[theqoo] THE FEMALE PRODUCER AT THE FOREFRONT OF KPOP (KENZIE)

Real name: Kim Yeonjeong

SM entertainment's composer, writer, producer

Born in 1976, October 22

Let me introduce Kenzie, a composer and producer. Many people misunderstand her as a Japanese male or a foreigner, so I hope many people know that she is a Korean woman. She is a very rare female producer in the K-pop scene, but despite her career, she is not widely known. I wanted to write this to spread Kenzie's genius more widely.

First, there are two origins for the name Kenzie:

1. When she was studying at Berklee College of Music, she adopted the name Kenzie, excluding the "Mac" from her middle name, Mackenzie, as her current pseudonym.

2. It is said that she adopted her friend's name who died of leukemia when she was young, to honor her friend's memory.

It's still unclear which is true.

Kenzie actually created a song while thinking of this friend, and that song is

Into The New World

"Thinking of you makes me stronger

Help me not to cry

Let's share this moment together

When we meet again"

While studying at Berklee College of Music, Kenzie won the lyricist/composer category of a music contest in the U.S. This caught the attention of Lee Sooman, who was observing the scene, and she was cast. Influenced by H.O.T and 5ive, she joined SM Entertainment.

Before her debut as a composer, she was active in bands and also played keyboard and trumpet. She started her full-fledged career in 2002 and has since produced over 200 songs for SM artists. She is considered a key figure who shaped SM into what it is today, alongside Yoo Youngjin and Teddy Riley.

[...]

She personally claims to be the pickiest in SM. Her style is highly unique, slightly distant from mainstream, which complements SM idol groups well. Her songwriting skills are highly praised, with some saying that no one can match her sense in idol musicology.

[...]

She is known for her wide spectrum in both lyric writing and composing. For example, songs she has written lyrics for include Park Hyoshin's "Snow Flower," Kyuhyun's "At Gwanghwamun," EXO's "Wolf," and "Beautiful," and The Grace's "One More Chance." Her range is truly extensive. ("Snow Flower" is an adapted song, but the lyrics were subtly changed during the translation process into Korean.)

[...]

Kenzie often appears as a back vocal in songs she produces. For example, in EXO's "Wolf," there's a part where she sings "Ah, I love you," and in NCT DREAM's "Chewing Gum," the main artificial voice that appears in the background is hers. She has also sung for cartoon OSTs.

She has around 474 registered under her but it would be too long to list them all, so I will introduce the ones who are known to the fans but who are hidden masterpiece

BoA: My Name, Milky Way, Garden in the Air, Milky Way, Hurricane Venus

TVXQ: One, Balloons, Rainbow

SNSD: Into The New World, Way To Go, Go!, Express 999, Europa, Chocolate love, All Night, FAN, Diamond

SUJU: No Other, SPY, Devil, Lo Siento, The Girl Is Mine, Opera, Our Love

SHINee: Real, Why So Serious?, Y Si Fuera Ella, Stranger, Jojo, Green Rain, Love Sick, Our Page, Evil, All Day All Night

F(x): LA chA, TA, Pinocchio, Hot Summer, Jet, Red Light, Signal, MILK, Papi, Chash Me Out

EXO: Obsession, Wolf, Overdose, Sing For You, Monster, For Life, Baby, First Snow, What U Do? Forever, 24/7, TRANSFORMER

Red Velvet: Red Flavor, Peek-A-Boo, Power Up, Psycho, RBB, Somethin Kinda Crazy, Huff n Puff, Cool Hot Sweet Love, Lucky Girl, Attaboy, Sassy Me, Carpool, In & Out

NCT 127: Limitless, White Night

NCT DREAM: Chewing Gum, We Young, We Go Up, Dunk Shot

Super M: I Can't Stand The Rain, Let's Go Everywhere

Solo/Projects:

Taeyeon: Four SEasons, Spark, I Got Love, Sweet Love, All Night Long, Love You Like Crazy, Lonely Night, Closer

Seohyeon: Don'g Say No

Taemin: WANT, ECLIPSE, Sexuality, Wicked

Key: One of Those Nights

Kyuhyun: At Gwanghwamun, A Million Pieces

EXO-CBX: Rhythm After Summer, Playdate

(?): Shall We? ove Words

Baekhyun: Betcha