to start creating as well.
“Singing was my gateway into music, but as I grew, I began to take real pride in writing and crafting lyrics,” Hanari confesses. When her voice rang out and sparked positive reactions from others, Hanari realized the emotional journey in music came before performing live. Interpersonal connection kept her going, and she felt spurred on to compose music audiences could relate to.
When composing, Hanari usually starts from concepts and lyrics, a practice stemming from her first venture into artistic expression: writing novels. “My notes app is full of word vomit with random thoughts and emotions. I jot down about literally everything,” she explains. “Sometimes, I’ll scroll through those and find something that resonates, and it becomes the foundation for a song.” Depending on what sparks her interest, she can also begin from the opposite side and build a melody upon an instrumental. Regardless of the process, what remains consistent is her dedication to use her music to vocalize messages she believes her audience needs to hear.
Remember It’s Your “FIRST TIME” Living, Too
While creating her latest single, Hanari referred to MARINA’s Electra Heart: “The way she contrasts her raw lyrics with playful, ditzy background voices creates a unique juxtaposition that adds so much depth to her message.” Her own track features narration, doubling, and adlibs to emphasize her inner conflict. Hanari further explains her intention when composing, “I wanted to create something similar that reflects my own coming-of-age story while incorporating the music that shaped me growing up.”
Hanari admired MARINA’s sound, one that feels distinctly Y2K and nostalgic for those born in the 2000s. Her song unites her audience experiencing the various stages of adulthood through shared anxiety for the future. Overall, Hanari affirms, “[This song is] a reminder to myself and others that it’s okay not to be exactly where you thought you’d be, and that we’re all figuring things out in real time.”
“FIRST TIME” begins with Hanari droning out “Beauty, pain, and magazines / Pick out an identity,” her monotone voice representative of the uniform mold of perfection pushed by society. Her voice cries out, anxiety present over the course of the song. Electronic beeps and synth become an audible pressure added to Hanari’s growing internal worries. Just as impactful as the sound, is Hanari’s message laid out by the song’s lyrics. She sings, “Can you tell me who I’m gonna become? / While I’m still learning my mother tongue,” expressing her struggle with identity. Though she continues to dwell on her concerns, Hanari takes a step back to remind herself, and others, to not fret.
Growth, however small, is still growth despite how long the journey has taken. Hanari echoes this sentiment, reflecting on her own artistry and identity. “If we only get this one life,” she proposes, “I want people to live it authentically, trust their own timing, and learn to cherish the journey toward their own version of success.” Easy to empathize with due its gritty feel, “FIRST TIME” offers comfort to those feeling stuck while the world carries on.
Finding Her Expression
Aside from her eclectic discography, Hanari’s signature is mixing languages in many of her songs as a way of honoring her Korean roots. “The [use of] Korean isn’t always instantly understood, and that’s intentional, because it piques people’s curiosity and dedication,” Hanari points out. “For listeners who take the time to look up the meaning, I want it to feel like they’ve unlocked something special, like being part of a secret club.”
Hanari has previously toured Japan, describing it as “a literal dream come true.” Aside from small local venues, she also hinted at involvement with performing at a party held at a Buddhist temple. Though she would like to continue her shows in Japan and expand to South Korea, there’s one special venue she has her eyes on. “One place I’m especially excited to play is The Roxy in LA. It’s a rite of passage for so many up-and-coming pop artists, and I can’t wait to be a part of that legacy!”
Ever a multifaceted artist, Hanari delights in branching out to other fields besides music. She tells of her excitement from starring in local films in Texas, and hopes to pursue more acting in the future. As visible through her social media feed, Hanari is equally experimental with her music as much as her fashion. “I love testing out my own creative concepts through modeling,” she reveals. “Planning every detail through playing with color, texture and collaborating with new people feels incredibly satisfying.” Her hands are always moving to create, proven by her interest in crochet. Her artistic abilities are also humble, as she declares, “I’m hoping to learn photography so I can help bring other people’s creative visions to life.”
She concluded the interview by expressing her gratitude to all of her supporters. “I hope we can inspire each other to keep pushing forward and carve our own paths in this world. Thank you so much for all the kind words and support, and I’m looking forward to what we can achieve together in 2026. I couldn’t do this without you guys, seriously.”
You can listen to “FIRST TIME” out now, available on all streaming platforms. Stay updated with Hanari on Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Want more EnVi Artist Spotlights? Read our interview about new beginnings with Potatoi here.
