perspectives
A Little Birdie With Audrey Nuna
written + interview HANNAH ROSE PRENDERGAST
In hindsight, Courage the Cowardly Dog is such a funny cartoon for my dad to be watching. I think it’s just a fascination with humanness. There was a period when I felt disconnected from that, and it showed. My second album is an exploration of trying to remember who I am.
Audrey wears a coat by COMME DES GARÇONS and shoes by COMME DES GARÇONS x JOHN FLUEVOG
Growing up in suburban New Jersey, I felt ostracized for the way that I looked. Seeing everybody hop on Korean culture was redemptive for my inner child, like, ha. Kimbap is smelly, but it’s fire.
There are a lot of people who don’t believe in you, and being able to give them a wink feels good. I was proud of myself and everyone in KPop Demon Hunters who’s had to navigate an industry that didn’t really know where to place them. The film taught me how music can be a form of service. I want to be a better storyteller so that when someone hears my songs, it’s not about me, but it’s about them.
I always thought success was a huge crowd singing back your lyrics. But it should also be measured by how truthfully those words connect with people. I don’t want to have a massive career if I don’t mean it.
The most amazing things in life are the most ordinary things, like the joy of playing hwatu or Go-Stop. With the Thom Browne look for the Grammys, some of the fabric was muslin, which I saw so much of as a kid in my family’s garment factory. They also left the stitching exposed to speak to this idea of loving your craft even if it’s not perfect. In fashion, it’s the details I find compelling.
Even for the Met Gala, I wore a piece by Robert Wun about stains of the past and making something beautiful out of your pain. It’s such a democratizing and neutralizing human experience. What really makes a person is what they decide to do with that pain. You can juice it, you can prune it, you can bake it, you can flash fry it, you can do anything with it.
“superHuman” is about wanting to feel everything and being able to express it. A lot of my best work comes from feeling free to be curious and ask questions rather than answer correctly.
Serendipity actually comes from seasons of winter. It takes patience and belief that those moments belong to all of us. I also trust in the process and, to a certain extent, the vibes. I used to hate that word when I moved to LA.
I’m carrying every version of me on my head. I think there’s power in the way hair continues to grow. In the Joseon era, it was seen as a source of strength, so you didn’t cut it. For me, it’s about my ancestors. Our hair is probably very similar.I think you have to hold onto parts of yourself, not to let them weigh you down, but to remember where you came from. My mom is hoarding my baby teeth in a box somewhere, I’m pretty sure.
Audrey wears a dress by QUINE LI and shoes by MAISON MARGIELA
Audrey wears a dress by QUINE LI and shoes by MAISON MARGIELA
Audrey wears a top by KIDSUPER, a skirt by CURIEL and shoes by TAOTTAO
Audrey wears a shirt and skirt by CURIEL and shoes by MAISON MARGIELA
Audrey wears a dress by QUINE LI
talent AUDREY NUNA
photography STEFEN POMPÉE
styling PACO LAMPECINADO
creative direction PACO LAMPECINADO + AUDREY NUNA
hair AKIHISA YAMAGUCHI
make up artist MITCH YOSHIDA
assistant VICTORIA GODELIVA
production PACO LAMPECINADO + MUSICISMUSE
production assistant HAL GOETZINGER
studio courtesy of ANGELA KWON
copyright LE MILE Magazine / Stefen Pompée
photography STEFEN POMPÉE
styling PACO LAMPECINADO
creative direction PACO LAMPECINADO + AUDREY NUNA
hair AKIHISA YAMAGUCHI
make up artist MITCH YOSHIDA
assistant VICTORIA GODELIVA
production PACO LAMPECINADO + MUSICISMUSE
production assistant HAL GOETZINGER
studio courtesy of ANGELA KWON
copyright LE MILE Magazine / Stefen Pompée