IU: "I like people that have their own space that other cannot touch. I want to be that way."

[On what kind of singer she wants to be in the future]

IU: "Well, if you think about it, I am doing something that consumes me. So I want to consume myself in a wise way. I want to be a singer who makes music in a confident and smart way. Being a celebrity shouldn’t feel like you’re in shackles. I have to be the one that is happy."

[On when she is most inspired to write lyrics]

IU: “In my case, it’s always during a shower. If I go in to take a shower, I think I get at least one line of verse. Like, I’d be playing around all day, but as soon as I take a shower, that means it’s time to go to work.”

IU: “There’s something I’ve been dreaming of in the abstract since my 20s. I want to open a small studio or concert space where people can perform or work. Rather than a private studio workspace, I want to make a space where you can show your work to the public. It was just a dream, but now that I’m 30, I’ve resolved upon it and I’m in the process of making it concrete.”

IU: "Although I like to sing, I’ve never been stuck in one genre."

IU: “Last year, I realized that my ears won’t always be what they are, and thought, ‘What if I can’t make the sounds that I want to make?’ I’m searching for methods now, but I’ve felt fear at the idea that I won’t always be able to work in the physical condition that I desire.”

IU: “I sleep well about one night out of three. Yesterday, I slept well. It seems to get worse when the seasons change. After a good summer, my insomnia will get worse as it turns to autumn. Even if I exercise a lot and spend time in the sunlight, I can’t always sleep well every night.”

IU: "When I imagine myself being in the industry for a long time, I would probably be singing until I’m 60, which is way older than how much I’ve lived so far, so I am in no rush to be greedy."

IU: “It seems that the reason that I toss and turn at night is because I’m on guard against something. That’s the simplified explanation for the mechanism behind insomnia that the hospital gave to me. That I can’t sleep because I’m on my guard.”

IU: "When I looked at it from the perspective of a producer, I came to the conclusion that there’s no need for there to be a self-composed song by IU just because it’s an IU album."

IU: "I want to sing songs that I want to do. How amazing would it be to create a song that’s just for me and have the public acknowledge it too?"

IU: "I want to perform really good music that will make people feel comfortable so that while they are listening they can think about the music with a comfortable heart. I’ve been listening to John Mayer’s music recently and I’ve learned through him that you can make someone a fan just with your voice."

IU: “I keep meeting different versions of me. But no matter which version, I’m satisfied with myself.”

IU: “As the boredom and helplessness I felt in my late twenties is slowly relieved, I feel like I’m in a new chapter of my life. I’m going to enjoy it and do my best to learn more about myself. The way I think about things is totally different now.”