SYA from BLITZERS comes of age in '23:24'
In an interview, the BLITZERS singer/rapper reflects on the insecurities of growing older, and finding resilience through his love his music
(Photo credit: Wuzo Entertainment)
Your early twenties are a pivotal time in your life. Many graduate college or get their first big job. It’s also a time of personal growth, one where you start to figure out who you are in this world.
For singer and rapper SYA though, he chose a different path. He instead grew up in the spotlight as a K-pop artist.
At 18, he debuted in the K-pop group BLITZERS. Together with his band, the sextet have captured attention with its high energy performances, even receiving a standing ovation from Britain’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell in 2024.
“Just being able to go all the way to the UK and take part in that kind of program was a huge challenge for me, and I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity,” SYA says in an interview with bunni pop.
“It was an unforgettable experience, and it gave me the mindset that I can continue to take on even bigger challenges in the future.”
Now SYA is taking on a new challenge as he reflects on growing older in the limelight. In February, he released his debut studio album 23:24. He says it’s a project that represents the transition between the ages of 23 and 24. During this interview, he spoke from the perspective of his Korean age (which is 25 years old). Korean age is an age-reckoning system where individuals are one-year-old at birth (accounting for time in the womb) and gain a year every January 1st, rather than on their birthday.
“I’m in a phase where I’m preparing for another change. Since I’m now moving past the midpoint of my 20s, I find myself thinking that it’s important to further strengthen and ground myself internally.”
SYA notes his opening track “LANDFILL” as a song that shaped the foundation of 23:24. On the hip-hop track, the singer raps about his desire to achieve his dreams, even if the fruits of his labour don’t seem to be going anywhere.
“I won’t compromise with reality/At the crossroads of my life,” he raps. “I push through, just one beat off/I’ll make it eventually.”
Like many young people coming of age, SYA frequently questions whether all the hard work is worth it in 23:24. In the piano ballad “DONE”, SYA reveals more about his insecurities over his career and happiness. “Can I really be okay? Can I leave? Yeah, my dream is just something everyone laughs at,” he sings.
“I think the hardest most impactful realization for me was that I have to take responsibility for the things I’ve done,” SYA says about the challenges of growing into adulthood.
“I’m not young anymore, and carrying various responsibilities is something I believe will always be difficult.”
Things get more optimistic in “235803”, a groovy R&B track he worked on with BLITZERS member WOOJU. Together, they sing about finding a path forward with their love of music never wavering. SYA says he is particularly “grateful” to his bandmate for joining him on the project to help share his story.
“[WOOJU] brought out a feeling that I couldn’t create on my own, and that gave me great inspiration.”
Since debuting in the K-pop scene in 2020 as a teenager, SYA says he wanted to pursue a career in K-pop after attending an iKON concert during his high school years.
“Seeing the members on stage that day made me feel, ‘I want to stand on a stage like that someday,’” SYA recalls.
From there, he began studying how to rap. He lists artists like Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky and Post Malone among his biggest influences.
But as he notes in his album 23:24, being a musician is anything but easy. There are constant self-doubts and insecurities. But in the end, SYA says the challenges have helped him build strength and resilience.
“[My career] has taught me how to endure, how to be patient and how to accept things as they are. Overall, it helped me become more mature and stronger.”
SYA encourages his fans—BLEE—to keep going no matter how hard things in life may seem.
“I want to say that it’s crucial to never give up and to share your own voice and intentions with the world.”
Quick fire questions!!!
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
TIME MACHINE
You are stuck on a deserted island with one of your BLITZERS members. Who would you pick to help you escape to safety and why?
WOOJU, I want to live my life fully, enjoying it to the fullest, even if it’s just for fun.
Would you rather talk to animals or travel into a storybook?
Talk to animals
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
RAMEN
If you can travel back in time, which decade would you choose and why?
I want to go back to the golden era of hip-hop and ride the wave of that era’s vibe.
Follow SYA on Instagram and BLITZERS on YouTube!
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