In an industry driven by speed and constant reinvention, SAAY has built her career by trusting her own rhythm. In her latest single, SLOW, SAAY opens up about emotional vulnerability, artistic integrity, and the journey that continues to shape her music. She reminds us that some of life’s most meaningful moments unfold in their own time.
Photography Reinhardt Kenneth @reinhardtkennethÂ
Styling Benjamin Holtrop @benjaminholtrop
Hair Habin from Kelly Zhang Agency @kellyzhangagencyÂ
Makeup Suzie KÂ @suziekbeautyÂ
Lighting Director Ralph Valle @ralphyvalley
Photography Assistant @raeraerkims
Publicist Angela Mach at Platform PRÂ @platformprteamÂ
Production + Location @MaisonPriveePR_la @bellomediagroup Aleksandar Tomovic @alekandsteph
Full Look Amani Saab @amanisaabofficial Jewelry Astrid & Agnes @astridoagnes Jean Amour @jeanamourdesignsShoes Pretty Little Thing @prettylittlething
Your new single SLOW arrives in a world that constantly celebrates speed and instant gratification. What inspired you to embrace the idea of slowing down, and what does that message mean to you personally at this stage of your life and career?
I think it’s interesting because the title can be a little misleading. SLOW isn’t really about choosing to slow down. It’s about emotions that refuse to move on as quickly as you want them to. Sometimes a relationship ends, but your feelings don’t end at the same speed. They linger, they come back unexpectedly, and healing becomes much slower than logic. At this point in my life, I’ve learned that not everything needs to be rushed. Growth, healing, and even becoming a better artist all happen on their own timeline. I’m learning to respect that process instead of trying to force it.
One of the things that makes your music so distinctive is the balance between vulnerability and confidence. How do you decide which parts of your own experiences belong in your songs, and which parts you choose to keep just for yourself?
I usually write about emotions rather than specific events. The details might stay private, but the feelings are completely real. I think that’s where people connect with music the most. There are parts of my life that belong only to me, but I never want to hide the emotions behind those experiences. Being emotionally honest is much more important to me than simply telling my personal story.
As someone deeply involved in writing and shaping your own music, where did SLOW begin? Was it born from a lyric, a melody, an emotion, or simply a moment you couldn’t stop thinking about?
It started with an emotion. I kept thinking about how strange it is that our hearts and our minds don’t always move at the same speed. You know something is over, but emotionally you’re still attached to the possibility of what it could have been. Once I understood that feeling, the melody and lyrics came very naturally. Everything grew from that emotional foundation.
Your catalog has always evolved while maintaining a recognizable identity. Looking back at the artist you were when you first debuted, what do you think she would admire most about the artist you’ve become today?
I think she’d be proud that I stayed true to myself. The industry changes constantly, and trends come and go, but I’ve always tried to make music that genuinely represents who I am. That hasn’t always been the easiest path, but I’m grateful that I’ve continued to trust my own instincts. I think my younger self would admire that I never stopped believing in my own voice.
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Your music often feels incredibly cinematic, almost like each song exists in its own visual universe. When you were creating SLOW, what colors, places, or images were playing in your mind before the cameras ever started rolling?
I imagined empty spaces. Late-night streets, dim lights, silence, and moments where you feel completely alone with your thoughts. The colors were mostly muted—deep blues, black, silver, and soft warm lights. I wanted everything to feel intimate, almost like you’re watching someone’s private memories rather than a performance.
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Many artists feel pressure to follow trends, but you’ve consistently built your own lane within Korean R&B. Has protecting your artistic identity ever required saying “no” to opportunities that didn’t truly represent who you are?
Definitely. There have been moments when following trends might have been the safer choice, but I realized pretty early that success doesn’t mean much if I don’t recognize myself in the music I’m making. Of course it’s tempting sometimes, but I’d rather build something that lasts than chase something temporary. My goal has always been longevity, not just attention.
There is an emotional honesty in your music that resonates with listeners across different cultures and languages. What do you hope someone who doesn’t understand every lyric still feels after hearing SLOW for the first time?
I hope they feel understood. Even if they don’t know every word, emotions have their own language. Music has always connected people long before we shared the same language. If someone listens to SLOW and feels a little less alone, then I think the song has already done its job.
Success often changes the way people see you, but it can also change the way you see yourself. How has your relationship with ambition evolved over the years, and what motivates you today beyond charts and streaming numbers?
When I was younger, I probably focused more on proving myself. Now I’m much more interested in building something meaningful and lasting. Of course I appreciate numbers—they’re important—but they aren’t the reason I make music. What motivates me now is becoming a better artist than I was yesterday. I want to keep growing creatively and make music that still feels honest years from now.
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If SLOW could only be experienced in one setting—whether it’s a late-night drive, watching the rain, dancing with someone, or sitting alone in silence—which moment do you think captures the song’s soul best, and why?
Sitting alone at night. Those moments when everything is quiet and you can’t distract yourself anymore. That’s usually when emotions become the loudest. I think SLOW belongs in that space—when you’re finally forced to listen to your own heart.
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When listeners look back on this chapter of your career years from now, what do you hope SLOW represents—not just as a single, but as a reflection of who SAAY was in this moment of her artistic journey?
I hope people remember SLOW as a very honest chapter. This song reflects someone who wasn’t trying to impress anyone or follow expectations. I simply wanted to tell the truth about an emotion that many people experience but don’t always know how to describe. If people look back and think, “That was the moment SAAY became even more comfortable being herself,” I think that would mean everything to me.
