Sogumm
{{Short description|South Korean musician (born 1994)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sogumm
| image = Sogumm 210522.png
| native_name = 소금
| birth_name = Kwon So-hee
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|3|8}}
| birth_place = Daejeon, South Korea
| genre = R&B
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| years_active = 2018–present
| current_member_of = Balming Tiger
| module = {{Infobox Korean name|child=yes
| title = Korean name
| hangul = 권소희
| rr = Gwon Sohui
| mr = Kwŏn Sohŭi
}}
}}
Kwon So-hee ({{Korean|hangul=권소희}}; born March 8, 1994), known professionally as Sogumm ({{Korean|hangul=소금}}; stylized in all lowercase), is a South Korean singer-songwriter. In 2019, she released albums Not My Fault and Sobrightttttttt, which were met with critical acclaim. She won Signhere and signed to AOMG in the same year. She won Rookie of the Year at the Korean Music Awards in 2020 and released her second studio album Precious in 2021. In 2022 Sogumm released her single titled "Salt Rain" in collaboration with Keumbee and produced by Alfie Hole. The Single consists of three tracks, "Kissing", "Salt Rain" and one of the biggest MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) songs composed by Tom Jobim & Elis Regina "Waters of March".
Early life
Kwon So-hee was born on March 8, 1994, in Daejeon.{{Cite web |title=소금 |url=https://100.daum.net/encyclopedia/view/33XXX2198468 |website=Daum Encyclopedia |language=ko}} As she lived in China when she was in the fifth grade, she listened to songs by foreign artists. She became interested in music after discovering Michael Jackson.{{Cite web |last=Jo |first=Jin-hyeok |date=January 13, 2020 |title=소금 |url=https://www.smlounge.co.kr/arena/article/43738 |website=Arena |language=ko}} She started making music in high school, but only began to compose songs from the heart after moving to Seoul when she was 23.{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Hak-seon |title=이달의 신인 ＃2 - 자기만의 것을 가진 훌륭한 신인 음악가 '소금' |trans-title=Rookie of the Month #2 – 'Sogumm', a great rookie musician with originality |url=https://www.genie.co.kr/magazine/subMain?mgz_seq=8228 |website=Genie Music |language=ko}} She worked for an OST-making company but quit her job in 2017 because she could not write the music she wanted to make. She began uploading her music to SoundCloud and later joined Balming Tiger.{{Cite web |last1=Choi |first1=Jang-min |last2=Hwang |first2=Seon-woong |date=December 6, 2018 |title=BALMING TIGER |url=https://visla.kr/interview/84150/ |website=Visla |language=ko}}
She adopted the stage name "Sogumm" because it was her nickname in middle school.{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Soobin |date=October 21, 2019 |title=소금 인터뷰 – 희고 밝은 26살, 그리고 있는 그대로의 이야기 |trans-title=Sogumm interview – white and bright 26-year-old, and story as it is |url=https://hypebeast.kr/2019/10/sogumm-interview-sobrightttttttt-album-release-balming-tiger |website=Hypebeast |language=ko}}
Career
In 2018, Sogumm released her debut single "Suicide" with rapper Tnom. In September 2019, she released collaborative album Not My Fault with music producer Dress. In October 2019, she released her debut studio album Sobrightttttttt. Both albums received critical acclaim.{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2020 |title=2019 국내 알앤비/소울 앨범 베스트 10 |trans-title=2019 Korean R&B/Soul Album Best 10 |url=http://board.rhythmer.net/src/go.php?n=18896&m=view&c=32&s=feature |website=Rhythmer |language=ko}} In November 2019, Sogumm won Signhere and signed to AOMG.{{Cite web |last=Yoon |first=Hyo-jeong |date=November 1, 2019 |title=소금, '사인히어' 최종 우승…AOMG 영입 |trans-title=Sogumm, becomes the final winner of 'Signhere'... signs to AOMG |url=https://www.news1.kr/articles/?3758476 |website=News1 |language=ko}} In 2020, she won Rookie of Year at the Korean Music Awards. In 2021, she released her second studio album Precious which received critical acclaim.{{Cite web |date=December 29, 2021 |title=2021 국내 알앤비/소울 앨범 베스트 10 |trans-title=2021 Korean R&B/Soul Album Best 10 |url=http://board.rhythmer.net/src/go.php?n=19722&m=view&c=32&s=feature |website=Rhythmer |language=ko}} In 2023, she departed from AOMG as her contract expired.{{Cite web |last=Han |first=Yu-jin |date=February 13, 2023 |title=소금, AOMG와 전속계약 종료→14일 '사랑해' 발매 |trans-title=Sogumm, ends exclusive contract with AOMG > releases "I Love You" on 14th |url=https://news.nate.com/view/20230213n17739?mid=n0100 |website=Newsis |language=ko}}
Artistry
Sogumm is known for her unique singing style. The Hankyoreh wrote that "she recites verses in a relaxed tone similar to that of "singing rap". She also pronounces words unclearly and goes offbeat, which gives the impression that she is drunk or sleepy."{{Cite web |last=Shin |first=Ji-min |date=March 17, 2020 |title=가수 소금, 지코가 보낸 가사에 눈물…"좋은 음악인 되겠다 결심" |trans-title=Singer Sogumm, gets tears in her eyes by the lyrics Zico sent..."I'm determined to become a good musician" |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/culture/music/933003.html |website=The Hankyoreh |language=ko}} Lyrically, Bandwagon praised her "straightforward and vivid storytelling."{{Cite web |last=Basbas |first=Franchesca |date=October 22, 2021 |title=Asia spotlight: Korean singer-songwriter Sogumm on challenging herself, finding her dream, and working on her "mysterious" album 'Precious' |url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/asia-spotlight-sogumm-interview-precious-lp-album-complex-prescription-new-release-comeback-music-video-balming-tiger-signhere-aomg-october-2021 |website=Bandwagon Asia}}
Sogumm describes her music as "deficiency" because she expresses the feelings from the deficiency of life and implies her belief of trying to grow through deficiency in her music.{{Cite web |last=Tamondong |first=Hanna |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Meet Sogumm, The South Korean Artist You Should Be Listening To Right Now |url=https://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/cosmopolitan-philippines-interview-aomg-sogumm-a4575-20201218-lfrm |website=Cosmopolitan Philippines}} In terms of genre, she describes it as alternative pop. She was influenced by female R&B singers such as Beyoncé and Alicia Keys. She usually gets inspiration from her daily life, love, and nature.{{Cite web |date=February 19, 2020 |title=소금 만의 셀카 찍는 방법이 궁금해? / 싱터뷰 |trans-title=Do you want to know how Sogumm takes selfies? / Singterview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq1XDndJj5M&t=13s |website=Singles Korea |publisher=YouTube |language=ko}}{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2022 |title=sogumm Answers Questions From Her Fans / Ask About Me / Fuse |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OldEpQUJNv0 |website=Fuse |publisher=YouTube}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Title !Details |
| scope="row" |Sobrightttttttt
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" |Precious
|
|
= Collaborative album =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! rowspan="2" |Title ! rowspan="2" |Details !Peak |
| KOR{{Break}}{{Cite web |title=Album Chart – 2019 Weeks 41 |url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=41&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week&yearTime=3 |access-date=October 5, 2022 |website=Circle Chart}} |
|---|
| scope="row" |Not My Fault (with Dress) |
| align="center" |65 |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:20em" |Title ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Album |
| scope="row" |"Suicide" (with Tnom) |2018 |rowspan="3" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |
|---|
| scope="row"|"Trust Me Remix" (사랑해줘 Remix) (with Yumdda) | rowspan="5" |2019 |
| scope="row"|"Meet Me When This Rain Stops" (이 비가 그치면 만나) (with DJ Wegun featuring Hoody) |
| scope="row"|"Big Dream" (큰 꿈) (featuring pH-1) | rowspan="3" |Signhere |
| scope="row"|"What Should I Do" (어쩌나) (featuring Jjangyou) |
| scope="row"|"Letter" (편지) (featuring Simon Dominic) |
| scope="row"|"My Taste" (내 입맛) (with Dress featuring Zico) | rowspan="5" |2020 |rowspan="3" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"|"Selfish" (with Jason Lee, Nitti Gritti, Kaku) |
| scope="row"|"Yayouhoi" (야유회) (with Oh Hyuk) |
| scope="row"|"Run" |
| scope="row"|"Encourage" (위로) (featuring 10cm) |rowspan="3" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"|"Imagine" (with DJ Wegun featuring Hoody) | rowspan="4" |2021 |
| scope="row"|"Sorry" (with Dress featuring No2zcat) |
| scope="row"|"Baennorae" (뱃노래) |
| scope="row"|"Cheers" (치열) (with Code Kunst, Lee Chan-hyuk, Colde) |rowspan="3" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"|"Salt Rain" (소금비) (with Keumbee) |2022 |
| scope="row"|"I Love You" (사랑해) (featuring Silica Gel) |2023 |
Filmography
= Television =
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Award !Year !Nominee !Category !Result !Ref. |
| rowspan="4" scope="row" |Korean Music Awards
| rowspan="3" |2020 |Herself |Rookie of the Year |{{won}} |
|---|
| Not My Fault
| rowspan="3" |Best R&B Album |{{nom}} |
| Sobrightttttttt
|{{nom}} |
| 2022
|{{nom}} |
| rowspan="4" scope="row" |Korean Hip-hop Awards
| rowspan="4" |2020 |Herself |New Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Not My Fault
| rowspan="2" |R&B Album of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Sobrightttttttt
|{{nom}} |
| "I Wonder"
|R&B Track of the Year |{{nom}} |